common essay questions for lord of the flies

'Lord of the Flies' Questions for Study and Discussion

How to Understand William Golding's Famous Novel

• Study Guides
• Authors & Texts
• Top Picks Lists
• Best Sellers
• Plays & Drama
• Shakespeare
• Short Stories
• Children's Books
• M.A., English Literature, California State University - Sacramento
• B.A., English, California State University - Sacramento

"Lord of the Flies" is a famous and highly controversial novel by William Golding. An unusually violent version of a coming-of-age story , the novel is viewed as an allegory , exploring the aspects of human nature that lead us to turn on each other and resort to violence.

Golding was a war veteran, and much of his literary career was spent exploring these themes central to an understanding of humanity. His other works include "Free Fall," about a prisoner in a German camp during World War II; "The Inheritors" which depicts a race of gentle people being overrun by a more violent race and "Pincher Martin," a story told from the point of view of a drowning soldier

Here are a few questions about " Lord of the Flies " for study and discussion, to help improve your understanding of its themes and characters.

Why Is the Novel Called 'Lord of the Flies'?

• What is important about the title? Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title? Hint: Simon is the one who names the pig's staked head. 
• Central to the plot of "Lord of the Flies" is the idea of order and society being crucial to survival. Does Golding seem to be advocating for a structured society, or against it? Explain your answer using one of the characters as your evidence.

Plot and Character in 'Lord of the Flies'

• Which of the boys on the island is the most well-developed character? Which is the most poorly developed? Could Golding have done more to explore the boys' backstories, or would that have slowed the plot?
• Could "Lord of the Flies" have taken place at another point in history? Explore this possibility by choosing a time period and determining how the plot would have played out there. 
• How important is the setting in "Lord of the Flies?" Would it have been as effective to the plot if Golding had stranded the boys on another planet, for instance? Explain your answer.
• The ending of "Lord of the Flies" is not unexpected; it seemed likely throughout the novel that the boys eventually would be "rescued." But does the ending satisfy you? What do you think Golding was trying to say by letting us hear the Navy officer's inner thoughts? 

Putting 'Lord of the Flies' in Larger Context

• If you were going to recommend "Lord of the Flies" to a friend, how would you describe it? Would you warn them of the novel's violence? 
• Understanding that the central plot is highly controversial, do you think "Lord of the Flies" should be censored or banned? Does it make sense that it has been banned in the past?
• Do you agree that "Lord of the Flies" is a companion piece of sorts to J.D. Salinger's " The Catcher in the Rye ?" How do you think Holden Caulfield would have fared on Golding's island with the rest of the boys? 
• Why Is 'Lord of the Flies' Challenged and Banned?
• Lord of the Flies: A Critical History
• Memorable Quotes From 'Lord of the Flies'
• Lord of the Flies Book Profile
• 'Lord of the Flies' Overview
• 'Lord of the Flies' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• The Catcher in the Rye: Questions for Study and Discussion
• 9 Must-Read Books If You Like 'Lord of the Flies'
• 'Lord of the Flies' Summary
• 'Lord of the Flies' Characters: Descriptions and Significance
• 'Brave New World:' Questions for Study and Discussion
• '1984' Questions for Study and Discussion
• 'Lord of the Flies' Quotes Explained
• Must-Read Books If You Like 'The Catcher in the Rye'
• Biography of William Golding, British Novelist
• 'Invisible Man' Questions for Study and Discussion

Lord of the Flies

William golding, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Golding's Lord of the Flies . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Lord of the Flies: Introduction

Lord of the flies: plot summary, lord of the flies: detailed summary & analysis, lord of the flies: themes, lord of the flies: quotes, lord of the flies: characters, lord of the flies: symbols, lord of the flies: theme wheel, brief biography of william golding.

Historical Context of Lord of the Flies

Other books related to lord of the flies.

