Lord of the Flies

1. Lord of the Flies William Golding

2. Ralph • Tan, built like a boxer, “but no devil” • Twelve years old- the dawn of man-hood • Tears himself free of the trappings of childhood • Note the “Through the Tunnel” like disparity on page 13

3. Tall, Dark and Handsome

8. Final Statistics • In the U.S. 14.5% of men are over 6 feet tall. • Among the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, the number jumps to 58% over six feet tall. • In the U.S. only 3.9% of men are over 6’2” • Among Fortune 500 companies’ CEOs, the number increases to 33% • Only ten of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are 5’6” or less. • Researchers have found that if age and gender is controlled, an inch in height accounts for a raise of $798 in salary per year.

9. Piggy • Ashamed of the one name everyone calls him, but he entrusts it to Ralph • Stereotypical nerd. Source of intelligence but ridiculed for his physical shortcomings • Father is dead- Piggy does understand about the physical requirements of manhood • Begins the call for order- need to record names, desire to have a meeting • Focus of joke that unites the group

10. The Conch Shell • “In color the shell was deep cream touched here and there with fading pink. Between the point, worn away into a little hole, and the pink lips of the mouth, lay eighteen inches of shell…” • Note the feminine aspect of the conch shell • Used to call meetings, emphasized the feminine call for community • Piggy tells Ralph he must “blow from down there” another hint at his growing maturity. • His ordinary voice “sounded like a whisper” compared to the sound of the conch- the call for unity is greater than any one person

11. Re-Defining Pleasure- The Savage • Throughout the novel note what makes the kids happy. • First instance- “His face was dark with the violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise.”

12. The Young Kids • Note the descriptions of the young children • What could be there symbolic purpose in the story? • Naked or half-naked, foraging fruit

13. The Choir/Hunters • Note that it is originally called “the creature” • Dressed all in black • Operates on orders, not democracy • Intimidates Piggy “uniformed superiority”

14. Jack • Had the voice of one “who knew his mine.” • Operates on orders and intimidation • Despises Piggy

15. Roger • “a slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy.”

16. Simon • Travels with Jack and Ralph- Symbolic trio • A skinny, vivid boy

17. The Knife • “A sizable sheath knife” • Owned by Jack • A sign a virility and violence • Jack uses it to calm the crowd of boys while Ralph is speaking • Is Ralph’s rule effective without the knife? • The source of the boys’ hunting potential- hunting vs. gathering • “Next time there would be no mercy.” – What will it take for the boys to kill?

18. Government • We need a chief to decide things • Jack’s claim that he should be chief versus the group call for a vote- democratic leaning • “This toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch” • Note the chief candidate selection on page 22- what are the qualities of the candidates

19. The Expedition • The boys’ express their excitement in shows of violence • Claim ownership by jointly destroying the landscape with a large rock • “This belongs to us.” “they savored the right of domination.” “All ours!” • See the “insect-like figures” of the other boys- distance or not as important

20. “His face was dark with the violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise, and his heart was making the stretched shirt shake. The shouting in the forest was nearer. (p. 18)”

21. Syntax • Note the description of the island • “Skull-like coconuts” • A ground where nothing grows over twenty feet-infertile

22. MAN vs. ANIMAL • Using text evidence find five examples of the boys acting like savages and five examples of the boys using reason to organize society.

23. WHO ARE YOU? FREEDOM VS. ORDER

24. Questions to Consider • On a piece of paper, record your thoughts to the following questions. • Why did you feel you could talk/not talk when I did not give you any directions? • How did it feel to be clueless? • Why did you stop talking/not stop talking when I raised my hand? • Why did you honor/ignore the fact that there were authority figures in the room the whole time? • What did you think when you saw the timer? • Why did you calm down when the timer expired?

25. Who are you? • Ralph • Followed Rules • Encouraged others to follow the rules • Stayed quiet • Remained in your seat • Did not touch anyone • Jack • Ignored the rules • Ignored authority figures • Talked • Moved from your seat • Distracted others

26. Savagery vs. Society • An overarching theme of Lord of the Flies is the battle between good and evil, the instinct to follow the rules versus the instinct to disobey, in all humans. • Greed vs Selflessness • The Good of One vs. The Good of the Group

27. Authority • How do we change when we feel no one is watching? • How do we change when we feel no one cares? • Knowing in the back of our minds, what the rules are, the fact that teachers are watching, that our parents will hear about our actions, that God is watching, how do we excuse our actions?

28. Authority and Order • Golding believed there is an instinct in man that tempts them toward savagery. • The second law of thermodynamics states that systems left to themselves tend toward a state of entropy. • The saying goes that is character is who you are when no one is watching. • Psychological experimenters are often guarded against OBSERVER BIAS. Observer bias is the tendency for people to act differently while being studying.

29. Mini Quiz 1 • 1. Who do the boys vote as their chief? • 2. Who is the leader of the choir? • 3. What item is used to bring the boys together on the beach? • 4. What is the name of the large boy with glasses? • 5. Why did the boys not kill the piglet caught in the creepers?

