William Golding. Born September 19, 1911 in Cornwall, England Became an English professor in 1935 Joined the Royal Navy in 1940 Awarded the.

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

Born September 19, 1911 in Cornwall, England Became an English professor in 1935 Joined the Royal Navy in 1940 Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983

William Golding

As a child he enjoyed hurting others He was a self-described brat Later found passion in teaching Became Lt. Golding during World War II

Inspiration for The Lord of the Flies

William Golding

http://vimeo.com/14899170

William Golding on Lord of the Flies

Set on a deserted island during an unspecified

nuclear war Set in present time (1950s) Third person point of view Focuses on Ralph

Foundation

Ralph- A 12 year old boy who attempts to

coordinate civilization on the island. Represents man’s instinct for order as opposed to savagery. Considered the protagonist of the novel.

Jack- As the novel’s antagonist, Jack embodies the savage nature of humans. Jack becomes leader of the hunters and increasingly lusts for more power and cruelty.

Simon- Simon is quiet and the only naturally “good” character on the island. He is not swayed by society and maintains a connection to nature.

Key Characters

Piggy- An intellectual and Ralph’s “right-hand

man”. He is very innovative, but later on dies in the novel. Represents the rational nature of humankind.

Roger- A sadistic lieutenant to Jack, Roger is cruel and murders Piggy by pushing a rock onto him.

Sam and Eric- Twins who are joined at the hip and ally with Ralph. Commonly called “Samneric” by the group, they eventually are coerced into an alliance with Jack.

Key Characters

Plane carrying British schoolboys is shot down

over a deserted island Ralph is chosen as island leader due to the fact

that he has a summoning conch shell Jack is chosen to hunt food for the group Signal fire is lit to alert passing ships Fire is left unattended and burns a large area of

the island Ralph is responsible and stays on the boys to

continue lighting the fire and gathering food

Plot Overview

Ship passes by one day, but due to negligence the

signal fire was burned out Jack returns with his first kill and all the hunters are

displaying a strange frenzy for savagery Rumors of a monster on the island begin to plague

the boys soon after this A parachutist lands on the island and the boys

mistake him for a beast The boys organize a hunting expedition, during

which Jack persuades many boys to join him and shun Ralph

Plot Overview

Jack declares himself king of the hunters and

violently leads a ritual to kill a sow and decapitate it

Simon has a vision that the pig head (now covered with flies) tells him that he will never escape the Lord of the Flies which exists in all men

Simon now understands that the parachutist is not the beast, but the beast lies within every boy

The boys kill Simon (with their bare hands), who they mistake for the beast

Plot Overview

Jack and his hunters launch an attack on Piggy

and Ralph and their followers, killing Piggy with a boulder in the process

The entire group turns on Ralph, who is now being hunted savagely like an animal

Right when Ralph collapses on the beach, ready to accept his fate, a Naval officer appears, summoned by the signal fire

The boys all sob with knowledge that they are saved

Plot Overview

Closely related to the Royal Navy Inspired by World War II

Connections to History

Foreshadowing: When Jack hesitates to kill the

pig Comparisons: "..taken away its life like a long

satisfying drink." Allegory: The whole novel represents the

nature of man Imagery: Very descriptive about the island

setting

Literary Devices

Conch: Civilization and order Glasses: Power of science Beast: Primal savagery that exists in all

mankind Lord of the Flies: Satan figure, evokes the

beast in all men, a physical manifestation of the beast

Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Jack, Roger: Stand for different instincts and traits in each human being

Symbolism

Civilization vs. Savagery Loss of Innocence

Biblical Parallels Pristine place introduced to the corruption of

evil Simon and Lord of the Flies stand for a

confrontation between Jesus and the Devil

Themes and Motifs

“Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to

throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.”

“His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.”

Quotes

“What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us.” “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And

I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?”

“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.”

Quotes