• Full Title: Lord of the Flies
• Where Written: England
• When Published: 1954
• Literary Period: Post-war fiction
• Genre: Allegorical novel / Adventure novel
• Setting: A deserted tropical island in the middle of a nuclear world war
• Climax: Piggy's death
• Point of View: Third person omniscient

Extra Credit for Lord of the Flies

Beelzebub. The phrase "lord of the flies" is a translation of the Greek "Beelzebub," a devil mentioned in the New Testament. In the Bible, Beelzebub sometimes seems to be Satan himself, and at other times seems to be Satan's most powerful lieutenant.

Coral Island. William Golding based several of the main ideas in Lord of the Flies on Coral Island (1858), a somewhat obscure novel by Robert Ballantyne, a 19th-century British novelist. In Coral Island , three English boys create an idyllic society after being shipwrecked on a deserted island. They battle wild hogs, typhoons, hostile island visitors, and eventually Pirates on the South Seas.

Lord of the Flies

46 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-5

Chapters 6-7

Chapters 8-9

Chapters 10-11

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Compare/contrast what happensin “normal” society with what happens on the island. Is the society that the boys make more similar or different than the society you know?

Why are there no girls on the island? Do you think that having both genders represented would alter how the boys treat one another?

Why does the “Lord of the Flies” (138)—the pig’s head—tell Simon he is in danger? How does this scene relate to the novel’s title?

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By William Golding

Pincher Martin

William Golding

Featured Collections

Allegories of Modern Life

View Collection

Audio Study Guides

Banned Books Week

British Literature

Nobel Laureates in Literature

Lord of the Flies

By william golding, lord of the flies study guide.

Sir William Golding composed Lord of the Flies shortly after the end of WWII. At the time of the novel's composition, Golding, who had published an anthology of poetry nearly two decades earlier, had been working for a number of years as a teacher and training as a scientist. Golding drew extensively on his scientific background for his first narrative work. The novel's plot, in which a group of English boys stranded on a deserted island struggle to develop their own society, is a social and political thought-experiment using fiction. The story of their attempts at civilization and devolution into savagery and violence puts the relationship between human nature and society under a literary microscope. Golding's allusions to human evolution also reflect his scientific training. The characters discover fire, craft tools, and form political and social systems in a process that recalls theories of the development of early man, a topic of much interest among many peoples including the mid-century Western public. The culmination of the plot in war and murder suggests that Golding's overarching hypothesis about humanity is pessimistic, that is, there are anarchic and brutal instincts in human nature. Ordered democracy or some other regime is necessary to contain these instincts.

As an allegory about human nature and society, Lord of the Flies draws upon Judeo-Christian mythology to elaborate on the novel's sociological and political hypothesis. The title has two meanings, both charged with religious significance. The first is a reference to a line from King Lear , "As flies to wanton boys, are we to gods." The second is a reference to the Hebrew name Ba'alzevuv, or in its Greek form Beelzebub, which translates to "God of the Flies" and is synonymous with Satan. For Golding however, the satanic forces that compel the shocking events on the island come from within the human psyche rather than from an external, supernatural realm as they do in Judeo-Christian mythology. Golding thus employs a religious reference to illustrate a Freudian concept: the Id, the amoral instinct that governs the individual's sense of sheer survival, is by nature evil in its amoral pursuit of its own goals. The Lord of the Flies, that is, the pig's head on a stick, directly challenges the most spiritually motivated character on the island, Simon , who functions as a prophet-martyr for the other boys.

Published in 1954 early in the Cold War, Lord of the Flies is firmly rooted in the sociopolitical concerns of its era. The novel alludes to the Cold War conflict between liberal democracy and totalitarian communism. Ralph represents the liberal tradition, while Jack, before he succumbs to total anarchy, represents the kind of military dictatorship that, for mid-century America and Great Britain, characterized the communist system. It is also notable that Golding sets the novel in what appears to be a future human reality, one that is in crisis after atomic war. Golding's novel capitalizes on public paranoia surrounding the atom bomb which, due to the arms race of the Cold War, was at a high. Golding's negative depiction of Jack, who represents an anti-democratic political system, and his suggestion of the reality of atomic war, present the novel as a gesture of support for the Western position in the Cold War.

