Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Allegory A fictional work with two levels of meaning: literal and symbolic.A fictional work with two levels of meaning:

Lord of the FliesLord of the Fliesby William Goldingby William Golding

AllegoryAllegory

• A fictional work with two levels of A fictional work with two levels of meaning: literal and symbolic.meaning: literal and symbolic.

• Characters, objects or events in a Characters, objects or events in a story or poem represent or story or poem represent or symbolize ideas and concepts.symbolize ideas and concepts.

• The underlying meaning has The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political moral, social, religious, or political significance.significance.

William Golding (1911-William Golding (1911-1993)1993)

• English novelist, English novelist, playwright, poet.playwright, poet.

• Won Nobel Prize for Won Nobel Prize for Literature; Knighted in Literature; Knighted in 1988.1988.

• Fought with Royal Navy Fought with Royal Navy during WWII; involved during WWII; involved with sinking of Bismarck with sinking of Bismarck and D-Day on Normandy and D-Day on Normandy beach.beach.

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

• Published in 1954.Published in 1954.• Can be read as an Can be read as an

allegory of WWII.allegory of WWII.• Struggle against war Struggle against war

and savagery; moral and savagery; moral ambiguity and fragility ambiguity and fragility of civilization.of civilization.

Language & StyleLanguage & Style• Simile: comparison using “like” or “as.”Simile: comparison using “like” or “as.”

– This last piece of shop brought sniggers from the choir, who This last piece of shop brought sniggers from the choir, who perched like black birds on the criss-cross trunks.” (19).perched like black birds on the criss-cross trunks.” (19).

• Metaphor: implied comparison between two Metaphor: implied comparison between two things that appear different but share things that appear different but share similar characteristics.similar characteristics.– ““A storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in.” A storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in.”

(20).(20).

• Personification: giving human qualities to Personification: giving human qualities to inanimate objects.inanimate objects.– ““The great rock loitered, poised on one toe, decided not to return, The great rock loitered, poised on one toe, decided not to return,

fell, struck, turned over, leapt droning through the air and fell, struck, turned over, leapt droning through the air and smashed a deep hole in the canopy of the forest.” (26).smashed a deep hole in the canopy of the forest.” (26).

• Asyndeton (“unconnected”): literary device in Asyndeton (“unconnected”): literary device in which conjunctions [and, or, but, nor] are which conjunctions [and, or, but, nor] are omitted; creates emphasis:omitted; creates emphasis:– ““We saw no houses, no smoke, no footprints, no boats, no people.” We saw no houses, no smoke, no footprints, no boats, no people.”

(30).(30).

• Polysyndeton (“bound together”): literary Polysyndeton (“bound together”): literary device in which conjunctions are used where device in which conjunctions are used where they might have been omitted; creates they might have been omitted; creates emphasis:emphasis:– ““Here the beach was interrupted abruptly by the square motif of the Here the beach was interrupted abruptly by the square motif of the

landscape; a great platform of pink granite thrust up landscape; a great platform of pink granite thrust up uncompromisingly through the forest and terrace and sand and lagoon uncompromisingly through the forest and terrace and sand and lagoon to make a jetty four feet high.” (11).to make a jetty four feet high.” (11).

• Hyperbole (“over-casting”): exaggeration Hyperbole (“over-casting”): exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis; creates of ideas for the sake of emphasis; creates contrast between what is ordinary and contrast between what is ordinary and exceptional.exceptional.– ““They walked along, two continents of experience and They walked along, two continents of experience and

feeling, unable to communicate.” (50).feeling, unable to communicate.” (50).

• Verisimilitude: likeness to truth; Verisimilitude: likeness to truth; resemblance of real event in fiction; resemblance of real event in fiction; sensory detail helps create sense of sensory detail helps create sense of reality.reality.– ““The droppings were war. They piled among turned earth. The droppings were war. They piled among turned earth.

They were olive green, smooth and steamed a little.” (45).They were olive green, smooth and steamed a little.” (45).

Language and Style Language and Style (cont.)(cont.)

