O'Neill, Eugene: 1888-1953
Ah, Wilderness!, 1933 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Intermediate–Advanced
- Early 20th-Century American English – Some expressions and slang are outdated, which can be tricky for modern readers.
Complex Sentence Structure – Longer, layered sentences and rich dialogue.
Cultural References – Allusions to politics, literature, and social norms of the 1910s–1920s (e.g. References to World War I veterans, Prohibition, or political figures of the 1910s–1920s like Woodrow Wilson).
Literary style – Poetic, reflective, and emotionally nuanced language, typical of O’Neill’s writing.
- Early 20th-Century American English – Some expressions and slang are outdated, which can be tricky for modern readers.
- The novel combines early 20th-century vocabulary, cultural references, and complex dialogue that require more than basic English comprehension.