In addition to science, mythology, and the sociopolitical context of the Cold War, Lord of the Flies was heavily influenced by previous works of speculative fiction. In particular, Golding's novel alludes to R. M. Ballantyne's 1857 The Coral Island , which tells the story of three boys stranded on a desert island. Golding, who found Ballantyne's interpretation of the situation naive and improbable, likely intended Lord of the Flies to be an indirect critique of The Coral Island . Golding preserves the names of two of Ballantyne's characters, Ralph and Jack, to force the two texts into deeper comparison. While the boys of Coral Island spend their time having pleasant adventures, Golding's characters battle hunger, loneliness, and the deadly consequences of political conflict after they are deserted. The pessimistic character of Golding's story reflects the author's emphasis on the necessity of democratic civilization. Critics also have noted the relationship between Lord of the Flies and Joseph Conrad's canonical 1902 Heart of Darkness , which follows a soldier's excursion into marginal African civilizations. Reflecting some biases, Heart of Darkness depicts these parts of Africa as places where social order is absent and anarchy rules, breeding death and disorder; the novel sees the same problem as an issue within the individual human soul. Like Conrad's work, Golding's novel emphasizes the brutal and violent human impulses that arise in the absence of political order.

Lord of the Flies, with its dystopian and speculative characteristics, established Golding as a solid author with an interest in the science-fiction literary genre that was popular in the 1950s. The novel depicts ostensibly realistic characters, but the plot, which follows a small group of humans isolated within an alien landscape, employs or alludes to the conventions of popular science fiction novels of the time. Golding's subsequent works saw him moving even further into the science fiction genre. The Inheritors , heavily influenced by H. G. Wells's Outline of History , imagines life during the dawn of man and is considered a modern classic of speculative fiction.

Lord of the Flies was not an instant success, selling fewer than 3,000 copies before going out of print in 1955. Shortly thereafter, however, the novel became a bestseller among American and British readers who, as the arms race intensified, likely saw in Golding's wartime dystopia a grim prediction of their own future. By the 1960s the novel was required reading for many high school and college courses, where it has remained to the present day. The enduring popularity of the novel inspired two film adaptations, one by Peter Brook in 1963, and the second by Harry Hook in 1990. Golding's original novel, however, remains the best-known version of the tale. In 2005, Time Magazine named the novel one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.

A continuing controversy surrounding the political message of the novel and its view of human nature has led some readers to challenge its status as a book suitable for children. The American Library Association thus positioned Lord of the Flies at number 70 on its list of the 100 most challenged books of 1990-2000. Among literary critics of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, however, Lord of the Flies has been revisited less as an allegory of human evil than as a literary expression of Cold War ideology. This historicizing does not do justice to the novel. But in terms of reception history, contemporary critics are right to note that the novel's position at the center of many English curricula across America and Great Britain during the Cold War illustrates how the pedagogy of literature has been used to bolster national identity and ideology.

Lord of the Flies Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Lord of the Flies is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How do the boys respond to Jack's call for Ralph's removal as chief? How does Jack react? Respond with evidence from the text.

There is a lot of immaturity here. The other boys refuse to vote Ralph out of power. Enraged, Jack has a tantrum and runs away from the group, saying that he is leaving and that anyone who likes is welcome to join him.The boys don't like the open...

What does Ralph recall hearing From Simon and seeing in the sky ?

The boys would see cargo planes in the sky and fishing boats in the sea.

Wooden huts on or near the beach are not called……

I'm not sure what you are looking for here, perhaps "shelters".

Study Guide for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies study guide contains a biography of William Golding, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Lord of the Flies
• Lord of the Flies Summary
• Lord of the Flies Video
• Character List

Essays for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

• Two Faces of Man
• The Relationship Between Symbolism and Theme in Lord of the Flies
• A Tainted View of Society
• Death and Social Collapse in Lord of the Flies
• Lumination: The Conquest of Mankind's Darkness

Lesson Plan for Lord of the Flies

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Lord of the Flies
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Lord of the Flies Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Lord of the Flies

• Introduction

89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🔝 top-10 lord of the flies research paper topics, 🏆 best lord of the flies essay titles, 📌 creative lord of the flies thesis ideas, 👍 good titles for lord of the flies essay, ❓ lord of the flies: important questions.

