Lord of the Flies Analysis

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

Civilization vs. Savagery to live by rules, moral commands to live by rules, moral commandsor to gratify immediate desires, to gratify immediate desires, obtain supremacy obtain supremacy control power control power

Contd. civilization vs. savagery, civilization vs. savagery, order vs. chaos order vs. chaos reason vs. impulse reason vs. impulse law vs. anarchy law vs. anarchy good vs. evil. good vs. evil.

Examples P. 1: Introduction to characters P. 1: Introduction to characters –Ralph –Piggy P. 40 the dissolution of the young English boys' civilized, moral, disciplined behavior to a wild, brutal, barbaric life in the jungle. P. 40 the dissolution of the young English boys' civilized, moral, disciplined behavior to a wild, brutal, barbaric life in the jungle.

Examples contd. Ralph, the protagonist, who represents order and leadership; Ralph, the protagonist, who represents order and leadership; Jack, the antagonist, who represents savagery and the desire for power. Jack, the antagonist, who represents savagery and the desire for power.

The Wreckage Piggy, no savage feelings Piggy, no savage feelings Roger seems barely capable of comprehending the rules of civilization. Roger seems barely capable of comprehending the rules of civilization. Golding: savagery more primal and fundamental Golding: savagery more primal and fundamental Civilization: moral behavior forced upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human individuality. Civilization: moral behavior forced upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human individuality.

The Human Heart revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism. revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism. innate human evil innate human evil finds expression: the beast, the sow's head on the stake. finds expression: the beast, the sow's head on the stake. only Simon seems innately good. only Simon seems innately good.

Loss of Innocence well-behaved, orderly well-behaved, orderly to cruel, bloodthirsty hunters to cruel, bloodthirsty hunters Chapter 12:hunted, tortured, and killed animals and human beings Chapter 12:hunted, tortured, and killed animals and human beings Chapter 3: guileless children swimming in the lagoon. Chapter 3: guileless children swimming in the lagoon. What other ways have the boys lost innocence? What other ways have the boys lost innocence?

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

Biblical Parallels subtle motif in the novel, adding thematic resonance to the main ideas of the story. subtle motif in the novel, adding thematic resonance to the main ideas of the story. The island: Eden The island: Eden the Lord of the Flies: Beelzebub the Lord of the Flies: Beelzebub Simon: Martyr or Christ figure. Simon: Martyr or Christ figure. Conversation: forty days in the wilderness. Conversation: forty days in the wilderness.

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

The Conch Shell The Conch Shell powerful symbol of civilization and order, democratic power. powerful symbol of civilization and order, democratic power. Shows demise: deeper savagery ignores Shows demise: deeper savagery ignores The conch is crushed in a violent act The conch is crushed in a violent act Consider how nature is forced to be an instrument of society and science. Consider how nature is forced to be an instrument of society and science.

Piggy's Glasses glasses represent the power of science glasses represent the power of science Science versus nature: new theme Science versus nature: new theme

The Signal Fire barometer of the boys' connection to civilization. barometer of the boys' connection to civilization. Early, the fire is a sign that they want to be rescued Early, the fire is a sign that they want to be rescued Burn out: lost sight of their desire to be rescued Burn out: lost sight of their desire to be rescued Now the fire is a measurement of the strength of the civilized on the island. Now the fire is a measurement of the strength of the civilized on the island. Ironically, the forest fire Jack's gang starts to hunt and kill Ralph summons a ship. Ironically, the forest fire Jack's gang starts to hunt and kill Ralph summons a ship.

The Beast stands for the primal instinct of savagery stands for the primal instinct of savagery more savage, the beast grows stronger. more savage, the beast grows stronger. leaving it sacrifices and treating it as a god. leaving it sacrifices and treating it as a god.

The Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed sow's head that Jack impales. The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed sow's head that Jack impales. complicated symbol: Simon confronts the sow's head telling him that evil lies within every human heart and promising to have some “fun” with him. complicated symbol: Simon confronts the sow's head telling him that evil lies within every human heart and promising to have some “fun” with him. What is the Fun? What is the Fun?

Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Simon, Roger many of its characters signify important ideas or themes. many of its characters signify important ideas or themes. Ralph represents order, leadership, and civilization. Ralph represents order, leadership, and civilization. Piggy represents the scientific and intellectual aspects of civilization. Piggy represents the scientific and intellectual aspects of civilization. Jack represents unbridled savagery and the desire for power. Jack represents unbridled savagery and the desire for power. Simon represents natural human goodness. Simon represents natural human goodness. Roger represents brutality and bloodlust at their most extreme. Roger represents brutality and bloodlust at their most extreme.

Political State the littluns might be seen as the common people, the littluns might be seen as the common people, the older boys represent the ruling classes and political leaders. the older boys represent the ruling classes and political leaders. Ralph and Simon use their power to protect the younger boys and advance the good of the group; Ralph and Simon use their power to protect the younger boys and advance the good of the group; Jack and Roger use their power to gratify their own desires, treating the littler boys as objects for their own amusement. Jack and Roger use their power to gratify their own desires, treating the littler boys as objects for their own amusement.