The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Lord of the Flies - by William Golding

SIR WILLIAM GOLDING • British novelist • Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in literature • Fought in Royal Navy during WWII • Participated in invasion of Normandy on D-Day • At war’s end, returned to teaching and writing 1954

Sir William Golding’s Influences ØAs a child, Golding had witnessed WWI, “the war to end all wars” ØIn the decade before Lord of the Flies was published, Britain had been involved in two more wars: World War II (which Golding served) and the Korean War

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

The Plot • Set in mid 1940’s when Europe engulfed in war. • A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot down. • Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society and govern themselves.

THEMES IN LORD OF THE FLIES • Civilization vs. Savagery • Loss of Innocence • Nature of Good and Evil • Goodness is rare and fleeting • All men have capacity for evil

SYMBOLS • The Conch Shell - Civilization and order The Beast - The fear that separates man from God • Piggy’s Glasses - Reason, science and insight • Lord of the Flies – “Beelzebub”; The devil • Fire Signal - Hope, salvation • Jack’s Mask – Id/Ego/Superego

Artist’s Rendering of the Island . The island in Lord of the Flies is never actually pointed out in the real world. The tropical location has a beach, as seen above, where Ralph and Piggy emerge from the scar to find the conch. Further inland is the dense jungle, towards the center of which is Simon's mat of creepers. This is also where pigs are hunted and the Lord of the Flies is eventually found. The mountain located at the very left of this rendering is where the boys climb to the summit in order to take in their surroundings. It is also the location of the fire and the dead parachutist. Castle Rock, the other high rising formation found on the opposite end of the island, rises high above the sea. The area is turned into a fortress for Jack and his tribe. The island is described as being in the shape of a boat, which is approximated in the above picture. The boat imagery and the island itself are both symbols, as found on the analysis page. The island is a microcosm for the real world, along with all the problems and realities faced in the world. 0/8 • http: //www. gerenser. com/lotf/island. html

The World Golding Knew • WWII 1939 - 1945 • The fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940 • Britain feared an invasion and evacuated children to other countries • 1940 - A German U-Boat torpedoed British ship carrying children killing the boys, thus suspending the oversees evacuation program

Major WWII Events • • 1939 - Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany 1940 - Fall of France 1940 - Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on Japan and enter the world war 1944 - D-Day Normandy Landings 1945 - Bombing of Dresden 1945 - European victory celebrated 1945 - Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 6080, 000 people (final death toll 135, 000 people) • Death and destruction abound!!!

IMAGES FROM WWII

Modern Day Allusions • Allusion- (n. ) an indirect reference to something There are many, many modern day allusions to Lord of the Flies in popular culture. For example….

The Simpson’s • The Simpson’s episode titled Das Bus is a parody of Lord of the Flies. • We will watch

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

Sponge Bob Squarepants • The episode Club Spongebob is a spoof of LOTF.

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

• STOP. • Characters Next

Character Analysis 1) Ralph- Main character (Protagionist) described as “fair haired, ” having “broad shoulders…[like a] boxer’s, ” and has a face that “proclaims no devil” -Committed to civilization and morality - Starts ID, fluctuates around EGO, reverts back to ID… WHERE DOES HE END UP? ? - Discuss and give examples:

Piggy • Piggy - Described as “fat, ” “intellectual, ” asthmatic, and needs glasses • Represents scientific, rational side of civilization, and social order. • SUPEREGO throughout. Does he ever change? – Discuss – GIVE EXAMPLES

Simon • Simon – • Described as a skinny, vivid little boy, who “meditates; ” and he faints at different times in the novel, which some cultures have believed is a sign of connecting with the spiritual world • Seems to be connected with nature, and he has an innate, spiritual goodness • What does he represent SYMBOLICALLY? ? ? – Discuss give examples

Samneric • Sam and Eric (Samneric) ~ Twins • Described as barely having enough skin to cover both, bullet-headed, and they finish each other’s sentences • The last to remain loyal to Ralph • What do they represent? ? – Discuss, give examples

JACK • Jack – • Described as having red hair, malevolent, aggressive, wears black with a snake clasp • Cruel and manipulative • Represents our savage instincts played out • Jack SUPEREGO, then ID. • Does he ever change? – Discuss and give examples

ROGER • Roger – • “Silent” and sadistic; Targets the “littluns” • The only one to premeditate murder • Kills without conscience Pure evil • He is ID throughout…. Give some examples of Roger acting in ID • Does HE ever change? ? ? – Discuss and give examples

Littluns vs Bigguns • “Littluns” ~ The younger kids • Represent the common folk, who easily follow the lead of others into savagery when there is no enforced structure in society • What do the Bigguns represent? ? • Can we attribute any qualities of Littluns vs Bigguns in our society? ? – Discuss give examples