1. Lord of the Flies
Symbolism

2. Definition
Symbol: A person, place, or thing that represents or “stands for” an idea or concept.

3. Everyday Symbols

4. Everyday Symbols

5. Everyday Symbols

6. Everyday Symbols

7. Interpreting Literary Symbols
 The story itself must provide a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically.
Symbols nearly always signal their existence by emphasis, repetition, or position.
The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the entire context of the story.
A symbol has its meaning inside not outside a story.
To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different in kind from its literal meaning.
A symbol has a cluster of meanings.

8. Questions to Ask
Questions to ask when you are evaluating possible symbols:
 What is the physical appearance of the person, place or thing you are investigating?
 What words, images, activities, or ideas do you associate with it?
 Trace the appearance of this person, place, or thing throughout the novel.
 In what situations does this symbol appear?
 What role does it play, or how is it used in these situations?
 What characters do you connect with it?
 What purpose does it serve?
 How does its function or role change as the story progresses?
 List some ideas or concepts that this symbol could represent.

9. The Conch Shell Symbolizes law and order of the adult world
Piggy tries to protect it
Represents the authority the boys are so used to obeying
When Jack destroys it, anarchy takes over because any hope of strong, central leadership has been abandoned.
The island society collapses in chaos!

10. Piggy’s Specs
They symbolize the voice of reason and logic among the boys.
Notice how Piggy defends his glasses even more than the conch.
Piggy uses his glasses to find solutions to the boys’ problems.
What’s the most important solution the glasses find?.....

11. The most important solution…
Lighting the fire!
This is the boys’ best chance of getting rescued.
**notice how Piggy is constantly cleaning his glasses; this shows his need for clear sightedness.

12. Why an Island?

13. The Island
Because an island is isolated from the rest of society, it was purposefully picked to be the landing place of the crashed plane.
The boys have no contact with the outside world.
They must look to one another to solve the problems of their own micro-society.
The island symbolizes “isolation” and serves as the perfect backdrop for the frailties of human nature which eventually surface.

14. The Scar
The scar is where the plane crashed; it symbolizes destruction.
Time spent on the island also leaves a scar.
The boys destroy themselves and others leaving internal scars.

15. The Beast
The beast is seen as a real object on the island which frightens the boys.
In reality the beast is only their own internal fear.
It is located in the soul and mind of the boys, leading them to the natural chaos of a society with no adults.
*Who is the only boy to understand what the real beast is?

16. The only boy to recognize the true beast is…..
Simon!
*Only Simon recognizes what the real beast is, but he is killed when he tries to tell the boys about it.

17. The Lord of the Flies
The severed sow’s head that Jack impales on a stake in the forest as an offering to the beast
symbolizes the power of evil and the evilness in the boys
(and in humanity)

18. Face Paint
The face paint is the excuse many of the boys use for living as hunting savages, instead of civilized English citizens.
It serves as a mask that allows the boys to become someone they are not.
The paint symbolizes the smoke screen the beast uses to infiltrate the boys’ souls.
**What masks do we wear?

19. The Signal Fire
The smoke of the signal fire symbolizes the best hope of the boys being rescued.
To Piggy and Ralph, the fire represents the moral influence of their old life in England.

20. The Parachute Man
The dead body flying in the parachute symbolizes the end of adult supervision.
While the law and order of the adult world is waning, childish chaos is growing under Jack’s control.
Simon has a special connection with the parachute man when he climbs the mountain to determine if the parachute man is still alive.
Simon realizes that the man is dead, and the beast is still alive.

21. Ralph (the protagonist)
Physical Descriptions:
Twelve years old
Built like a boxer
Blonde hair
Character Traits:
Charismatic-
Leader
Logical thought
Sense and order

22. Jack (the antagonist) Physical Descriptions Twelve years old Red hair
Tall and thin
“Ugly without silliness”
Character Traits
Persuasive
Represents anarchy and savagery
Develops a love for hunting

23. Piggy Physical Descriptions Short Overweight Wears glasses
Character Traits
Represents order and democracy
Intellectual power and insight gained
from observation
Clings to civilization

24. Simon Physical Descriptions Thin and frail
Younger than Ralph, Jack, and Piggy but older than the littluns.
Character Traits
Pure-natural goodness
Positive outlook
Loner and an outsider
Peaceful-travels to tranquil spots in the jungle

25. Roger Physical Descriptions Dark hair Angry face Character Traits Evil
Sadistic
Cruel

26. Sam and Eric (Samneric)
Physical Descriptions
Identical twins
Character Traits
They do everything together
Easily excitable
Allies with Ralph