Golding, William: 1911-1993

Lord of the Flies, 1954 - Language/Style

  • English Language Level: Intermediate
    • Vocabulary – Most words are common, everyday English, but there are occasional descriptive or abstract terms (e.g., “conch,” “lamentation,” “inarticulate”) that may challenge learners.

      Sentence Structure – Sentences are generally straightforward, though Golding sometimes uses longer, complex sentences for narration or description.

      Themes and ideas – The concepts (human nature, society, morality) are sophisticated, which makes comprehension harder, even if the language itself is not extremely advanced.

      Dialogue – The speech of the boys is mostly simple and conversational, which is easier to follow.

  • The novel is accessible to learners at an intermediate level, but fully understanding the book’s deeper meanings may require higher-level thinking.