Lord of the FliesPublished in ________

Introduction and Background

Title Translation

“Beelzebub” a Hebrew word for?

However, the literal translation of “Beelzebub”

into English is LORD OF THE FLIES

L.O.T.F AuthorWilliam _____________

Born in ________

As a child, Golding had witnessed WWI, which was referred to as “the war to end all wars”

HOWEVER,22 years later Britain was

again involved in ANOTHER WAR, WWII to end all wars, which

caused more devastation than was imaginable

Your Notes

• WG witnessed 2 world wars.

In the decade before LOTF was published, Britain had been involved in two wars:

• WWII • Korean War

______________

• A work of fiction carrying two levels of meaning:

- 1) a surface plot/narrative (literal)

- 2) symbolic/metaphorical meaning in which everything in story symbolizes

something greater

Political Allegory

• The world was divided into two camps, the free world and the Soviet Union. How can the LOTF be seen as a political allegory?

• Ralph—concerned with the good of the camp and the return to civilization. Represents the free world.

• Jack-concerned more with his own need to kill and not the return to civilization. Represents the Soviet Union

• Conflict-could equal end of civilization.

Religious Allegory

• Garden of Eden:  • Snake:• Fall of Mankind:• Cain and Abel:• Christ figure:

Your notes

• Garden of Eden:  the island• Snake: fear• Fall of Mankind: parachutist and Piggy• Cain and Abel: Jack and Ralph• Simon: Christ figure

LOTF Symbols (Objects, characters, figures, or colors that represent ideas

or concepts) Piggy’s Glasses

Conch Shell

The Beast/ The Lord of the Flies=

Your Notes

• Piggy’s glasses-clear sight, rational ideas

• Conch-civilization, order

• Beastie/Lord of the Flies—evil within