William Golding and Lord of the Flies

1. William Golding and Lord of the Flies EQ: How does an author’s life impact the construction of an allegory?

2. author William Golding Corruption WithoutConsequence son of an English schoolmaster school master/British Royal Navy service in WWII(why he wrote) sheltered / wealthy childhood – unpreparedfor theviolence of war - 1954Lord of the Flies is published

3. Naval officer: • commandeda small rocket-launching craft • present at thesinking of the Bismarck and D-Day landings • his description ofwar= “one had one’s nose rubbed inthe human condition”

4. Horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. • "How can 'good' people commit such horrific crimes?"

5. Based the novel’s plot on a bedtime story for children: Coral Island • CATCH: “let the characters behave as they really would”! • 1939 evacuationof children from Britain began (precautionary measures) • For more info on the evacuations visit: http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/homefront/evacuation/

6. Write an allegory (symbolic narrative) • Boys’ ‘adventure’ = His tour of duty • His novel asks… • What must a person do to survive? • What role does survival play in connection to our human instincts? • What steps are necessary to survive? • How far will people go to ensure their personal survival? • Are certain ‘crimes’ excusable if they are necessary for survival?

7. Allegory- The representationof abstractideas or principles by characters, figures, orevents in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form. • Exposition - (in a play, novel, etc.) dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.

8. Archetype -an ideal (symbolic) example • like a stereotype • Examples: the rebel, the nerd, the cheerleader, the bully, … Remember!

9. Boat shaped island = civilization • "Lord of the Flies" (a literal translation of the Hebrew name Beelzebub – a powerful demon / devil.

10. 240 days of combat = mental deterioration • Epilepsy = divine touch

11. All of the characters will symbolize an abstract concept • (Pay attention to their actions, physical description, possessions and dialogue) Examples: Logical = Violent =

12. Who was raising Piggy before the crash? • Which character states, “I expect we’ll want to know their names…and make a list.” ? • Explain the significance of the chapter’s title, “The Sound of the Shell” (How does it relate to the plot)? • Who is Merridew? • What does the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark reveal at the meeting?

13. What ailment afflicts Piggy? • Which character states, “We’ll have rules! Lots of rules!” • Explain the significance of the chapter’s title, “Fire on the Mountain” (how does it relate to the plot) • Who does Ralph say will rescue the boys? • What does the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark reveal at the meeting?

14. What is the scar? • Literal level: the "scar" is the mark left by the boys’ plane.  It crash-landed in a skid, knocking down trees and brush leaving a mark or "scar".  • Figurative level: the scar symbolizes the evil that mankind has brought into the world. • Golding’s view: evil within mankind has left an ugly, permanent mark on the world.

15. Who are SamnEric? • Identical Twins • Youngest of the ‘older boys’ Who leads the choir? • Jack Who does Ralph believe will rescue them? • His father (in the Navy) Who goes on the expedition? • Ralph, Jack and Simon

16. What is the beast? (currently) • ‘snake-thing’ • In the woods • Comes in the dark • Wants to ‘eat’ them • Ralph: no beast; nightmare • Jack: no beast; but he’ll hunt it (fear exists)

17. Why did the boys elect Ralph? • Holding conch (called meeting); strong / older (appearance) What is the difference between Ralph and Jack? • Ralph = wants to be liked by everyone (love) • Jack = wants to control everyone (fear)

18. Describe the ‘Fire on the Mountain’ and its aftermath. • “Like kids” • Ralph weak (no control) • Jack impulsive (creates mob behavior) • Boy with the mulberry colored birthmark missing • Piggy (voice of reason) – confronts Ralph • Ralph begins to realize consequences exist

20. Literal Level: • It is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China. • "mile-a-minute vine“; "vine that ate the South” • Used by USA in WWII for camouflage!

21. Figurative Level: • What may kudzu represent allegorically? (In connection to Golding’s tour of duty) • Growing anger (evil); savagery caused by War (hate can consume a soldier)

22. Ralph: • Protagonist • Golding’s voice • "You could see he might make a boxer, … but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil." (Golding 10). • Describe Ralph in one sentence.

23. Piggy: • Second character introduced • Physical appearance symbolic • “What intelligence had been shown was traceable • to Piggy.” (Golding 22). • Describe Piggy in one sentence.

24. Jack: • Oldest • Leader of the choir • (largest unified group) • "he was tall, thin and bony; and his hair was red.. ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn to anger." (Golding 20). • Describe Jack in one sentence.

25. Simon: • Part of the choir • Faints (epilepsy) • “He was a skinny, vivid little boy, with a glance coming up from under a hut of straight hair that hung down, black and course" (Golding 24). • Describe Simon in one sentence.

26. Roger: • Part of the choir • Admires Jack • "a slight furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy” (Golding 22). • Describe Roger in one sentence.

27. Sam’nEric: Identical Twins “They breathed together, they grinned together…” (Golding 19).

28. The Boy with the Mulberry Colored Birthmark: • Introduces the concept of ‘The Beast’ • “At last Ralph induced him to hold the shell but by then the blow of laughter had taken away the child’s voice” (Golding 35). • Goes ‘missing’ after The Fire on the Mountain

29. The Littl’uns: Majority of the population Range in ages 6 – 9 Wild, unruly, immature, needy

30. Every character is an archetype (some may be dual symbols!) • Below are the archetypes represented by the main characters. • Golden Boy Savior Savage The Innocent • Outsider Sadist The Masses The Conformist • Working with your partner, match each archetype to its correlating character. • Record you answers on your guided notes.

31. They’re ALL Golding (Part of his Psyche)!

32. Character Review Sadist Golden Boy Bully Outcast Loner Conformist

33. EQ: Leadership • How does the author’s life impact the construction of his allegory? • Remember… • Golding was given a commanding position due to his athletic appearance and family status. • Considering Ralph’s rise to leader and his decisions in the exposition, what lessons is Golding revealing concerning his views on leadership? Think about this question as we read Ch. 3 and Ch.4 vs.

34. Tip: To deduce the allegorical meaning of shelter, think about the purpose of shelter and the role it plays in an individual’s life. • (Answer in a Quick Write)

35. Shelter = protection; safety; civility • Think about it… • It is a place that represents unity and suggest permanence (civilized)

36. Lord of the Flies Ch. 3: Huts on the Beach • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DBfC-qCF5A • Follow along in your novel as we listen to an abridge version of Ch.3 (do your best to keep up) • Copy the questions on the next slide into your notebook; be prepared to answer them as we read.

37. 1. View pg. 48. How has Jack changed? 2. Described the boys’ efforts to construct shelter. 3. View Jack and Ralph’s ‘argument’ on pg. 54. According to Ralph, what basic difference exists between Jack and Ralph’s work? 4. Review pgs. 54 - 55. List and cite two quotes that depict Jack and Ralph’s relationship. 5. Describe Simon’s actions at the end of the chapter. Look at Golding’s diction. What type of imagery is used? What actually happens to Simon? How do you know?

38. 1. View pg. 48. How has Jack changed? • “down like a sprinter…dog-like…uncomfortably on all fours...” (48) • his hair is longer (hair length = civility) • tracking / hunting a pig (with a sharpened 5 ft stick!) 2. Described the boys’ efforts to construct shelter. • Poor; falling down; only Ralph and Simon work

39. 3. View Jack and Ralph’s ‘argument’ on pg. 54. According to Ralph, what basic difference exists between Jack and Ralph’s work? • “But you like it.” 4. Review pgs. 54 - 55. List and cite two quotes that depict Jack and Ralph’s relationship. • “They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling unable to communicate.” • “They looked at each other baffled in love and hate.”

40. 5. Describe Simon’s actions at the end of the chapter. Look at Golding’s diction. What type of imagery is used? What actually happens to Simon? How do you know? • Littluns run after him • Gives them fruit; “…passed them back down the endless outstretched hands.” • Secret spot inside the ‘creepers’ • “…susurration of the blood” • “darkness thickened…” • Seems connected to the island

41. MASKS

42. Why do characters wear masks? Why does Jack wear a mask?

43. Literal Level = camouflage self-expression or belonging • Figurative Level: • ‘He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. … the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.

44. Figurative Level: • ‘dazzle paint’ = loss of inhibition; liberates • ‘ thing on its own’ = avoid responsibility; turn to primal state • frightens others = power

45. Figurative Level: • ‘Black = death • Red = bloodthirsty (violence) • White = purity; humanity • White is being covered by violence (bloodthirsty) and death

46. Figurative Level: • Thus the mask allows Jack to hide his human heart, squeeze out his humanity and replace it with bloodthirstiness and death. He has liberated himself from the normal actions and reactions of human beings.

47. Golding believes… • When people are anonymous, they are more likely to be honest because they aren't self-conscious, and masks create anonymity. Jack's mask frees him from self-consciousness.

48. 1.) What did Piggy want to build (with a stick)? 2.) How do Jack and the hunters kill a pig? 3.) Who is described as, “…the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow.” 4.) Why do Piggy’s glasses break? 5.) What does Ralph decide to do at the very end of the chapter?

49. 1.) Who knocks over the littuns’ sandcastles? 2.) Why is the signal fire out? 3.) Who states, “I been thinking about a clock.” 4.) Why do Piggy’s glasses break? 5.) Who gives Piggy meat?

50. How is Roger emerging as the sadist archetype? 2. What symbolism / foreshadowing is evident from the breaking of Piggy’s glasses? 3. Why does Simon’s decision to give Piggy meat enrage Jack? 4. Who is MOST at fault for the boys’ failure to be rescued. (Defend with 2 specific reasons) 5. If you were Ralph, what would you say / do at the ‘emergency meeting’. What do you believe Ralph will say / do at the meeting?