William Golding’s

William Golding Born in 1911 in Cornwall, England Became a teacher 1940 he joined the Royal Navy and fought in WWII Lord of the Flies published in 1954

Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to him in 1983 William Golding Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to him in 1983 He died in 1993

Lord of the Flies Is an allegory This means that the characters and objects are infused with symbolic significance that conveys the novel’s central themes and ideas

Lord of the Flies Plot A plane evacuating a group of schoolboys is shot down over a deserted tropical island This means that the boys have no adult supervision and are entirely on their own

THEMES

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Civilization versus Savagery

This is the conflict between

The instinct to live by the rules and value the good of the group.

Versus

The instinct for immediate gratification of your desires.

Loss of Innocence

The boys become savages.

Motifs

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

Biblical Parallels

The island is Paradise.

Evil comes to the island through temptation.

Symbols

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

The Conch Shell

Symbol of civilization and order

Piggy’s glasses

Symbol of the power of science and intellectual endeavor in society.

The Signal Fire

Symbol of the boy’s connection to civilization.

The Beast

Symbol of the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings.

The Lord of the Flies

Is the literal translation of the biblical name Beelzebub, a powerful demon in hell sometimes thought to be the devil himself.

Is a symbol of the power of evil.

Ralph The Protagonist 12 years old Represents the civilizing instinct

Jack The antagonist Leader of the choir Leader of the hunters

Simon Only naturally “good” character

Piggy Ralph’s “lieutenant” Represents the rational, scientific side of civilization

Roger Jack’s “lieutenant” Represents the evil lurking within

Sam and Eric A pair of twins closely allied with Ralph

The Lord of the Flies Name given to a pig’s head offered to the “beast” Represents the primordial instincts of power and cruelty

The End