Wilder, Thornton: 1897-1975
The Skin of Our Teeth, 1942 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Challenging, Advanced
- Language Style – Uses formal, sometimes archaic or poetic expressions; dialogue often shifts between ordinary speech and elevated rhetoric (e.g. “God’s wounds!” or “by the skin of our teeth” are old-fashioned or Biblical-style expressions).
Vocabulary – Includes advanced words, idioms, and figurative language that aren’t common in everyday English.
Sentence Structure – Often complex, with long, layered sentences and interruptions that mimic natural speech but can confuse readers.
Figurative Language – Heavy use of metaphor, allegory, and irony, requiring interpretation beyond literal meaning (e.g. “The Skin of Our Teeth”, is a metaphor for barely surviving disasters or the characters often act nonchalantly during apocalyptic events, like joking while the world seems about to end).
Cultural/Historical References – References to classical literature, history, and contemporary 1940s events can be unfamiliar to modern readers (e.g. Ice Age and Great Flood episodes echo biblical and historical cataclysms).
- Language Style – Uses formal, sometimes archaic or poetic expressions; dialogue often shifts between ordinary speech and elevated rhetoric (e.g. “God’s wounds!” or “by the skin of our teeth” are old-fashioned or Biblical-style expressions).
- The language is simple, the play’s themes and stage directions are abstract and require readers to think beyond the literal words.