1. Lord of the Flies provides a plethora of themes to discuss, and ultimately when you are asked to write interpretive essays, they must connect whatever literary elements you choose to address the novel’s overall meaning or significance, which necessitates an understanding of theme. Identifying themes in a text allows the reader to go backwards into events, descriptions, symbols and other textual elements, then go forward into the interpretation of what the text has to say about the themes it presents.

2. There are several threads of potential reading that students can pursue: Power theme and the ongoing struggle between Jack and Ralph A psychological reading, tracing the development of fear and irrational behavior Bullying theme and the mistreatment of Piggy as targeted outsider Simon’s character development

3.  Fear  Power  Good and evil  Human nature  Light and darkness  Bullying  War and peace  Cooperation and conflict