Introduction toLord of the Flies

The Author and Context

• William Golding – born 1911

• Outbreak of WW1 – 1914

• Outbreak of WW2 – 1939 – Golding served in the Royal Navy

• He saw much action (inc. the Normandy Landings) and said that the war was a turning point for him when he began to realise what human beings were capable of

• He believed that our humanity lies in our ability to make value judgements – what is good/bad right/wrong – and that science cannot answer these questions• He learned about children’s behaviour when he

was a school master• He explores human nature through the

characters of Ralph, Jack, Roger, Piggy and Simon in the novel

• Nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – 1945• Soviet Union exploded A bomb in 1949 starting

the Cold War and paranoia of Communism• Lord of the Flies published – 1954• Golding died at home - 1993

• Golding was also influenced by a novel called Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean, by R. M. Ballantyne in which a group of British children are marooned on an island • In Ballantyne’s book, the children behave like right and proper British citizens – Golding found the story childish and unlikely• Name of Beelzebub – Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’ - translated as ‘Lord of the flies’

Historical Events During Golding’s Life

35,000

45,000

6,000,000

5.7 million

20,000,000

5,500 approx..

• Number of people killed in the bombing of Dresden

• Number killed by the atomic bomb on Hiroshima (pop. Of 225,000 people)

• Number of Jews exterminated in the Final Solution

• Number of Russian Prisoners of War in World War Two

• Stalin killed this many of his own people

• Number of allied troops killed in the Normandy D Day landings

DRESDEN – NOW and THEN

What is Golding’s view of Human Nature?How do you know this?

How might the events of World War Two have influenced this view?

Studying the Novel

• First, identify the main characters

• Then create a chapter-by-chapter narrative timeline listing the main events of each

Important Characters• Ralph – the elected leader• Piggy – intelligent but an outsider• Jack – ex head boy, hunter and Chief• Roger – Jack’s cruel lieutenant• Maurice – a loyal savage but without Roger’s brutality• Simon – shy, sensitive and courageous• Sam and Eric (Samaneric) – twins; seen as one person

Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell

• Setting is established – the island• Ralph and Piggy find the conch and call 1st meeting• Jack and choirboys arrive• Piggy’s nickname – links to the main theme of ‘the beast’ (we never learn his true name)• Ralph elected as chief• Ralph, Jack and Simon explore island• The piglet

Chapter 2 – Fire on the Mountain

• Idea of ‘the beast’ is introduced by the ‘littleuns’• Differences between Ralph and Jack – fire, order and hunting• Fire and its purpose – main theme throughout book• Piggy’s glasses used to start 1st fire• Hunters to watch over it• Piggy’s pleas to ‘act proper’• First death – fire out of control

Chapter 3 – Huts on the Beach

• Jack goes pig hunting – unsuccessfully• Ralph builds shelters, helped by Simon• Jack’s hunting obsession develops• Further differences between Ralph and Jack• Simon goes off into the forest on his own – we

learn more about him as a character• Boys begin to do what they want – foreshadowing the ‘savages’ they will later become

Chapter 4 – Painted Faces and Long Hair

• Roger on the beach with the ‘littleuns’ – signs of brutality to come• Jack paints his face and goes hunting• Ralph spots a ship• Fire is out• Pig killed – re-enactment of hunt• Jack smashes one of Piggy’s lenses• Ralph calls a meeting after fire goes out • Growing divide between Ralph and Jack• Jack clearly hates Piggy

Chapter 5 – Beast from Water

• Ralph prepares for another meeting and considers his role as chief• He lays the ground rules for behaviour• They discuss the beast• Piggy and Simon are ignored• Piggy realises that their fear is of people - logical• Ralph and Jack disagree further and the meeting ends• Simon and Piggy urge Ralph to remain as chief• They wish for a sign from the grown up world

Chapter 6 – Beast from Air

• A dead parachutist lands on the island – a message from the adult world (which is at war)• Sam and Eric tend the fire – they see ‘the beast’• Jack announces that they should hunt the beast and ridicules the conch – importance of action• Bigger boys, without Piggy, go to unexplored part of island • We see Ralph’s brave leadership qualities• Simon understands the true nature of the beast

Chapter 7 – Shadows and Tall Trees

• Ralph realises how the boys are in decline – dirty and unkempt• Simon knows that Ralph will return home safely• Ralph reflects on home – flashback technique• Boys re-enact wild boar hunt. Robert is hurt. Boys further descend into savagery• Ralph, Jack and Roger see ‘the beast’• The island is a hostile place – language point (figurative language)

Chapter 8 – Gift for the Darkness

• Ralph, Jack and Roger report what they have seen• Jack tries to overthrow Ralph but is rejected and leaves – others soon follow him • New fire on the platform• Jack becomes ‘the Chief’ – hunting, feasting and becoming ever more primitive• Severed sow’s head on stick – Lord of the Flies• Simon goes off alone and hears the words of the beast – he knows what it is

Chapter 9 – A View to a Death

• Simon sees the dead parachutist and heads off to tell the others• Ralph and Piggy feast with Jack and clash over leadership styles (the use of the conch)• Thunderstorm and Piggy senses trouble• Tribal dance

• Simon stumbles into dancing circle• Simon is killed as the beast• Bodies of Simon and parachutist wash out to sea

Chapter 10 – The Shell and the Glasses

• Piggy and Ralph talk about the dance• Sam and Eric join them – all lie to themselves

about what happened• Jack sets up camp at the other end of the island• Ralph and Piggy fail to light the fire• Raid by Jack and the hunters• Theft of Piggy’s glasses• Jack’s brutal dictatorship established

Chapter 11 – Castle Rock• No more fire on the beach• The conch group confront the hunters – Ralph intends to be civilised• Piggy takes the conch to Castle Rock• Roger rolls the rock on to Piggy• Conch is destroyed and Piggy is killed• Sam and Eric are captured by the hunters• Ralph is alone – hunters hurl spears at him

Chapter 12 – Cry of the Hunters• Ralph hides and considers his options• He sees the pigs head and takes away the spear that supports it – different to Simon’s reaction• Ralph visits Sam and Eric – now prisoners of Jack• Ralph is totally alone• Ralph is hunted• Fire on the island• Ship arrives• Ralph is rescued• Naval officer (from world of war) gets it wrong