1. Lord of the Flies By William Golding

2. Starter What ideas and impressions do you get from the title and front cover of the novel? What ideas and impressions do you get from the title and front cover of the novel? Reflect on the possible meanings of the words and pictures Reflect on the possible meanings of the words and pictures

3. Golding’s interest in the existence of evil The title is meant to be a reference to the Devil or Beelzebub (the Hebrew word for the Devil), which is the God of the Fly (translated as Lord of the Flies). The title is meant to be a reference to the Devil or Beelzebub (the Hebrew word for the Devil), which is the God of the Fly (translated as Lord of the Flies). The existence of evil is explored in many ways including: the idea of the beast, the boys’ degeneration into savagery and the background of the war. The existence of evil is explored in many ways including: the idea of the beast, the boys’ degeneration into savagery and the background of the war.

4. DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT? EXPLAIN. ‘If you don’t have laws, then you’re lost’

5. What does the term ‘context’ mean? The context of the novel means the circumstances at the time it was written – social, historical and literary factors that influenced what the author wrote The context of the novel means the circumstances at the time it was written – social, historical and literary factors that influenced what the author wrote Context is assessed by WJEC Context is assessed by WJEC To achieve a grade A* you have to identify and comment on the impact of social, cultural and historical contexts To achieve a grade A* you have to identify and comment on the impact of social, cultural and historical contexts

6. Points to consider: The people of Britain had just been through the Second World War The people of Britain had just been through the Second World War Food was still being rationed in Britain Food was still being rationed in Britain It was thought that there might be a nuclear war between Western countries and the Soviet Union It was thought that there might be a nuclear war between Western countries and the Soviet Union Nazi Germany had adopted a system of rewarding the strong and attacking the weak Nazi Germany had adopted a system of rewarding the strong and attacking the weak

7. When Lord of the Flies was published in the early 1950s Britain was living in the shadow of the horrors of World War Two. Golding was revolted by the evil things people did to each other in the war; The Nazi concentration camps, the Japanese treatment of their prisoners, the atomic bombing against civilians - even his own actions as a naval officer. Golding began to see all human nature as savage and unforgiving: he had seen that even the good could be corrupted. After the war the United Nations was set up to try to ensure that such a global conflict never happened again, but by 1954, when Lord of the Flies was published, the threat of a Third World War was very real. Many countries had built up arsenals of nuclear weapons with enough atomic energy to destroy civilisation.Context

8. William Golding was born in 1911 in Cornwall, England and died in 1993. He studied English Literature at Oxford then worked as a writer, actor and teacher until war broke out. During World War Two Golding served with the Royal Navy and witnessed first hand the true horrors of war. What he saw profoundly affected him. His view of humanity changed; he no longer believed that humans were naturally good and innocent. The war had exposed him to horrific experiences which influenced his writing in the years to come. After the war Golding worked as a teacher in a boys’ school in Salisbury and in 1954 he published his first novel, Lord of the Flies. Golding said that writing the book was like ‘lamenting the lost childhood of the world’. Golding was knighted in 1988 and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, shortly before he died. William Golding

9. Chapter 1 Ralph and Piggy call the other boys together Ralph and Piggy call the other boys together Ralph is made leader but Jack keeps the choir Ralph is made leader but Jack keeps the choir Ralph, Jack and Simon learn that they are on an island Ralph, Jack and Simon learn that they are on an island

10. Pause for thought… ‘the creature was a party of boys’ (p.15) ‘the creature was a party of boys’ (p.15) The choir and Jack are compared to a creature, which makes them seem less human. The choir and Jack are compared to a creature, which makes them seem less human. Why is this appropriate? Why is this appropriate?

11. Text focus Read the passage from ’The children who came along the beach’ to ‘eccentric clothing’ (pp.14-15) Read the passage from ’The children who came along the beach’ to ‘eccentric clothing’ (pp.14-15) What technique is Golding using here? What technique is Golding using here? How successful do you think it is? Explain How successful do you think it is? Explain

12. Foreshadowing Golding is signposting to the reader what will happen later in the story Golding is signposting to the reader what will happen later in the story Twice he presents an animal image to describe what the boys seem to see, before revealing to us what is really there Twice he presents an animal image to describe what the boys seem to see, before revealing to us what is really there ‘bat-like creature…The bat was the child’s shadow” and “The creature stepped from the mirage…The creature was a party of boys” ‘bat-like creature…The bat was the child’s shadow” and “The creature stepped from the mirage…The creature was a party of boys” What do these metaphors suggest to the reader? What do these metaphors suggest to the reader?

