Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

William GoldingWilliam Golding

1911- 19931911- 1993

About William GoldingAbout William Golding

British novelistBritish novelist Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in

literatureliterature Fought in Royal Navy during WWIIFought in Royal Navy during WWII Participated in invasion of Participated in invasion of

Normandy on D-DayNormandy on D-Day At war’s end, returned to teaching At war’s end, returned to teaching

and writingand writing

Golding’s FictionGolding’s Fiction

AllegoricalAllegorical– This means his stories have a deeper This means his stories have a deeper

meaning than what is on the surface.meaning than what is on the surface.– In an allegory, there is symbolism. People, In an allegory, there is symbolism. People,

places, and things can be symbolic to places, and things can be symbolic to display the deeper meaningdisplay the deeper meaning

Allusions toAllusions to– Classical literatureClassical literature– MythologyMythology– Christian SymbolismChristian Symbolism

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

““It was simply what seemed sensible for me to It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be realize that every single one of us could be Nazi’s.”Nazi’s.”– William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies

Some psychology…Some psychology… IdId

– In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the personality which contains our primitive personality which contains our primitive impulses such as sex, anger, and hunger.impulses such as sex, anger, and hunger.

Superego Superego – In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the

personality that represents the conscience.personality that represents the conscience.

EgoEgo– In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the

personality which maintains a balance between personality which maintains a balance between our impulses (id) and our conscience (superego).our impulses (id) and our conscience (superego).

A Big IdeaA Big Idea

Microcosm Microcosm – A small version of something largerA small version of something larger

As you read…As you read…– What could be a microcosm in What could be a microcosm in Lord of the Lord of the

FliesFlies??

About the NovelAbout the Novel

Set in mid 1940’s when Europe Set in mid 1940’s when Europe engulfed in war.engulfed in war.– Some argue it is just WWIIISome argue it is just WWIII

A plane carrying British school boys is A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot mistaken for a military craft and shot down.down.

Only the boys survive the crash, and Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society and govern try to form a society and govern themselves.themselves.

Philosophical InfluencePhilosophical Influence

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes– English Philosopher: 1588- 1679English Philosopher: 1588- 1679– Man is by nature selfishly individualisticMan is by nature selfishly individualistic– Man is constantly at war with other menMan is constantly at war with other men– Fear of violent death is sole motivation to Fear of violent death is sole motivation to

create civilizationscreate civilizations– Men need to be controlled by absolute Men need to be controlled by absolute

sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior

The World Golding The World Golding Knew Knew

WWII 1939- 1945WWII 1939- 1945 The fall of France to Nazi Germany The fall of France to Nazi Germany

in1940in1940 Britain feared an invasion and Britain feared an invasion and

evacuated children to other countriesevacuated children to other countries 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a

British ship carrying children killing the British ship carrying children killing the boys…thus suspending the overseas boys…thus suspending the overseas evacuation programevacuation program

Major WWII Events Major WWII Events

1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany 1940- Fall of France 1940- Fall of France 1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany 1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany 1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on 1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on

Japan and enter the world warJapan and enter the world war 1944- D-Day Normandy Landings1944- D-Day Normandy Landings 1945- Bombing of Dresden1945- Bombing of Dresden 1945- European victory celebrated 1945- European victory celebrated 1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing

60-80,000 people (final death toll 135,000 people)60-80,000 people (final death toll 135,000 people)

Death and destruction abound!!!Death and destruction abound!!!

Modern Day AllusionsModern Day Allusions

Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to somethingto something

There are many, many modern day There are many, many modern day allusions to allusions to Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies in in popular culture. Some of these popular culture. Some of these are parodies. are parodies.

For example….For example….

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons

The The Simpson’s Simpson’s episode titled episode titled Das Bus Das Bus is a is a parody of parody of Lord of the Lord of the FliesFlies..

SurvivorSurvivor

Mark Burnett’s Mark Burnett’s CBS island CBS island show is said to show is said to have been have been inspired by inspired by LOTF.LOTF.

Sponge Bob Sponge Bob SquarepantsSquarepants The episode The episode

Club Club SpongebobSpongebob is a spoof of is a spoof of LOTF.LOTF.

Popular MusicPopular Music

Bands such as Bands such as Taking Back Taking Back Sunday, Nine Inch Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, and Pink Maiden, and Pink Floyd have Floyd have written songs written songs about or have about or have alluded to LOTF in alluded to LOTF in their music.their music.

Danger Do Not Go to Danger Do Not Go to the next slide…yet…the next slide…yet… Wait!Wait!

– Those of you looking for an extra Those of you looking for an extra challenge, read challenge, read Coral IslandCoral Island—it —it inspired Golding to write the novel. inspired Golding to write the novel.

Symbols in the NovelSymbols in the Novel

The Conch- Civilization and orderThe Conch- Civilization and orderThe Beast- The fear that separates The Beast- The fear that separates man from making positive choicesman from making positive choices

Piggy’s Glasses- Reason, science Piggy’s Glasses- Reason, science and insightand insight

Lord of the Flies- Evil Lord of the Flies- Evil Fire Signal- Hope, salvationFire Signal- Hope, salvation

Themes in the NovelThemes in the Novel

Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence Original SinOriginal Sin Nature of Good and Evil Nature of Good and Evil Goodness is rare and fleetingGoodness is rare and fleeting

Motifs in the NovelMotifs in the Novel

Pristine (perfect, unspoiled, pure) Pristine (perfect, unspoiled, pure) places corrupted by evilplaces corrupted by evil

Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of the fliesfor Lord of the flies