• Ralph’s character development in “Lord of the Flies.”
• The main theme in “Lord of the Flies.”
• The success of William Golding’s debut novel.
• “Lord of the Flies”: a discussion of innocence and power.
• The role of the conch in “Lord of the Flies.”
• Civilization vs. savagery in “Lord of the Flies.”
• William Golding’s commentary on human nature and evil.
• The symbolism of fear in “Lord of the Flies.”
• A literary analysis of “Lord of the Flies.”
• “Lord of the Flies”: a summary of events.
• “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding The reader will wonder that all the boys respond in the same manner to the sound of the blown shell. The author uses aesthetics to drive emotions out of the reader about the value of […]
• Evil in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding The idea is that we are born with both the capacity of good and the capacity of evil and that the way we are raised, or the environment in which we live determines how we […]
• Symbolism in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding In The Lord of the Flies, the fire in the story is lit as a symbol of hope and rescue. The island in The Lord Of The Flies resembled the perfect type of Utopia at […]
• Lord of the Flies, an Allegorical Novel by William Golding As the auction proceeds, the reader follows the heartbreaking events of the book. Boys hunt down a pig and place its head on a stick as an ‘offering’ to the ‘beast’.
• Writing on the Novel I Love: Lord of the Flies In a given Lord of the Flies essay, one needs to illustrate the different themes used by Golding in his novel.
• Lord of the Flies: Novel Analysis The sinister nature of the novel is inferred in the title which derives from the Hebrew word, Ba’al-zvuv which means god of the fly, host of the fly or literally the Lord of Flies a […]
• Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies” by Golding Considering this, the present paper will analyze the validity of the given statement by drawing on the experiences of characters in Lord of the Flies and evaluating the conditions in which they lived.
• Literature Studies: “Lord of the Flies” by W. Golding Although Jack Merridew, one of the lead characters of William Golding’s shockingly unforgettable Lord of the Flies novel, is a child and still has a lot to learn in terms of how society works, the […]
• A Comprehensive Analysis of the Key Elements of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Role of Simon in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Literary Comparison of Ballantyne’s “Coral Island” and Golding’s Island in “Lord of the Flies”
• Attitude Towards Children in the Story “Lord of the Flies”
• Jack as a Symbol of Savagery and Anarchy in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Description of the Potential for Evil in Everyone as One of the Theme in the Novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Evil in Humanity in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Savagery and the Beast Theme in “Lord of the Flies”
• The Fall of Civilization Into Savagery in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• An Allegory of Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalysis Theory in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• A Literary Analysis of the Symbolism in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Comparison Between the Movie and Novel “Lord of the Flies”
• Abuse of Power and the Effect of Tyrannical Leadership Between “Lord of the Flies” and “The Chrysalids”
• Fear of the Unknown in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Comparison of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding and “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles on Peer Pressure
• Internal and External Conflicts in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Importance of the Extract in the Development of the Main Themes in “Lord of the Flies”
• Destructiveness of Jealousy Depicted in “Lord of the Flies” and “Woman Warrior”
• A Demonstration of the Influence and Power of People Over One Another Through the Character of Piggy in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Character of Piggy as the Character Who Most Deserved to Be Saved in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Role of Government in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Moral Consequences in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Symbolism of Power in “Lord of the Flies”
• An Analysis of Human Behavior in “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Lord of the Flies”
• Changes in the Conception of God in “Lord of the Flies”
• Inate Evil in “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and “Lord of the Flies”
• A Look at Disturbing Events Highlighted in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Allegory of Social Dissolution “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Ralph as a Good Leader in “Lord of the Flies”
• An Analysis of Democratic and Authoritarian Power in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Leaders and Leadership in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Golding’s Pessimistic View on People and Society in His Book “Lord of the Flies”
• Analyzing the Themes of Innocence and Fear in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• A Description of the Occurrence of Civilization in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Importance of the Beast in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”: A Dream of a Deserted Island Into Reality
• Adventures, Conflicts, and Struggles in “Lord of the Flies”
• Good and Evil in Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Failure of Paradise in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Immorality of Human Nature Depicted in Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Formation of Rules and Perception of Civilisation in “Lord of the Flies”
• How Golding Presents the Decline From Civilisation to Savagery in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Does Piggy Symbolize in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Second World War Reflect on “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Ideas About Human Nature and Behavior Golding Was Trying to Express in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Does the Plane Crash Symbolize in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Present the Character of Jack in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Express His Ideas About Leadership in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Roger Change in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding?
• How the Society Suppresses Evil in the Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Create a Setting in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Author Present Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Show Evil at Work in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Anybody Could Regress Into Savagery in Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Is the Author’s Characterisation and Language Attributed to the Novel of the “Lord of the Flies”?
• Why Did William Golding Name His Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Present Death in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Setting Affect the Story “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Children Are Treated in the Story of “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Make the Physical World Seem Important in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Is Ralph’s Attitude Toward Piggy in the First Chapter of “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Many Boys Are in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Golding Creates Tension in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Opening Prepare the Reader for the Rest of the Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• Why the Boys Were Doomed to Fail in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Influenced William Golding to Write “Lord of the Flies”?
• Ways That Golding Presents the Island in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Golding Uses Symbols in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Use the Setting to Develop the Main Theme of His Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Piggy’s Character Develop Through Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Ruined Ralph and Jack’s Friendship in “Lord of the Flies”?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 8). 89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/lord-of-the-flies-essay-examples/

