1. The Lord of the Flies - by William Golding

2. About William Golding British novelist
Born on September 19, 1911, died 1993
Studied Science and English at Oxford
Fought in Royal Navy during WWII
Participated in invasion of Normandy on D-Day
At war’s end, returned to teaching and writing
Earned the Nobel Prize in Literature

3. SIR WILLIAM GOLDING 1911-1993 Born in Britain
Was employed as a schoolteacher
Served five years in the Royal Navy during WWII
Lord of the Flies published in 1954

4. The World Golding Knew WWII 1939- 1945
The fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940
Britain feared an invasion and evacuated children to other countries
1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a British ship carrying children, killing the boys, thus suspending the oversees evacuation program

5. Events of WWII 1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany
1940- Fall of France
1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany
1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on Japan and enter the war
1944- D-Day Normandy Landings
1945- Bombing of Dresden
1945- European victory celebrated
1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 60-80,000 people (final death toll 135,000 people)

6. IMAGES FROM WWII

7. IMAGES FROM WWII
IMAGES FROM WWII
IMAGES FROM WWII
IMAGES FROM WWII

8. On Writing Lord of the Flies
“It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazis. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazis.”
--William Golding

9. Inspiration
Golding once allowed his class of boys total freedom in a debate, but had to intervene as mayhem soon broke out
Experiences in war
Critical response to Coral Island by R.M. Ballanytyne
Philosophical questions about human nature

10. Sir William Golding’s Influences
As a child, Golding had
witnessed WWI, “the war to
end all wars”
In the decade before Lord of
the Flies was published, Britain
had been involved in two more
wars: World War II (which
Golding served) and the
Korean War

11. Philosophical Influence
John Hobbes
English Philosopher:
Man is by nature selfishly individualistic
Man constantly at war with other men
Fear of violent death is sole motivation to create civilizations
Men need to be controlled by absolute sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior

12. PLOT OF LORD OF THE FLIES
William Golding sets his novel Lord of the Flies at a time when Europe is in the midst of nuclear destruction. A group of British school boys, being evacuated from England, crash lands on a tropical island. No adults survive the crash, and the novel is the story of the boys' descent into chaos, disorder, and evil.

13. Story Synopsis Set in mid 1940’s when Europe was engulfed in war.
A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot down.
Only the boys survive the crash and try to form a society and govern themselves.

14. TERMS to REMEMBER
Microcosm - A small world that represents the world at large
Edenic – Eden-like, paradise like, a setting that has not yet been spoiled by man

15. The Lord of the Flies – Title Significance
“Beelzebub” is a Hebrew
word for Lucifer
The literal translation of
“Beelzebub” into
English is “Lord of the
Flies”

16. Golding’s Message
“The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.”
--William Golding

17. Themes Survival Power/leadership styles Civilization vs. Savagery
Loss of Innocence
Human nature
Duality of man
Nature Vs. Nurture
Good Vs. Evil

18. Golding’s Literary Technique
Heavy use of symbolism
Irony
Allusion
Abundant imagery and sensory detail
Figurative Language
Simile
Metaphor
Personification

19. Allusions
Use of the names Ralph and Jack as the main characters from The Coral Island.
Simon from the Bible “Simon called Peter”, Peter was the other boy’s name in The Coral Island
Mention of Coral Island and Treasure Island
Numerous biblical allusions throughout

20. SYMBOLS 1) Piggy’s glasses – the last surviving
evidence of the lawful, structured,
rational world
2) conch shell – order and democracy
on the island
3) The fire
4) The Island
5) The Beast
6) Jack’s mask

21. Artist’s Rendering of the Island
. The island in Lord of the Flies is never actually pointed out in the real world. The tropical location has a beach, as seen above, where Ralph and Piggy emerge from the scar to find the conch. Further inland is the dense jungle, towards the center of which is Simon's mat of creepers. This is also where pigs are hunted and the Lord of the Flies is eventually found. The mountain located at the very left of this rendering is where the boys climb to the summit in order to take in their surroundings. It is also the location of the fire and the dead parachutist. Castle Rock, the other high rising formation found on the opposite end of the island, rises high above the sea. The area is turned into a fortress for Jack and his tribe. The island is described as being in the shape of a boat, which is approximated in the above picture. The boat imagery and the island itself are both symbols, as found on the analysis page. The island is a microcosm for the real world, along with all the problems and realities faced in the world.0/8

22. Character Analysis
1) Ralph- Main character described as “fair haired,” having “broad shoulders…[like a] boxer’s,” and has a face that “proclaims no devil”
Committed to civilization and morality
2) Piggy - Described as “fat,” “intellectual,” asthmatic, and needs glasses
Represents scientific, rational side
of civilization, and social order

23. Character Analysis
Simon - Described as a skinny, vivid little boy, who “meditates;” and he faints at different times in the novel, which some cultures have believed is a sign of connecting with the spiritual world
Seems to be connected with nature, and he has an innate, spiritual goodness

24. Character Analysis Sam and Eric (Samneric) ~ Twins
Described as barely having enough skin to cover both, bullet-headed, and they finish each other’s sentences
The last to remain loyal to Ralph
Represent the tug-of-war
within us to remain good

25. Character Analysis
Jack - Described as having red hair, malevolent, aggressive, wears black with a snake clasp
Cruel and manipulative
Represents our savage instincts played out

26. Character Analysis Roger - “Silent” and sadistic
Targets the “littluns”
The only one to premeditate murder
Kills without conscience
Pure evil

27. Character Analysis “Littluns” ~ The younger kids
Represent the common folk, who easily follow the lead of others into savagery when there is no enforced structure in society

28. Lord of the Flies in Pop Culture
In Hook, Robin Williams compares Lost Boys to savages in LOTF
The Simpsons episode “Das Bus” is a parody
Inspiration for the anime series Infinite Ryvius
Mel Gibson’s 2006 movie Apocalypto has a similar ending.
T.V. shows Survivor and Lost are said to have been inspired from LOTF
2006 movie Unaccompanied Minors makes reference to LOTF

29. Popular Culture Cont.
Stephen King uses the name “Castle Rock” (from the novel) as the name of a town in his books. He also makes reference to LOTF in the novels The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Cujo and Hearts in Atlantis
Orson Scott Card makes reference in his novel, Ender’s Shadow.
Degrassi: The Next Generation, Danny Phantom, The Daily Show all mention the novel

30. Source of Inspiration to Musicians
Musicians Iron Maiden, Gatsby’s American Dream, Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos, A.F.I., and Danielle Dax have all recorded songs about the novel.
Titles such as:
“Where the Flies Are”
“Touch Piggy’s Eyes”
“Lord of the Flies”
“Piggy
“Fable”

31. The End
“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy."
- William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Chapter 12