Lord of the Flies William Golding Background and Analysis Ms. Crystal Barbour Russell.

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesWilliam GoldingWilliam Golding

Background

and

Analysis

Ms. Crystal Barbour Russell

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

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

Writing Prompt• Are people inherently good or evil?

• Or crazy?

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 societyversus

Anarchy/savagery/selfish instinct

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

• Loss of innocence

Lord of the Flies

• Ralph’s name – “counsel” (Anglo-Saxon)• Jack’s name – “one who supplants” (Hebrew) • Simon’s name – “listener” (Hebrew)• Roger’s name – “spear” (Germanic)

Lord of the Flies

• Two extremes represented by:

Ralph – protagonist

Jack – antagonist

Bart as Jack

Symbols

• Conch shell – symbolizes order and authority; organization. When Piggy dies the conch is destroyed.

• Signal fire – symbolizes common sense and light of hope and rescue

• Beast – symbolizes evil – both within and without; fear of the unknown

Object/Character

Represents/Symbolizes

Piggy, Glasses/specs 

Clear-sightedness, intelligence. The glasses’ state represents the status of social order. Science and technology

Ralph, The Conch

Democracy, Order.

Simon Pure Goodness, "Christ Figure“ Martyr

Roger Evil, Satan – sadist (likes hurting others)

Jack Savagery, Anarchy, selfishness

The Island A microcosm representing the world – 1st chapter is life raft

The "Scar" Man's destruction, destructive forces

The BeastThe evil residing within everyone, the dark side of human

nature.

Lord of the Flies The Devil, great danger or evil

Symbolism

Symbols• Huts – civilization, basic needs of society,

shelter

• Face paint – loss of identity and

loss of self-consciousness

• Sharpened stick – evil intentions of murder

• Night and darkness – loss of sight, blindness

• Samneric – loss of identity, normal people

Allegory

• Social – conch, signal fire, glasses, Piggy, Ralph, huts,

• Moral – beast, Lord of the Flies, jack, Roger, sharpened stick,

• Religious – Simon, Lord of the Flies

Two movie

versions