Lord of the Flies

1
Lord of the Flies

• Written By William Golding

2
About Golding

• Born 1911
• Grew up in the years before WWI
• Literature of his time man is basically good
• Decided to become a writer
• Served in WWII
• Influenced his thinking
• Man as having a dark and evil side
• LOF based on his experiences teaching at a
  boys school
• didnt become famous until 1960s

3
LOF A Brief, Brief Summary

• WWII
• Group of boys on plane
• Leaving to escape nuclear bomb
• Planes crashes
• Stranded on island with no adults
• Struggle for survival
• Essential Questions
• -Are humans inherently evil?
• -What does it take to bring out the evil in good
  people?

4
Ralph vs. Jack

• 12
• Groups leader (at 1st)
• Tries to keep order
• Conflict with Jack
• Ralph and Jack
• Represent conflict of chaos vs. democracy

• About same age as Ralph
• Seems to be angry and savage
• Leader of choir group (at 1st) become hunters
  as book goes along
• Eventually takes over as chief
• Not concerned with order
• Conflict with Ralph

5
Piggy and Simon

• Short and overweight
• Order and democracy
• Smartest
• Tries to keep peace on island
• Lacks social skills
• Glasses
• Key to plot
• Symbolize clear-thinking and want of civilization

• Oldest of the littluns
• Positive attitude
• Peaceful spot in jungle to be alone solitary
• Finds pig head on a stick (Lord of the Flies)
• Dehydration? hallucinations

6
Roger Sam Eric

• Pure evil
• No mercy
• Tortures pig
• One of Jacks helpers

• Twins
• Always together
• Represent reliance and unity
• Loyal to Ralph at 1st eventually follow Jack
• Give Ralphs hiding spot away

7
Symbolism (what were looking for)

• Piggy (and glasses)
• Ralph, the conch (seashell)
• Simon
• Roger

• Jack
• The Island
• The Scar
• The Beast
• Lord of the Flies

8
Themes

• Society holds us together
• Power
• Fear of unknown
• Nature as unaware of mankind
• Blindness and sight
• Inner evil may be hiding but will always come
  out
• Info from Lord of the Flies Project Site by Andy
  Ong