September 19, 1911—June 19, 1993 British novelist, poet, and playwright Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983 Knighted in 1988 Joined the.

September 19, 1911—June 19, 1993 British novelist, poet, and playwright

Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983 Knighted in 1988

Joined the Royal Navy in 1940 Fought in the navy in WII Participated in D-Day invasion of

Normandy WWII influenced his experiences and

his writing Lord of the Flies: 1954, most famous

Genre: fable, allegory, adventure story Blend of symbolic elements and an adventure

that symbolize larger elements of human nature

Characters and events represent larger aspects of society

Reveals how evil resides in each of us Struggle between Jack and Ralph reveals

opposing lifestyles and governing styles Title: Lord of the Flies

Beelzebub: another name for the Devil Comes from the Greek word for

“Lord of the Flies”

Takes place during World War IIA group of British boys are flown out

of the country to protect them The plane crashes leaves them stranded

on the islandThe boys are left to fend for

themselves Create their own society and system for

survival

Utopia: perfect society Dystopia: often seem like a “utopian” society,

but are really not Authors use this genre to critique the world in which

they live Often create a sense of “doom” or failure within the

society Golding uses it to display the breakdown of society

and morality

Lord of the Flies reveals the breakdown of civilization

The boys descend into savagery, cruelty, and violence

Primitive instincts overthrow rules, logic, and reason

Ralph The elected leader Rational, clear-headed, the greatest good

Piggy Social outcast who sides with Ralph Means well, but is picked on throughout

Jack Leader of the choir boys Hunter, violent, rash, disregards rules In competition with Ralph

Simon Stands for the child-like innocence of many

boys Inquisitive, philosophical, kind-hearted

Roger Violent, cruel, bully

Society holds everyone together, and without rules and order the basic concept of right and wrong will be lost Evil is within all of us. All it takes is the right

situation for our own “savagery” to emerge. Civilization/society “reigns in” those tendencies Moral ambiguity and fragility of civilization

Fear and the desire for acceptance are powerful motivators

People will abuse power when it’s not earned or checked. Do individuals control groups, or do groups

control individuals?

Are humans inherently good or evil? What would the world be like without a basic

social contract? What are the essential tasks that you would

perform if you were stranded on an island? What does it mean to be a leader? How do you keep hope alive in the face of

despair? What does it mean “Without contraries

there would be no progression”?  What do you fear most and how does that

impact your actions?

Decorous - in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained.

Hiatus - a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process.

Enmity - the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

Eccentric - of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange.

Furtive - attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.