The Hamelin Literature Library--------------------------------

Study Guide

for

Lord of the Fliesby William Golding

STOV Press

Meet William Golding 1911-1993

William Golding was born in Cornwall in 1911 and was educated at

Marlborough Grammar School and at Brasenose College, Oxford. Apart from

writing, his past and present occupations include being a schoolmaster, a

lecturer, an actor, a sailor, and a musician. His father was a schoolmaster and his

mother was a suffragette. He was brought up to be a scientist, but revolted. After two years at Oxford he

read English literature instead, and became devoted to Anglo-Saxon. He spent five years at Oxford. He

published a volume of poems in 1935. He taught at Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury.

Golding joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and spent six years afloat, except for seven months in

New York and six months helping Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment. He saw action

against battleships (at the sinking of the Bismarck), submarines and aircraft. Finished as Lieutenant in

command of a rocket ship. He was present off the French coast for the D-Day invasion, and later at the

island of Walcheren.

After the war he returned to teaching, and began to write again. Lord of the Flies, his first novel,

was published in 1954. It was filmed by Peter Brook in 1963. In 1980 he won the 'Booker Prize' for his

novel Rites of Passage. He retired from teaching in 1962. He won the Noble Prize in 1983. After that,

he lived in Wiltshire, listing his recreations as music, sailing, archaeology and classical Greek.

William Golding died in 1993.

"William Golding - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 10 Feb 2013 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1983/golding-bio.html

Introducing the NovelWilliam Golding Wrote Lord of the Flies during a time of increasing world consciousness about the implications of atomic weapons. Indeed, the bomb figures significantly in the novel—it is an essential part of the background, and alluded to by the boys several times as they struggle to understand the circumstances that brought them to their Pacific island. Lord of the Flies is set against the backdrop of a devastating, if imaginary, atomic war.

If Golding's imagination was fueled by the horrors of World War II, it was fired by a nineteenth century children's adventure book by Robert Ballantyne called The Coral Island. In Ballantyne's story, three boys-Ralph, Jack, and Peterkin—are stranded on a coral island. They remain resourceful and moral to the end, behaving as they should, according to the rules of society. In Golding's story, however, Ralph, Jack, and Piggy remain neither resourceful nor moral. The idealism of a nineteenth-century children's adventure has given way to a more realistic, if cynical, twentieth-century symbolic tale.

Lord of the Flies is an entertaining tale of boys stranded on an island, but it is much more than that. The images, places, and characters of the novel carry meaning far beyond the literal. A shell the boys use to call each other to meetings becomes a symbol of order and civilization, and its destruction is devastating. Similarly, the characters function as types. Fat, bespectacled, unathletic Piggy represents intelligence, common sense, and scientific thought.

Golding's work explores what Freudians call the id—the primitive driving force toward pleasure and survival. Surely this story explores the loss of innocence and the terrors of dehumanization. Yet many readers see this fable as affirming that an intense encounter with evil can result in new knowledge and strength.

Essential Questions:

• What does the novel tell us about personal development?

• What does the novel tell us about human nature?

• What does the novel tell us about our current society?

Section 1: Before You Read Lord of the Flies Chapters 1-3

Focus Activities1. Name and explain 3 important items you would need in order to survive on a deserted tropical

island.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Do you believe people are essentially good or inherently evil? What has been your experience

with others in a high stakes situation?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BackgroundTime and Place: When the novel opens, nuclear war has broken out in Europe and a school from the English Home Counties (the counties around London) has been evacuated by air to an unknown destination (likely Australia). The plane goes down on an idyllic Pacific island. The boys survive and their refuge offers unlimited food and natural beauty. The island itself is boat-shaped, and the boys represent mankind on their journey through life. The boys remain on the island until their rescue, by which time the island's destruction reflects their own deterioration. As you read the first three chapters, identify clues that might reveal that the island is not a paradise.

