Children are more likely than adults to…Children are more likely than adults to… Violence is the result of…Violence is the result of… Society is responsible for…Society is responsible for… If I were stranded on an island, I know I If I were stranded on an island, I know I

would…would… Boys are more likely than girls to…Boys are more likely than girls to… Girls are more likely than boys to…Girls are more likely than boys to…

Think, then WriteThink, then Write

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

William GoldingWilliam Golding

1911- 19931911- 1993

About William GoldingAbout William Golding

British novelistBritish novelist Fought in Royal Navy during WWIIFought in Royal Navy during WWII Participated in invasion of Normandy Participated in invasion of Normandy

on D-Dayon D-Day Returned to teaching and writing at war’s endReturned to teaching and writing at war’s end Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1983)Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1983)

Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs:Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs:

The 3 philosophies of Human The 3 philosophies of Human NatureNature

Original Sin- Original Sin- Humankind has “fallen from Humankind has “fallen from grace” and needs civilization to remain “in grace” and needs civilization to remain “in check” or good. --check” or good. --Biblical allusion to Adam & Biblical allusion to Adam & EveEve

The Noble Savage-The Noble Savage- We are all born good and We are all born good and our interactions with society determine who we our interactions with society determine who we become.-become.-Jean-Jacques RosseauJean-Jacques Rosseau

The Blank Slate--The Blank Slate--We are born neither good We are born neither good nor evil-the path of our life determines who we nor evil-the path of our life determines who we become-become- John Locke John Locke

Golding’s Fiction

AllegoricalAllegorical

Allegory Allegory

A story in which people, A story in which people, things, and actions things, and actions represent a generalization represent a generalization about life. about life.

Allegories often contain a Allegories often contain a strong moral or lesson.strong moral or lesson.

Golding’s Fiction

Allusion Allusion

A literary reference to aA literary reference to a

familiar person, place,familiar person, place,

thing, or event withthing, or event with

which a writer expects awhich a writer expects a

reader to be familiar.reader to be familiar.

Classic LiteratureClassic LiteratureMythologyMythologyChristian Christian SymbolismSymbolism

About the NovelAbout the Novel

Set in mid-1940’s when Europe was Set in mid-1940’s when Europe was engulfed in war. engulfed in war.

A plane carrying British school boys is A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot mistaken for a military craft and shot down.down.

Only the boys survive the crash, and the Only the boys survive the crash, and the book reveals what happens when they book reveals what happens when they attempt to form a society and govern attempt to form a society and govern themselves.themselves.

READING SCHEDULEREADING SCHEDULE Friday, January 30Friday, January 30

Chapters 1 & 2 and study guide due.Chapters 1 & 2 and study guide due. Wednesday, February 4Wednesday, February 4

Chapters 3-5 due Chapters 3-5 due (study guide extra credit)(study guide extra credit) Monday, February 9Monday, February 9

Chapters 6-8 due Chapters 6-8 due (study guide extra credit)(study guide extra credit) Friday, February 13Friday, February 13

Chapters 9-12 due Chapters 9-12 due (study guide extra credit)(study guide extra credit)

Be prepared to celebrate your knowledge on these days, as well !!!

Themes in the NovelThemes in the Novel

Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence Original SinOriginal Sin FearFear Nature of Good and Evil Nature of Good and Evil Goodness that is rare and fleetingGoodness that is rare and fleeting The Darkness of Human KindThe Darkness of Human Kind

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

““It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazi’s.”single one of us could be Nazi’s.”• William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies

Motifs in the NovelMotifs in the Novel

Biblical parallels (book criticized for re-Biblical parallels (book criticized for re-telling episodes in the Bible)telling episodes in the Bible)

Pristine places corrupted by evilPristine places corrupted by evil Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of

the fliesthe flies

Symbols in the NovelSymbols in the Novel

The Conch- The Conch- The Beast- The Beast- Piggy’s Glasses- Piggy’s Glasses- Lord of the Flies- Lord of the Flies- Fire Signal- Fire Signal-

Philosophical InfluencePhilosophical Influence

John Hobbes and the idea of Original SinJohn Hobbes and the idea of Original Sin• English Philosopher: 1588- 1679English Philosopher: 1588- 1679• Man has fallen from grace and needs Man has fallen from grace and needs

civilization to stay “in check”civilization to stay “in check”• Man is by nature selfishly individualisticMan is by nature selfishly individualistic• Man constantly at war with other menMan constantly at war with other men• Fear of violent death is sole motivation to Fear of violent death is sole motivation to

create civilizationscreate civilizations• Men need to be controlled by absolute Men need to be controlled by absolute

sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior

The World Golding Knew The World Golding Knew

WWII 1939- 1945WWII 1939- 1945 The fall of France to Nazi Germany in1940The fall of France to Nazi Germany in1940 Britain feared an invasion and evacuated Britain feared an invasion and evacuated

children to other countrieschildren to other countries 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed British 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed British

ship carrying children killing the boys, thus ship carrying children killing the boys, thus suspending the oversees evacuation programsuspending the oversees evacuation program

Major WWII Events Major WWII Events 1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany 1940- Fall of France 1940- Fall of France 1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany 1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany 1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on Japan 1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on Japan

and enter the world warand enter the world war 1944- D-Day Normandy Landings1944- D-Day Normandy Landings 1945- Bombing of Dresden1945- Bombing of Dresden 1945- European victory celebrated 1945- European victory celebrated 1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 60-80,000 1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 60-80,000

people (final death toll 135,000 people)people (final death toll 135,000 people)

Death and destruction abound!!!Death and destruction abound!!!

Modern Day AllusionsModern Day Allusions

Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to somethingsomething

There are many, many modern day allusions There are many, many modern day allusions to to Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies in popular culture. in popular culture.

For example….For example….

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons

The Simpson’s The Simpson’s episode titled episode titled Das Das Bus Bus is a parody of is a parody of Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies..

SurvivorSurvivor

Mark Burnett’s Mark Burnett’s CBS island show is CBS island show is said to have been said to have been inspired by LOTF.inspired by LOTF.

Sponge Bob SquarepantsSponge Bob Squarepants

The episode The episode Club SpongebobClub Spongebob is a spoof of is a spoof of LOTF.LOTF.

Popular MusicPopular Music

Bands such as Taking Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Nine Back Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, and Pink Maiden, and Pink Floyd have written Floyd have written songs about or have songs about or have alluded to LOTF in alluded to LOTF in their music.their music.