• Synecdoche: a literary device in Synecdoche: a literary device in which a part of something which a part of something represents the whole or the represents the whole or the whole of something is used to whole of something is used to represent a part.represent a part.– ““He began to dance and his laughter became He began to dance and his laughter became

a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered toward a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” (58).and self-consciousness.” (58).

SymbolsSymbols

• ConchConch• Signal fireSignal fire• Piggy’s glassesPiggy’s glasses• IslandIsland• BeastBeast

SymbolsSymbols

• Conch: authority; order; powerConch: authority; order; power• Signal fire: hope for rescueSignal fire: hope for rescue• Piggy’s glasses: hope for rescue, Piggy’s glasses: hope for rescue,

technology, human intelligencetechnology, human intelligence• Island: adventure, paradiseIsland: adventure, paradise• Beast: danger/evilBeast: danger/evil

Characters As SymbolsCharacters As Symbols

• RalphRalph• PiggyPiggy• JackJack• SimonSimon

Characters As SymbolsCharacters As Symbols

• Ralph: authority; law and orderRalph: authority; law and order• Piggy: reason; human intelligence; Piggy: reason; human intelligence;

adult worldadult world• Jack: savagery; anarchy; violenceJack: savagery; anarchy; violence• Simon: kindness; compassion; Simon: kindness; compassion;

naturenature

Allusions in Allusions in LOTFLOTF• Allusion:Allusion: A reference to A reference to a a

famous person, historical or famous person, historical or religious figure, historical event, religious figure, historical event, or another literary workor another literary work.

• Literary Allusions in LOTF:Literary Allusions in LOTF:Coral Island & Treasure IslandCoral Island & Treasure Island: : adventure novels about boys adventure novels about boys trapped on islands but are trapped on islands but are rescued rescued in the end.in the end.

Biblical Allusions (cont.)Biblical Allusions (cont.)• The island: Garden of Eden (starts as a paradise)The island: Garden of Eden (starts as a paradise)• Lord of the Flies: Beelzebub (demon in Hell); Lord of the Flies: Beelzebub (demon in Hell);

references to beast speaking, rising out of sea; being references to beast speaking, rising out of sea; being worshiped because it cannot be defeatedworshiped because it cannot be defeated

• Christ figure:Christ figure: Performs miraclesPerforms miracles Has divine or mystical qualitiesHas divine or mystical qualities Heals/helps othersHeals/helps others Displays kindness and forgivenessDisplays kindness and forgiveness Fights for justice; faces evilFights for justice; faces evil Dies and is resurrectedDies and is resurrected Martyr: sacrifices himself/herself for a cause larger Martyr: sacrifices himself/herself for a cause larger

than selfthan self

Simon as Christ figureSimon as Christ figure• Kindness/helps others: builds huts, Kindness/helps others: builds huts,

defends Piggy, feeds littluns.defends Piggy, feeds littluns.• Mystical qualities: boys recognize him Mystical qualities: boys recognize him

as different; goes to his secret place to as different; goes to his secret place to be alone and think; seems to know be alone and think; seems to know Ralph will go home.Ralph will go home.

Simon (cont.)Simon (cont.)

• Faces evil: confrontation with Lord of the Faces evil: confrontation with Lord of the FliesFlies

• Martyr: Understands the truth about evil, Martyr: Understands the truth about evil, fear, and human nature; is killed for trying fear, and human nature; is killed for trying to reveal it.to reveal it.

• Dies and is Resurrected: Body Dies and is Resurrected: Body ““disappears.disappears.””

Symbol & ThemeSymbol & Theme• Symbol: Lord of the Flies is Symbol: Lord of the Flies is

symbolic of the innate evil in symbolic of the innate evil in human beings.human beings.

• Theme: Under the right Theme: Under the right circumstances (the breakdown of circumstances (the breakdown of civilization), the innate evil in civilization), the innate evil in human beings will prevail.human beings will prevail.

QuestionQuestion

• If a theme of If a theme of Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies is is the realization of innate evil in the realization of innate evil in mankind, why does Golding mankind, why does Golding introduce a savior figure?introduce a savior figure?