1. Introduction and Background
Lord of the Flies 1954
Introduction and Background

2. Title Translation
LORD OF THE FLIES is the English translation of the biblical name“Beelzebub”
“Beelzebub” is the Hebrew word for a powerful demon in hell, sometimes thought to be LUCIFER himself

3. Author of Lord of the Flies Born in Britain 1911-1993
William Golding
Author of Lord of the Flies
Born in Britain

4. In the decade before LOTF was published, Britain had been involved in two wars:
WWII
Korean War

5. As a child, Golding had witnessed WWI, which was referred to as “the war to end all wars”
Then, WWII hit Europe in the 1930s
Then, 22 years later, Britain was again involved in
ANOTHER WAR (Korean War)

6. Through LOTF, Golding is making the statement that we cannot escape our savage, violent tendencies…
“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 on his novel Lord of the Flies

7. …and without social order, we devolve into a state of chaos

8. LOTF…Some Important Symbols (Objects, characters, figures, or colors that represent ideas or concepts)
Piggy’s Glasses
Conch Shell
The Beast
Lord of the Flies

9. LOTF… Important Symbols Continued
Hunting
Signal fire
Roger
Clothing
Littluns
Island Ralph’s hair Jack Piggy Simon

10. TERMS to consider
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

11. Essential Questions
What does it mean to be civilized? How do we determine who is civilized and who is not?
How does a society maintain order? Are laws necessary?
How do human beings behave when we are afraid?
Are humans innately good or innately evil? Is there something inside of us propelling us to be either good or evil?

12. What is an ALLEGORY?
A form of extended metaphor in which objects, people, and actions are connected to meanings outside of the story
The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance
Example:
Parables
The Narnia Series
Alice in Wonderland
Lord of the Rings

13. Major Themes in LOTF Darkness of the heart is an innate human trait.
Anarchy and savagery are direct results of man’s inability to follow society’s set rules.
Our morals are a direct result of our surroundings – if our environment fails, our morals fail, and the human race/civilization ultimately fails.
People are often judged and treated unfairly in society.

14. Name Meanings Ralph = Anglo-Saxon word meaning, “council”
Piggy = vulnerability comparable to vulnerability of pigs on the island; how much the other boys dislike him because of his intelligence (pigs = smart)
Jack = Hebrew word, “Yakov,” meaning “one who deceives” or “one who takes over”
Simon = Hebrew word, “one who listens,” “one who observes,” was one of Christ’s disciples
Roger = “famous with the spear”
Satan = Greek name translated to = Beelzebub = translated to “Lord of the Flies” (the pig’s head surrounded by flies)

15. Lagoon

16. Reef

17. Conch Shell

18. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs