Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding

Literary Terms Plot Diagram

Exposition Inciting Moment Rising Action Climax/Turning Point Falling Action Denouement

Setting: time and place Mood: feeling or

atmosphere that the author creates

Tone: author’s attitude towards a subject

Protagonist: Central character of the story – should go through a change in the story

Antagonist: character or force that works against the protagonist

Characterization: techniques used to develop characters Physical description What a character says/does Other characters Narrator’s comments

Literary Terms Theme: The central idea or

message in a work of literature – not to be confused with the plot – theme is a perception about the human condition that is shared with the reader

Human condition: physical, emotional, and spiritual components of human existence shared by all

Conflict: struggle between opposing forces Person v person Person v nature Person v

society/machine Person v God Person v self (internal)

Foil: a character who provides a striking contrast to another character

Literary Terms Imagery: words and

phrases that create vivid sensory images

Foreshadowing: Hints and clues of events that will occur later in the story

Motif: reoccurring ideas

Symbolism: person place or object that represents something beyond itself

Allegory: a story in which every object is a symbol – used to teach

Microcosm: a small group of people that are symbolic of how the author is trying to portray society

Why So Many Literary Terms? Authors use literary devices (terms) in order

to better communicate their themes. What is the theme of Lord of the Flies?

“The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.”

~William Golding

William Golding Born in 1911 in

Cromwell, England Father was a teacher,

and a scientist Mother stayed at home

and dabbled in woman’s rights

Went to college at Oxford and started by studying science.

William Golding After two years he changed

his major to English After college he was a writer, actor, and

playwright Married in 1939 to Ann Brookfield, a scientist

herself Then Golding became an English teacher

William Golding During World War II he served in the Royal

Navy Present when the Bismarck was sunk Saw action against battleships, submarines,

and aircraft Took his ship to France on D-Day “But I went through war and that changed

me.”

Lord of the Flies Motifs:

Biblical parallels The bullying of the weak by the strong The outward trappings of savagery (face paint,

spears, etc.) Themes presented in the novel:

Civilization v Savagery Loss of Innocence Innate human evil