O conto da ilha desconhecida by José Saramago
Published 1998 · 5,860 words
How hard is O conto da ilha desconhecida to read?
O conto da ilha desconhecida scores 65 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.
- Vocabulary: 55 out of 100
- Saramago employs a literary vocabulary, using words like 'impetrante' and 'nesga,' which are not overly obscure but require a degree of familiarity with formal Portuguese. The language is elevated without being inaccessible, placing it slightly above *The Great Gatsby* in complexity.
- Sentence structure: 70 out of 100
- The text features long, winding sentences that often span entire paragraphs, characteristic of Saramago's style. While the sentences are lengthy, they remain navigable due to clear punctuation and logical flow, similar to the sentence structure found in *2666*.
- Abstraction: 68 out of 100
- While the narrative is grounded in a simple quest for an unknown island, it delves into philosophical themes about identity, purpose, and the nature of exploration. The story uses the literal journey as a vehicle for exploring abstract concepts, positioning it near *2666* in its blend of narrative and philosophical inquiry.
- Information density: 60 out of 100
- The text presents a moderate amount of concepts per page, requiring attention to follow the narrative and its underlying themes. While not as dense as *War and Peace*, the story is carefully layered with symbolic meaning, demanding more attention than a purely plot-driven novel.
- Narrative indirection: 75 out of 100
- The narrative relies heavily on implication and symbolism, requiring readers to infer meaning rather than being explicitly told. The story's allegorical nature and the characters' motivations are revealed through their actions and dialogue, demanding active interpretation from the reader, similar to *Lolita*.
- Symbolic density: 80 out of 100
- The story is rich in symbolism, with the unknown island representing a quest for self-discovery and the characters' journey embodying broader themes of exploration and identity. The boat, the sea, and the act of searching all carry symbolic weight, approaching the level of symbolic density found in *Gravity's Rainbow*.
- Ironic distance: 60 out of 100
- There is a subtle ironic distance in the narrative, as the characters' idealistic quest is juxtaposed with the mundane realities of their journey. The king's bureaucracy and the sailors' skepticism create a gap between the characters' aspirations and the world's indifference, placing it near *The Great Gatsby* in its blend of sympathy and critique.
- Resolution withholding: 70 out of 100
- The ending is somewhat ambiguous, as the characters set sail without a clear destination, leaving the reader to ponder the ultimate success of their quest. While the plot resolves with the couple embarking on their journey, the meaning and outcome remain open to interpretation, akin to *Lolita*.
- Structural complexity: 45 out of 100
- The narrative follows a mostly linear structure, with a straightforward chronological progression. While there are some dream sequences and shifts in perspective, the overall structure is relatively simple, similar to *War and Peace*.
How O conto da ilha desconhecida is regarded
O conto da ilha desconhecida holds a literary regard score of 60 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.