13. Lesson Focus: To explore the symbolism in Chapter 2 Starter: What are the connotations (associations) with fire? Starter: What are the connotations (associations) with fire? Positive Negative

14. Lesson Focus: To explore the symbolism in Chapter 2 Many of the important symbols of the novel are introduced in this chapter: Many of the important symbols of the novel are introduced in this chapter: The fire The fire The conch The conch Piggy’s glasses Piggy’s glasses The beast The beast

15. What does the conch represent, or stand for? In Chapter One Ralph blows the conch to bring everyone together. In Chapter One Ralph blows the conch to bring everyone together. In Chapter Two he decides that anyone who wishes to speak in assembly must first be holding the conch: In Chapter Two he decides that anyone who wishes to speak in assembly must first be holding the conch: ‘“I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking … And he won’t be interrupted.”’

16. What does the conch represent, or stand for? Because of its two important functions on the island, the conch is more than simply just a shell. The use of the conch is a child’s version of order: ‘“We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting.”’ Because of its two important functions on the island, the conch is more than simply just a shell. The use of the conch is a child’s version of order: ‘“We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting.”’ As the item which is used to call assembly and determine who can speak, the conch is powerful. It is symbolic of authority and democracy on the island. As the item which is used to call assembly and determine who can speak, the conch is powerful. It is symbolic of authority and democracy on the island.

17. What do Piggy’s glasses represent, or stand for? Jack realises that Piggy’s glasses can be used to light the fire Jack realises that Piggy’s glasses can be used to light the fire What are they a symbol of? What are they a symbol of? How are they an extension of Piggy’s persona? How are they an extension of Piggy’s persona?

18. What does the ’beastie’ represent, or stand for? One of the smaller boys says that he has seen a giant snake that he calls the ‘beastie’, which came at night and tried to eat him. One of the smaller boys says that he has seen a giant snake that he calls the ‘beastie’, which came at night and tried to eat him. Read again the passage which begins ‘He wants to know what you’re going to do about the snake-thing’ and ends ‘The assembly was silent.’ Read again the passage which begins ‘He wants to know what you’re going to do about the snake-thing’ and ends ‘The assembly was silent.’

19. Copy the grid and fill it in

20. Starter: The beast is described as looking like a snake. Why has Golding used this image? The beast is described as looking like a snake. Why has Golding used this image? HINT: What do snakes often symbolise in literature and Christianity? HINT: What do snakes often symbolise in literature and Christianity?

21. Pause for thought… The boys begin to feel an impact, and even a threat, from the natural world that surrounds them. They are unsure how to react. The small boys are scared and even Jack feels he is being hunted (Chapter 3). The boys begin to feel an impact, and even a threat, from the natural world that surrounds them. They are unsure how to react. The small boys are scared and even Jack feels he is being hunted (Chapter 3). How would you explain their fears at this point? Are they simply ‘imagining things’, or is there something real to be afraid of? How would you explain their fears at this point? Are they simply ‘imagining things’, or is there something real to be afraid of?

22. The Beast The fear of the unknown, and the savagery it provokes, is a theme of the novel The fear of the unknown, and the savagery it provokes, is a theme of the novel The littluns’ are becoming frightened at night because they think there is something in the forest The littluns’ are becoming frightened at night because they think there is something in the forest Jack feels that he is being hunted, even though he is doing the hunting Jack feels that he is being hunted, even though he is doing the hunting

23. Exploring symbolism further… “the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (p.66) “the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (p.66) Read the passage beginning “Jack was standing under a tree” and ending with “The mask compelled them” (pp.65-67) Read the passage beginning “Jack was standing under a tree” and ending with “The mask compelled them” (pp.65-67) What do you think makes Jack want to paint his face and what effect does this have on his behaviour? What do you think makes Jack want to paint his face and what effect does this have on his behaviour?

24. The title of Chapter Four – ‘Painted Faces and Long Hair’ is a reference to the way the appearances of the boys have altered since they have been on the island. In what ways do the boys look different to when they first arrived on the island? How does he feel when he wears his ‘mask’? How do the changes in Jack’s physical appearance reflect his character? Jack’s appearance has changed most dramatically. Changing appearances

25. The boys’ clothes have become scruffy and their hair long. The changing appearances of the boys reflects the way they are becoming more detached from civilization. The boys’ clothes have become scruffy and their hair long. The changing appearances of the boys reflects the way they are becoming more detached from civilization. Piggy’s hair remains the same and it is compared to that of a balding man. This highlights how he is different to the other boys and is also a nod towards his adult nature. Piggy’s hair remains the same and it is compared to that of a balding man. This highlights how he is different to the other boys and is also a nod towards his adult nature. Jack is excited when he paints his face – the mask encourages the savage nature within him and makes him feel braver. He can use the mask to hide his behaviour behind – he is “liberated from shame and self-consciousness”. Jack is excited when he paints his face – the mask encourages the savage nature within him and makes him feel braver. He can use the mask to hide his behaviour behind – he is “liberated from shame and self-consciousness”.