Lord of The Lord of The FliesFlies

Author – William GoldingAuthor – William Golding Born Sept. 19Born Sept. 19thth, 1911, 1911 Died June 19Died June 19thth, 1993, 1993 Joined the British Royal Joined the British Royal

Navy in 1940. Serving Navy in 1940. Serving during WWII, Golding was during WWII, Golding was involved in an attack on a involved in an attack on a German Battleship. He also German Battleship. He also participated in the D-Day participated in the D-Day invasion in which he invasion in which he commanded a landing ship commanded a landing ship that fired rockets toward that fired rockets toward the enemythe enemy

Published his first novel Published his first novel Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies in 1954 in 1954

Won the Nobel Prize for Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983Literature in 1983

Was knighted in 1988Was knighted in 1988

The TitleThe Title The term “lord of the The term “lord of the

flies” is a reference to flies” is a reference to the Hebrew name the Hebrew name “Beelzebub” (Ba’al-“Beelzebub” (Ba’al-zvuv, “god of the fly,” zvuv, “god of the fly,” “host of the fly,” or “host of the fly,” or literally “Lord of the literally “Lord of the flies”). flies”).

In the Bible, Beelzebub In the Bible, Beelzebub refers to the prince of refers to the prince of the devils. the devils.

Milton gave the name Milton gave the name to one of the fallen to one of the fallen angels, next to Satan in angels, next to Satan in power (power (Paradise LostParadise Lost))

Historical Info - SettingHistorical Info - Setting Remember, setting involves Remember, setting involves

not only time and place, but not only time and place, but also political and social also political and social climateclimate

Meaning, what was going on Meaning, what was going on in the world (both of the in the world (both of the story and of the author) at story and of the author) at the time has a great impact the time has a great impact on the story itselfon the story itself

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies was written was written in the aftermath of WWII, in the aftermath of WWII, when the first atomic bomb when the first atomic bomb was used in warfare. was used in warfare.

Golding’s participation in Golding’s participation in the death and destruction the death and destruction brought about by WWII brought about by WWII made him question the made him question the nature of man and whether nature of man and whether we are inherently good or we are inherently good or evilevil

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies Allegorical novel that Allegorical novel that

follows a group of follows a group of young British school young British school boys marooned on a boys marooned on a deserted island in the deserted island in the South Pacific.South Pacific.

Themes to consider Themes to consider while reading:while reading: Human nature has a Human nature has a

tragic flawtragic flaw War/Violence is War/Violence is

DestructiveDestructive The nature of The nature of

Society/Civilization is Society/Civilization is tenuous and fragiletenuous and fragile

Archetypical SymbolsArchetypical Symbols

A symbol is when one A symbol is when one thingthing in a story represents in a story represents something deeper than the literal something deeper than the literal thingthing (object, (object, event, character, etc.) itself.event, character, etc.) itself.

In order to help you get the most out of your In order to help you get the most out of your reading, I will tell you when you should be on the reading, I will tell you when you should be on the look out for certain symbols used throughout the look out for certain symbols used throughout the novel. novel.

BUT, here comes the hard part – I won’t tell you BUT, here comes the hard part – I won’t tell you what they mean. Why? Because I can’t… what they mean. Why? Because I can’t…

Symbols are symbols because they don’t have Symbols are symbols because they don’t have one “correct” meaning one “correct” meaning or interpretation. Symbols or interpretation. Symbols are always up for debate and interpretationare always up for debate and interpretation

Let us take some advice from Let us take some advice from author and professor Thomas C. author and professor Thomas C.

Foster…Foster… ““Is that a symbol? Sure, why not. It’s the next question Is that a symbol? Sure, why not. It’s the next question

where things get hairy: what does it mean, what does it where things get hairy: what does it mean, what does it stand for? When someone asks about meaning, I usually stand for? When someone asks about meaning, I usually come back with something clever like, ‘Well what do you come back with something clever like, ‘Well what do you think?’ Everyone thinks I’m either being a wise guy or think?’ Everyone thinks I’m either being a wise guy or ducking responsibility, but neither is the case. Seriously, ducking responsibility, but neither is the case. Seriously, what do what do you you think it stands for, because that’s probably what think it stands for, because that’s probably what it does. At least for you.it does. At least for you.

