Lord of the Flies Chapter One: The Sound of the Shell

WILLIAM GOLDING (19 September 1911 – 19 June 1993) British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature Best known for his novel Lord of the Flies. During World War II, Golding fought in the Royal Navy (on board a destroyer) briefly involved in the pursuit and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck Participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, commanding a landing ship that fired salvoes of rockets onto the beaches, and then in a naval action at Walcheren in which 23 out of 24 assault craft were sunk.

WILLIAM GOLDING Golding returned to writing and teaching, with a dark view of the European civilization. Recalling later his war experiences, he remarked that "man produces evil, as a bee produces honey.” Believed human beings cannot control the beast within Believed that one’s morals come directly from our surroundings, and if there is no civilization around us, we will lose these values

British Evacuation When Hitler came to power in 1933, British leaders worried that a new war might begin. By 1934, afraid that British cities and towns would be targets for bombing raids by aircraft, officials made secret plans to move infants, schoolchildren and some adults to the countryside if war began. In September 1939, evacuation began several days before Britain entered the war. The evacuation plan worked very well and 1½ million children and adults were moved within 3 days, including 600,000 from London. There were no big bombing raids on Britain in the first months of the war and, by early 1940, many children had returned home.

LORD OF THE FLIES Tells the story of a group of boys marooned on a tropical island after their plane is shot down during WWII. This novel explores the idea of human evil is to some extent based on Golding’s experience with the violence and savagery of human beings during WWII. This book explores the breakdown into savagery of a group of boys free from the imposed moral constraints of civilization and society.

Setting: How did the boys arrive on the island? How do they know that it is an island?

SETTING is an integral part of the novel The island is a “character” in Golding’s novel Personification is… The island is personified, it is given human characteristics. (Ex. the plane carves a scar into the island.)

The Island as a Microcosm Micro: small / Cosm- world A little world; especially: the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe A community or other unity that is the epitome of a large unity The island is representative of the world at large The boys face the same realities of the real world

SYMBOLISM Symbolism: What are some symbols? Ralph’s school sweater Piggy’s specs The conch The scar

The Scar What does the scar symbolize? What is the scar? Where the plane crashed on the island it tore down a line of trees and undergrowth. What does the scar symbolize? The scar symbolizes: - man’s destruction - destructive forces of human kind

Imagery Imagery is descriptive language used to create a mental picture. It helps to create mood. “The ground beneath the palm trees was a bank covered with coarse grass, torn everywhere by the upheavals of fallen tress, scattered with decaying coconuts and palm saplings. Behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and the open face of the scar.” What image is created?

The Conch What does the conch symbolize? Who finds the conch and why is that significant? What do the boys do with the conch when they find it?

Ralph and Piggy Ralph and Piggy are the first people we meet in the novel and are very different in background and character. We can see this in their contrasting reactions to being stranded on the island: Ralph’s excitement suggests he is adventurous and fearless ‘…the delight of a realised ambition overcame him…“No grown-ups!”’ Piggy repeats himself, indicating he is very anxious ‘“They’re all dead,” said Piggy, “an’ this is an island. Nobody don’t know we’re here. Your dad don’t know, nobody don’t know…’’’ Worksheet Three accompanies this slide. Possible quotes to show Piggy and Ralph’s feelings about their situation: Ralph – ‘…he dreamed pleasantly’; ‘Here at last was the imagined but never fully realised place leaping into life.’ Piggy – says repeatedly “We got to do something”; reference made to ‘Piggy’s ill-omened talk’. Now select two more quotes which show us Piggy and Ralph’s feelings about their situation. How would you feel if you were stranded on an island?

Ralph profile Character Appearance Confident, Tall, blonde seems to be a good leader. Tall, blonde hair, athletic. Background Blond, fair hair boy About twelve In school uniform Ralph’s school sweater symbolizes……. Civilization Ralph’s removal of his school sweater symbolizes…… The removal of civilization Doesn’t ask the fat boy his name; Why? Appears uninterested or indifferent to Piggy Happy about the lack of adult supervision of the island Proof? He stood on his head Comfortable; relaxed; confident about their situation Son of a Royal Navy commander Enchanted with the physical aspects of the island Removes his clothes (naked; natural state) and goes for a swim in the pool Father a Naval officer. Relationships with others Piggy and others look up to him, friendly with Jack.

Piggy profile Character Appearance Intelligent and sensible – teaches Ralph how to blow the conch, suggests making a list of names. Fat, asthmatic and short- sighted. Background Obese Shorts Lives with his auntie; had a candy store Has a dead father Asthmatic Wears thick glasses Piggy’s glasses symbolize…….. Intelligence Proof? Knows there are no adults on the island Knows the pilot was killed in the crash and the plane was dragged out to sea Atom bomb: believes the adults are dead at the airport Assumes there are other boys on the island Concerned with finding the other boys on the island and with the details of how they will survive Does not want to be known by his nickname, Piggy Orphan, lives with aunt. Different accent to others. Relationships with others Fears Jack, is taunted by others because of nickname.

Foreshadowing What is foreshadowing? It is a technique of suggesting to the reader that something will happen later in the story. This is usually something bad, and therefore foreshadowing creates a sense of tension and anticipation. At the end of Chapter One, Jack has failed to kill the pig: ‘He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. Next time there would be no mercy. He looked round fiercely, daring them to contradict.’ Worksheet Six accompanies this slide. This event foreshadows Jack’s increasingly savage behaviour throughout the novel, beginning when he first succeeds in killing a pig. Students might like to refer back to their predictions and see if they were right. What does this tell us about Jack? What could this event be foreshadowing?

Jack profile Character Appearance Bossy and Thin, red hair rude – orders the choir about. Thin, red hair and freckles, mean expression. Background Leader of the choir Tall, thin, bony Red hair Ugly face Arrogant (Proof?) Assumes he should be chief because he is the head choir boy Leader of the choirboys. Relationships with others Dominates the choir. Likes Ralph but takes an immediate dislike to Piggy.

The British Boys’ Choir A party of boys who marched in step Dressed eccentrically; How? Wore square black cap with a silver badge “The heat of the tropics, the descent, the search for food, and now this sweaty march along the blazing beach had given them the complexions of newly wasted plums.” Literary device? “Choir perched like black birds on a trunk.” Who is the leader of the choir?