"89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 8 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/lord-of-the-flies-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 8 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/lord-of-the-flies-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/lord-of-the-flies-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/lord-of-the-flies-essay-examples/.

• To Kill a Mockingbird Topics
• Letter From Birmingham Jail Titles
• Brave New World Paper Topics
• A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay Ideas
• Call of the Wild Questions
• Hills Like White Elephants Essay Ideas
• Shooting an Elephant Essay Titles
• 1984 Essay Titles
• Heart of Darkness Essay Ideas
• Grapes of Wrath Ideas
• Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Research Topics
• Of Mice and Men Essay Topics
• Catcher in the Rye Topics
• The Outsiders Essay Titles
• Slaughterhouse Five Titles

ELA  /  9th Grade  /  Unit 10: Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

Students read and discuss William Golding's classic novel Lord of the Flies along with several non-fiction articles and poems, debating the question of the fundamental goodness/evil of human beings.

This unit has been archived. To view our updated curriculum, visit our 9th Grade English course.

• Text and Materials

Composition Projects

Unit summary.

William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies , will serve as the central novel of this unit. Students will also read a number of non-fiction articles, poems, and short pieces of fiction that investigate the human condition. A quotation from William Golding—“Look out. The evil is in all of us.”—acts as the central question of the unit, with students debating his statements about human nature and considering their positions on the fundamental goodness/evilness of human beings. Some of the thematic topics addressed are: the nature of evil, survival, order versus chaos and loss of innocence. 

This novel is written in a more archaic style than that of the other novels read this year. Exposure to unfamiliar phrases, expressions, and sentence structures will strengthen students’ abilities to tackle unfamiliar archaic texts in the future. Additionally, the ways in which Golding draws on biblical stories and allusions will be an area of focus, as will interpreting Golding’s use and development of symbols to convey meaning. The symbolic significance of the forest, ocean, conch, fire, “littluns,” smoke, glasses and the “Beast” will be investigated throughout the unit.

As the end of the year approaches, it is crucial that students get more practice independently analyzing and drawing conclusions from literature. As such, much of the reading should be done independently, with the teacher monitoring annotations and intervening only when absolutely necessary—checking less for the basic “what’s happening” and more for the “so what?” or “what does this mean?”

Major symbols: forest, huts, ocean, conch, “littluns”, fire, smoke, glasses, “Beast”, “Lord of the Flies”

At Match, students have a Composition class 4 days per week in addition to English class. Below, we have included Supplementary Composition Projects to reflect the material covered in our Composition course. For teachers who are interested in including these Composition Projects but do not have a separate Composition course, we have included a “Suggested Placement” to note where these projects would most logically fit into the English unit. While the Composition Projects may occasionally include content unrelated to English 9, most have both a skill and content connection to the work students are doing in their English 9 class.