The novel was published in 1954, so the character reflect that time period even though Golding may have imagined the story taking place in the not so distant future. The passenger tube of the air plane is an indication of technology advanced beyond 1954. Also, because Golding is from England, the boys use language that is specifically English.

Third Person Narrative: Lord of the Flies is written in a third-person omniscient narration. This allows the writer to show the reading a variety of perspectives. It also enables the writer to move between scenes. Golding does not just let the reader see things from Ralph's point of view. Readers are able to make our own judgements without having to rely on one specific narrator. Except in dialogue, the voice and vocabulary of the narrator is distinctly that of an adult. When the boys speak, they sound like boys (English boys, but boys nonetheless).

Vocabulary Preview enmity: hostility or hatredconch: the spiral shell of a molluskgesticulate: use gestures to show ideas or feelingsrecrimination: accusing anothercontrite: showing deep regret and sorrow

Active Reading

Chapters one through three introduce most of the characters in the novel. As you read this section, focus on the actions and words of each character. Write their names below. Then jot down in the chart two or three personal qualities that are revealed by each character’s actions and words.

Character Qualities

RespondingChapters 1-3

Personal Response:How do you think you would have reacted to the situation the boys find themselves in? What kinds of experiences have you had with peers in the absence of adults? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Analyzing Literature1. Shortly after revealing the secret of Piggy’s name, we are told, “Ralph, looking with more understanding, saw that he [Piggy] was hurt and crushed. He hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult.” What can you infer about Ralph’s character? Why is this quote significant?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. How do you think Piggy feels about the way others view him? What are some positive attributes that Piggy has which the boys overlook?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Analyze the method the boys use to determine a leader. What are the disadvantages to this method? What does it say about the state of mind of the boys as a group?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Ralph is frustrated and disappointed because, except for Simon, none of the others are much help with the building of the huts. What does this say about Ralph's leadership? Do you think there is anything Ralph could do to get better results? Why or Why not?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Literature and Writing Complete 1 of the following activities:Do this activity on separate paper to be submitted with your section activities.

1. Character Analysis: Chose one of the main characters and consider the boys' experience up to the end of Chapter 3 by writing a journal entry from the character's perspective.

2. List of Rules: Create a list of the rules the boys make throughout the first three chapters. After each rule, explain why the rule is important and the consequences for not following the rule.

3. Glimpses of Evil: Create a visual which reflects some of the indications so far that the island is not a good island, that things are soon going to go wrong for the boys. In a statement of purpose, explain the nature of your visual and why you believe it is an indication that evil is lurking on the island.

Section 2: Before You Read Lord of the Flies Ch. 4-6

Focus Activities1. Consider how being afraid of something affects a person. How does fear limit what a person says

or does?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the nature of an urban legend? Do you know of any local urban legends? Write about one here.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

StructureThe Story: Lord of the Flies has been labelled as a variety of story forms, from a fable, a parable, a myth, and an allegory.

Fable: a brief narrative, often with animals as characters that expresses some moral truth.Parable: here the author seeks to express a moral truth, but the story is secondary to the moral itself.Myth: myths attempt to explain an aspect of human behaviour or a natural phenomenon, often including

symbolic elements.Allegory: usually a longer narrative that presents a meaning beyond the literal story. Characters are not developed as individuals, but instead represent abstract ideas or types.

The reader of Lord of the Flies must decide for themselves which story type best represents the novel.

ConflictAt the heart of every novel is conflict, the struggle between two opposing forces. In an external conflict, a character struggles against some outside force, such as another person, nature, society, or fate. An internal conflict is a struggle between two opposing thoughts or desires within the mind of a character. As you read chapters 4-6, notice how the external and internal conflicts introducedin the first section intensify.

Vocabulary Previewtacit: implied or understood without being openly expressedmalevolent: showing ill will, spitefulineffectual: useless, not effectiveincantation: a set of words spoken as a magic charm or to cast a magic spell

Active ReadingSymbols: As you read this section track the symbolic properties of the following symbols. When we finish the novel we will go back to these symbols and see how they may have evolved.

