EXPLORING FRIENDSHIP ACROSS BOUNDARIES AND ENHANCING ESL STUDENTS' LEXICAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS BY JOHN BOYNE

Abstract

This article examines the representation of friendship across social and ideological boundaries in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and analyzes its educational value for ESL students. The study focuses on the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel as a symbol of innocence, empathy, and intercultural understanding during the historical context of the Holocaust. In addition, the article explores how the novel contributes to vocabulary development, reading comprehension, communication skills, and critical thinking among English as a Second Language learners. Through reflective and literary analysis, the article demonstrates that Boyne's novel functions not only as a historical and emotional narrative but also as an effective educational resource for language learning. The findings suggest that literature-based instruction can enhance lexical resources and encourage moral reflection in ESL classrooms.