Here’s the problem with symbols: people expect them to Here’s the problem with symbols: people expect them to mean something. Not just any something, but one mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular. Exactly. Maximum. You know something in particular. Exactly. Maximum. You know what? It doesn’t work like that. Oh sure, there are some what? It doesn’t work like that. Oh sure, there are some symbols that work straightforwardly: a white flag means I symbols that work straightforwardly: a white flag means I give up, don’t shoot. Or it means, we come in peace. See? give up, don’t shoot. Or it means, we come in peace. See? Even in a fairly clear-cut case we can’t pin down a single Even in a fairly clear-cut case we can’t pin down a single meaning, although they’re pretty close. So some symbols meaning, although they’re pretty close. So some symbols do have a relatively limited range of meanings, but in do have a relatively limited range of meanings, but in general a symbol can’t be reduced to standing for one general a symbol can’t be reduced to standing for one thing. If they CAN, it’s not symbolism, it’s allegory.”thing. If they CAN, it’s not symbolism, it’s allegory.”

What is Allegory?What is Allegory? Allegory is a literary device used to attribute Allegory is a literary device used to attribute

greater depths of meaning to literal situations and greater depths of meaning to literal situations and characters. Differing from symbol, allegory usually characters. Differing from symbol, allegory usually represents something SPECIFICrepresents something SPECIFIC

When a character, object, or event is used When a character, object, or event is used allegorically in a text, it is meant to draw the allegorically in a text, it is meant to draw the reader’s attention to a deeper significance, beyond reader’s attention to a deeper significance, beyond the surface level of the text. We have a greater the surface level of the text. We have a greater understanding of the text because of what each understanding of the text because of what each character or item character or item representsrepresents. .

For Example:For Example: In George Orwell’s In George Orwell’s Animal FarmAnimal Farm, each of the animals living , each of the animals living

on the farm represents a figure in Stalin’s Regime in on the farm represents a figure in Stalin’s Regime in Russia before the Russian RevolutionRussia before the Russian Revolution

Through this device, the author is able to allegorically Through this device, the author is able to allegorically comment on and illustrate his ideas about the Russian comment on and illustrate his ideas about the Russian Regime (the deeper level) while literally telling a story Regime (the deeper level) while literally telling a story about animals taking over the farm on which they live about animals taking over the farm on which they live (the surface level)(the surface level)

Keep an eye out for…Keep an eye out for…

Throughout the story, some characters Throughout the story, some characters may allegorically or symbolically may allegorically or symbolically represent a deeper meaning. Also, be on represent a deeper meaning. Also, be on the look out for these symbols :the look out for these symbols :

The scarThe scar FireFire Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

The color greenThe color green ConchConch The BeastThe Beast

The Stake/PigThe Stake/Pig UniformsUniforms The The SeaSea

Piggy’s glassesPiggy’s glasses The IslandThe Island

AnnotationsAnnotations

In order to be an active reader and take In order to be an active reader and take note of these literary devices as they note of these literary devices as they develop throughout the story, you must develop throughout the story, you must annotate the novel as you read.annotate the novel as you read.

I will not score your annotations after I will not score your annotations after every chapter, but I will do RANDOM every chapter, but I will do RANDOM annotation checks. So BE READY!!! annotation checks. So BE READY!!!

““But what do I annotate, Ms. Whitlock?!”But what do I annotate, Ms. Whitlock?!”I’m glad you asked I’m glad you asked … …

AnnotationsAnnotations

Text connectionsText connections Text to textText to text Text to worldText to world Text to selfText to self

Lit. Devices Lit. Devices SymbolSymbol AllegoryAllegory DictionDiction ImageryImagery Character developmentCharacter development ConflictConflict SettingSetting ThemeTheme

Rise and Fall of Rise and Fall of Civilization evolutionCivilization evolution

(next class)(next class)

Maslow analysisMaslow analysis Zimbardo analysisZimbardo analysis Freudian analysisFreudian analysis

(later on)(later on)

Happy Reading!Happy Reading!