Symbol PropertiesThe conch

Piggy's Glasses

The Beast

The Fire

RespondingChapters 4-6

Personal ResponseIf you were Ralph, how would you have dealt with Jack? How would you try to maintain a civilized atmosphere on the island? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Analyzing Literature1. What seems to motivate Jack towards hunting? Given the circumstances, would you consider this normal or natural?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. How do Roger and Maurice represent the threat of violence?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. Why does no one take Simon's view of the beast seriously? What do you think he might mean by “Maybe it's only us”?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Ralph realizes that a good leader must also be able to think: “if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise.” Due to Ralph’s insight into the value of thinking, his opinion of Piggy changes: “for all his ludicrous body, [Piggy] had brains.” How has the relationship between Ralph and Piggy evolved since they first landed on the island?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. On the trek to find the beast, Simon reflects on his inability “to speak at an assembly…without that

dreadful feeling of the pressure of personality.” What does he mean by this? What is Simon scared of?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Literature and WritingComplete 1 of the following activities:Do this activity on separate paper to be submitted with your section activities.

1. Symbols: Chose one of the symbols from the During Reading activity and analyze its importance both to the boys and the action of the story. Consider the affect the symbol has on the way the boys behave.2. Letter From Home: As Ralph's naval officer father, you have tried to teach him how to survive in the world. Write him a letter that gives him advice on how he should act should he find himself in desperate need. 3. Jack's Journal: Write a journal in the voice of Jack in an attempt to explain how he feels about his experience thus far on the island. What are his thoughts on such things as their living conditions, the beast, hunting, and the other boys.

Section 3: Before You Read Lord of the Flies Chapters 7-9

Focus Activities1. Have you ever acted within the actions of a mob? Consider your attendance at a professional sporting event or concert. Do you boo or heckle the opposing players? Do you clap to the beat of the song? Consider why you participate in this manner. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. How do you think the conflict between Ralph and Jack will be resolved? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BackgroundFrom the online Catholic Encyclopedia: Beelzebub, or Baalzebûb, the Philistine god of Accaron.

The name is commonly translated "the lord of the flies", and the god is supposed to be so called either because as a sun god he brings the flies, though the Ba'al was probably not a sun god, or more likely because he is invoked to drive away the flies from the sacrifice. In the New Testament, there is question of an evil spirit, Beelzeboul. Beelzeboul (Beelzebub) is used, then, merely as another name for Satan (Matthew 12:24-29; Luke 11:15-22) by whom the enemies of Our Lord accused Him of being possessed and by whom they claimed He cast out demons. With this knowledge, why do you think Golding named his novel, Lord of the Flies? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________Vocabulary Preview sage: wisecynicism: mistrust, doubtfulnessderision: scornful laughter; ridiculeclamorous: loud and noisy; shoutingiridescent: displaying changing colourscorpulent: large, bulky of body; fat

Active Reading

Flashbacks: A flashback is an interruption in the narrative to show an episode that occurred before the action of the novel. In the Flashback section of the chart below, list examples from chapters 7-9. In the box below the example, explain how the flashback is important to the character.Foreshadow: Foreshadowing is a when the writer gives the reader a clue as to what is going to happen in the future. In the Foreshadow section of the chart below list examples from chapter 7-9 that you think are foreshadowing a future event.

Flashback Foreshadow1. 1

Importance to character

2. 2

Importance to character

RespondingChapters 7-9

Personal Response:What do you think that Simon was going to tell the boys when he stumbles onto the beach? Who do you think would have believed him?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Analyzing Literature1. To what extent is the uncivilized side of the boys revealed in the sow hunt and the creation of the Lord of the Flies?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. How has the importance of being rescued diminished over this section? What do you think accounts for this?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Pathetic fallacy occurs when the environment reflects the action of the literature. Explain how the storm acts as pathetic fallacy.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. What were your thoughts and feelings upon reading that both the airman and the body of Simon were washed out to sea?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Literature and Writing Complete 1 of the following activities:Do this activity on separate paper to be submitted with your section activities.

