Wyndham, John: 1903-1969
The Chrysalids, 1955 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Challenging, Formal
- Formal 1950s English – The vocabulary and sentence structures reflect mid-20th-century British/Canadian English, which can feel slightly old-fashioned or elevated to modern readers (e.g. Long, descriptive sentence with multiple clauses = “The Strorm family, like all the devoutly orthodox in Waknuk, held with unshakeable conviction that any deviation from the Old Law was a sin against God.”).
Complex Ideas and Descriptions – Wyndham often describes society, mutations, and telepathy with philosophical or detailed language, which requires careful reading (e.g. “Fear of the unknown is a far stronger force than reason, and men will persecute what they cannot understand before they even attempt to understand it.” Explains the reasoning behind actions instead of just showing them).
Regional/Period Terms – Some words or expressions aren’t common in everyday modern English, so understanding them can take extra effort (e.g. “Deviation” refers to anyone who differs from the society’s strict “norms”).
- Formal 1950s English – The vocabulary and sentence structures reflect mid-20th-century British/Canadian English, which can feel slightly old-fashioned or elevated to modern readers (e.g. Long, descriptive sentence with multiple clauses = “The Strorm family, like all the devoutly orthodox in Waknuk, held with unshakeable conviction that any deviation from the Old Law was a sin against God.”).
- The novel uses mid-20th-century sentence structures, uncommon vocabulary, and philosophical reflections that require careful, thoughtful reading.