Lord of the Flies Motifs

Loss of Innocence “Kill the pig, slit her throat, spill her blood” (Golding 69). “Kill the pig, slit her throat, spill her blood” (Golding 69). Jack said, “Come on! I’ll creep up and stab…” (64). Jack said, “Come on! I’ll creep up and stab…” (64). Robert as the pig –violent play ( ). Robert as the pig –violent play ( ). Ralph reflecting on how enthusiastic they all were when they first arrived (76). Ralph reflecting on how enthusiastic they all were when they first arrived (76).

Civilization vs. the Wild “Now, though there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand, Maurice still felt the unease of wrongdoing” (Golding 60). “Now, though there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand, Maurice still felt the unease of wrongdoing” (Golding 60). “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” (Golding 62). “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” (Golding 62). “Jack planned his new face. He made one eye white and rubbed red over the other half of his face…” (Golding ). “Jack planned his new face. He made one eye white and rubbed red over the other half of his face…” (Golding ). “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling” (Golding 64). “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling” (Golding 64). Ralph confronts Jack about the fire. At first, Jack couldn’t care less about the fire going out! (Golding 69-71). Ralph confronts Jack about the fire. At first, Jack couldn’t care less about the fire going out! (Golding 69-71). Ralph didn’t want meat … but he did! (Golding 73-75). Ralph didn’t want meat … but he did! (Golding 73-75). “Roger led the way straight through the castles, kicking them over” (60). “Roger led the way straight through the castles, kicking them over” (60). “Robert snarled at him. Ralph entered into the play and everybody laughed” (114). “Robert snarled at him. Ralph entered into the play and everybody laughed” (114).

Power “By the time the pile was built [for the fire], they were on different sides of a high barrier … Not even Ralph knew how a link between him and Jack had been snapped and fastened elsewhere” (Golding 73). “By the time the pile was built [for the fire], they were on different sides of a high barrier … Not even Ralph knew how a link between him and Jack had been snapped and fastened elsewhere” (Golding 73). “Ceremonially, Ralph laid the conch on the trunk beside him as a sign that his speech was over” (Golding 82). “Ceremonially, Ralph laid the conch on the trunk beside him as a sign that his speech was over” (Golding 82). Bullying: “Piggy was a bore; his fat, his ass-mar and his matter-of-fact ideas were dull, but there was always a little pleasure to be got out of pulling his leg, even if one did it by accident” (Golding 65). Bullying: “Piggy was a bore; his fat, his ass-mar and his matter-of-fact ideas were dull, but there was always a little pleasure to be got out of pulling his leg, even if one did it by accident” (Golding 65). “Jack, Jack, you haven’t got the conch. Let him speak” (91). “Jack, Jack, you haven’t got the conch. Let him speak” (91). “You want a real pig … because you’ve got to kill him … ‘Use a littlun,’ said Jack” (115). “You want a real pig … because you’ve got to kill him … ‘Use a littlun,’ said Jack” (115).

Leadership “Ralph … was big enough to be a link with the adult world of authority” (Golding 59). “Ralph … was big enough to be a link with the adult world of authority” (Golding 59). He stopped …” (Golding 76). He stopped …” (Golding 76). Ralph’s assembly and new rules (78-82). Ralph’s assembly and new rules (78-82). Ralph questions his own authority as leader (93-94). Ralph questions his own authority as leader (93-94). “’Conch! Conch!’ shouted Jack. ‘We don’t need the conch any more’” ( ). “’Conch! Conch!’ shouted Jack. ‘We don’t need the conch any more’” ( ). Jack leads the hunters while searching for pigs. Jack leads the hunters while searching for pigs. Jack doesn’t want Ralph to be the leader anymore (127). Jack doesn’t want Ralph to be the leader anymore (127).

Responsibility & Maturity Ralph has to be the adult because no one else will be (Golding 72). Ralph has to be the adult because no one else will be (Golding 72). “We ought to tell Piggy –in case-” (119). “We ought to tell Piggy –in case-” (119). “He stopped …” (Golding 76). “He stopped …” (Golding 76). “Ralph and Simon picked him up unhandily and carried him to a shelter” (95). “Ralph and Simon picked him up unhandily and carried him to a shelter” (95). “We need an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughing and falling off the log…” (79). “We need an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughing and falling off the log…” (79).

Additional Motifs Biblical parallels (book criticized for re-telling episodes in the Bible) Biblical parallels (book criticized for re-telling episodes in the Bible) Pristine places corrupted by evil Pristine places corrupted by evil Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of the flies Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of the flies