1. Simon's Obituary: Write an obituary for Simon in the voice of Ralph or Piggy. Be sure to comment on his good qualities.2. Sympathy for the Devil: Write a poem from Simon's perspective about his encounter with the Lord of the Flies. Be sure to include specific details found in the novel.3. A View to a Death: Create a visual that represents one or all of the deaths in this section (the pig, the airman, Simon). In a statement of purpose, explain the nature of your visual.

Section 4: Before You Read Lord of the Flies Chapters 10-12

Focus Activities1. The island has become a microcosm of the world in general. In what ways does the boys' society mirror what happens in our current world? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. How might Golding's experience in World War II have influenced the generally violent turns of plot? Do you think based on what happened in the world after WWII (the cold war and aggressive expansion of Communism) Golding will end the novel on a bleak or hopeless note? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BackgroundThe Cold War: From Gradesaver: Published in 1954 early in the Cold War, Lord of the Flies is firmly rooted in the sociopolitical concerns of its era. The novel alludes to the Cold War conflict between liberal democracy and totalitarian communism. Ralph represents the liberal tradition, while Jack, before he succumbs to total anarchy, represents the kind of military dictatorship that, for mid-century America and Great Britain, characterized the communist system. It is also notable that Golding sets the novel in what appears to be a future human reality, one that is in crisis after atomic war. Golding's novel capitalizes on public paranoia surrounding the atom bomb which, due to the arms race of the Cold War, was at a high. Golding's negative depiction of Jack, who represents an anti-democratic political system, and his suggestion of the reality of atomic war, present the novel as a gesture of support for the Western position in the Cold War.

Vocabulary Preview theological: of or having to do with the nature and will of Godrebuke: disapprove of purge: to make clean, remove as if by cleansingpropitiate: win the favour of, appease, as in do things just to pleasetalisman: anything that acts as a charminimical: showing dislike, hostileululate: howl as a dog or wolfensconce: hide safely, shelter

Active Reading

Sympathy for the Devil Part Deux: Complete the following chart and explain the degree to which you feel sympathetic to the characters. Rate your sympathy on a scale of 1-10.

Character Sympathy Rating Explanation

Ralph

Piggy

Jack

Roger

Sam and Eric

The littluns

RespondingChapters 10-12

Personal Response:Do you think that if Jack had not survived the original plane crash, the horrible things that did happen would have happened? Would so other character step forward in a thirst for power? Who do you think would be the most likely to replace Jack? Explain your response.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Analyzing Literature1. Name and describe two ways Ralph and Piggy try to hang the last vestiges of their civilized upbringing and their innocence as children.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Even wicked groups of humans seem to be governed by rules. Describe the rules that govern Jack's tribe. Based on these rules, was the pursuit of Ralph even necessary?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do the other boys follow Jack's orders, even when these orders are often violent or irrational? Describe a character from history that Jack reminds you of. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Do you think the rescue of the boys is believable? Why does Golding have a Naval troop come on the island from their warship? How might a reader view this conclusion as not hopeful, but more as a continuation of the mistakes the boys make on a wider scale?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Literature and Writing Complete 1 of the following activities:Do this activity on separate paper to be submitted with your section activities.

1. News Paper Report: Write a news paper report based on the rescue of the boys. Be sure to include quotes from the major characters, Ralph and/or Jack, and those who found them, such as the Naval officer. You may even consider quotes from the parents of the children.2. Epilogue: An epilogue is a short chapter at the end of a story which serves to reveal the fates of the characters. Write an epilogue to the novel. Imagine what happens to Ralph, Jack, and Roger some years in the future.3. What if?: What if the Naval Officer didn't arrive? Continue the story from the middle of page 222. You can chronicle one day or longer, but bring the novel to a logical conclusion.