Language

Style of language

The language of the novel Looking for Alaska by John Green is kept simple, very clear and easy to understand. The literal speech proves that the teenagers are educated, as there is no strong colloquialism used. Their language is precise and nuanced.

Mostly common vocabulary is used in the narrative. Sometimes scholarly, elevated words are mixed in, for example when Alaska talks about the oppression of women and accuses "patriarchal paradigm" (p. 49). Miles also occasionally uses complicated figurative terms, such as "culinary orgasm" (p. 24), or "...wings sounded cacophonous" (p. 21). In some cases, terms from religion and philosophy are used but explained, for example, as the class discusses "Buddhist koans" (p. 175) in religion class.

The language of the ...