Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies

• William Golding
• Background
• and
• Analysis
• Ms. Crystal Barbour

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William Golding

• Born Sept 19, 1911
• Cornwall, England
• Attended Oxford University
• Studied English Literature and philosophy
• Joined Royal navy in WWII
• Career as school teacher
• Published Lord of the Flies in 1954

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William Golding

• LOTF - His first and greatest success
• After it was published, he retired from teaching
  and wrote full time
• Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983
• Knighted in 1988
• Died 1993
• His books deal with darker side of human nature

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Lord of the Flies

• Novel dramatizes struggle between impulse to have
  order, rules, and moral behavior AND the impulse
  to act self-indulgently, seek power over others,
  and behave amorally.
• Civilization/common good for society
• versus
• Anarchy/savagery/selfish instinct

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Lord of the Flies
Bart as Jack

• Two extremes represented by
• Ralph protagonist
• Jack antagonist
• Piggy represents intelligence and clear
  sightedness (his glasses)

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Lord of the Flies

• Ralphs name counsel (Anglo-Saxon)
• Jacks name one who supplants (Hebrew)
• Simons name listener (Hebrew)
• Rogers name spear (Germanic)

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Major Themes

• Need for civilization
• basic needs of society
• Fear of the unknown
• Blindness and sight
• Use and abuse of power
• Loss of identity
• Evil within human beings

• Survival
• Betrayal
• Justice / injustice
• Violence / death
• Leadership

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Symbols

• Conch shell symbolizes order and authority
  organization
• Signal fire symbolizes common sense and light
  of hope and rescue
• Beast symbolizes evil both within and
  without fear of the unknown

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Symbolism
Object/ Character Represents/Symbolizes
Piggy (and Glasses)   Clear-sightedness, intelligence. The glasses state represents the status of social order.
Ralph, The Conch Democracy, Order
Simon Pure Goodness, "Christ Figure"
Roger Evil, Satan
Jack Savagery, Anarchy
The Island A microcosm representing the world
The "Scar" Man's destruction, destructive forces
The Beast The evil residing within everyone, the dark side of human nature.
Lord of the Flies The Devil, great danger or evil
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Two movie versions
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