30. Chapter 1 • Golding refers to the path of destruction caused by the plane “the scar.” If the island is considered a symbol of the Garden of Eden, then the plane is destruction brought on by humans. • Their plane crashes into the island after being shot down. • The protagonist Ralph and his lieutenant Piggy are the first characters introduced. • Piggy trusts Ralph with his name, and Ralph betrays him for the humor of the group. • Is this a noble or wise action?

31. Chapter 1 • Piggy suggests they call a meeting and make a list of all the boys’ names. • Ralph trusts his dad, a naval officer, to save them. • Piggy claims that the atomic bomb probably killed all of them. • Piggy and Ralph use a conch shell to call the boys together.

32. Chapter 1 • The choir arrives last. They are dressed in black caps with silver badges, except for Jack Merridew. His cap contains a gold badge. • His order of the choir seems absolute, until the first boys passes out. • The boys vote to pick their chief, a sign of a democratic society. • Piggy trusts Ralph with his name, and Ralph betrays him for the humor of the group. • Is this a noble or wise action?

33. Chapter 1 • Jack seems to be the obvious choice for the leader. Piggy is the most intelligent. However, Ralph quiet confidence and size make him the most appealing. • The choir is renamed the “hunters.” • Jack, Ralph and Simon survey the grounds to make certain they are on an island. • Jack does not stab the the piglet because he is afraid of the thought of killing something, the slide into savagery. • However, he promises to kill the next one.

34. THE BIRTH OF GOVT • The boys agree to have rules “We’ll have rules. Lots of rules. Then when anyone breaks ‘em…” • The consequences go unnamed. • However, Jack brings the meeting to a quiet by throwing his knife into a trunk • Incidence of violence and dominance being used to establish order. Violence becomes the cornerstone of the govt. • The conch shell is to be passed to designate the speaker- the symbol of community is used to take turns

35. Symbols Revisited • Piggy adjusts his glasses whenever he speaks something intelligent. • Note that the glasses are the one remaining symbol on the island of man’s intuition and inventiveness • The knife is both a tool of violence and a practical utility tool.- Implication? • The conch is an object occurring in nature. Why would the author choose a natural object over a man-made one.

36. The Beast • Resembles a snake • Archetypical story of evil invading a perfect place- i.e. snake’s appearance in the Garden of Eden, or “along comes a spider” • The natural question that comes out of such a story is: Does the beast create the evil itself or does it encourage impulses already held within the target? • Note the different approaches to the Beast • Ralph- “But there isn’t a beastie.”- Rationalize • Jack- “But if there was a snake we’d hunt it and kill it.” • What are the implications behind these two differing views? Which of them does more to defray fear?

37. Old Authorities • Ralph as said multiple times that he dad is in the Navy and even incorporates the Queen’s knowledge to save them. • This is similar to the belief that one that we should rely on a higher power for rescue

38. The Fire • Fire is an archetypical symbol of human advancement, achievement, and community • Uses of fire? • Fire is the legendary tool of the gods according to Greek mythology- Prometheus stole it and was punished throughout history for giving man a tool to make them close to the gods. • Like the knife, fire is also a force that is both practical and violent • Note the savage way the boys go about creating the fire “Like little kids.” • Created by Piggy’s glasses- the sign of civilization formed the symbol of intellect

39. The Dawn of Disorder • The conch does not count on top of the mountain • Forgetting the original purpose of fire- implication for modern society? • “We’re not savages. We are English.” shortly thereafter “the knowledge and awe made him savage. (p 44)” • The fire claims its first death in the form of killing the boy that first mentioned the beast

40. Chapter 2- Fire on the Mountain • Ralph declares that the conch shell is to be used to determine whose turns it is to speak at the meeting. • Ralph also states that when the shell is blown everyone should assemble for a meeting. • “We’ll have rules!” This is important step for setting up a democratic and organized society. • Dictatorship or Anarchy

41. Fire on the Mountain • Piggy points out that no one knows where they are • Ralph seconds his opinion and add that they may be there “a long time.” • Piggy believes in Ralph so much that he fully expects Ralph to have already reached that conclusion. • Do you believe Ralph is as smart as Piggy thinks he is?

42. Fire on the Mountain • The Beast- it comes out of the trees and turns into creepers during the day- Irrational. • The myth is believed by all the young children • The imagined Beast is symbol of all the fear and irrational thinking on the island. As the beast becomes more powerful, things will get worse. • Ralph proposes that the group should build a signal to bring ships toward the island. • Jack and the rest of the boys rush off to build a fire before Ralph can finish speaking. • Piggy compares them to a bunch of kids, as Ralph joins them.

43. Chapter 2 • The group hauls firewood to the mountain. Jack and Ralph are united over carrying the burden of a particularly heavy log. • Piggy brings with him the conch and his glasses. • The symbols of order, and science • Jack steals Piggy’s glasses and stops Piggy from scolding their actions on the mountain. • Jack in essence breaks the order the conch stood for, and steals the science he does not understand

44. Chapter 2 • Jack assigns his hunters to watch the fire • The flash fire burns quickly without smoke. • Piggy scolds them for wasting their time building a smokeless fire over building shelter for the night. • The flash fire ignites the brush at the bottom of the mountain, and sets half the island ablaze. • Piggy laughs contemptuously at their ignorance, while the boys laugh, cheer, and stare at the awesome power of the fire. • In their celebration, Piggy points out that the boy with the birthmark is missing.