In the literature lessons of this unit, students will analyze Lord of the Flies as well as a variety of poems and articles. While there are many thematic topics woven throughout the unit and novel, these supplemental Composition Projects will focus on the question that seems to be at the heart of the novel - are human beings fundamentally good or fundamentally evil? Students will write one literary analysis essay based on the novel and two narrative pieces that are thematically connected. In all three cases, students will focus on the same writing focus areas. These areas are mostly spiraling from the earlier units, providing students with opportunities to apply their writing skills to new projects. For the final essay, students will be asked to integrate evidence from at least two sources.

Texts and Materials

Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you click and make a purchase, we receive a small portion of the proceeds, which supports our non-profit mission.

Core Materials

Book:  Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Perigee Books, Reissue edition, 2003)

Supporting Materials

Article:  “William Golding Obituary”

Slide Presentation:  Stanford Prison Experiment

Poem:  “Picture of Childhood” by Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Poem:  “All There is To Know About Adolf Eichmann” by Leonard Cohen

Photo:  School photo of William Golding

Article:  “Freud's Theory of the Id, Ego, and Superego” by CommonLit Staff (CommonLit.org)

Article:  “Andes Flight Disaster”

Article:  “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” by CommonLit Staff (CommonLit.org)

Book:  Genesis 2 (New International Version)

Book:  Genesis 3 (New International Version)

Book:  The Gospel of Matthew (New International Version)

This assessment accompanies Unit 10 and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.

Download Content Assessment

Download Content Assessment Answer Key

Intellectual Prep

Suggestions for how to prepare to teach this unit

• Read and annotate the novel with the key thematic questions in mind.
• Consider both key thematic questions and all of the possible sub-questions that students might pose or grapple with: Are human beings fundamentally good or evil? What makes a society functional/dysfunctional? What is the relationship between order and chaos?
• Read and annotate all paired texts.
• Take the unit exam and write a draft response to the essay prompt.

Essential Questions

The central thematic questions addressed in the unit or across units

• Are human beings fundamentally good or fundamentally evil?
• What makes a society functional? Dysfunctional?
• What is the relationship between order and chaos? (The words civilization and savagery could be substituted for order and chaos if desired.)
• How does an author use symbolism and allusion to convey theme?

Writing Focus Areas

Specific skills to focus on when giving feedback on writing assignments

English Lessons Writing Focus Areas

The suggested writing focus for this unit is the writing of clear and complex thesis statements and introductions that are then supported throughout the essay. If students have mastered this skill or the data is revealing another crucial area of focus, the teacher may choose to amend this suggested focus area.

• There are no specific narrative assignments prescribed in this unit plan. For homework or as a Do Now, the teacher should include assignments that ask students to rewrite specific episodes of the text from a particular character’s perspective.
• In addition to the focus on the thesis and introduction portions of our Composition Writing Rubric, this unit should include spiraled review of relevant and specific evidence as well as diction portions of the rubric.

Composition Projects Writing Focus Areas

Students will write a mix of literary analysis and narrative pieces in this unit, applying the writing skills they have practiced throughout the year. 

• Thesis: Includes a clear and relevant thesis statement 
• Analysis: Demonstrates clear and logical reasoning
• Evidence: Draws relevant evidence to support position 
• Diction: Uses advanced and specific vocabulary 
• Professionally Revised: Complete and follows guidelines. Adequate revisions

Related Teacher Tools:

Grades 9-12 Composition Writing Rubric

Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text

Literary Terms

allegory, dystopia, theme, symbol, dramatic irony, irony, power dynamics, allusion, conflict, archetype

Roots and Affixes

in-, multi-

apprehension (11), specious (11), immersed (13), obscure (22), mirage (14), clamor (22), ascent (26), incredulous (29), enmity (14), eccentric (19), rational (36), martyr (38), errant (38), incompetence (40), subside (41), inscrutable (49 and 177), primitive (49), assented (42), furtive (49), tirade (45), conditioned (62), timid (63), tacit (65), resent (72), reverence (78), contempt (85) and contemptuously (101), relentless (101), oppressive ( 102), exasperation ( 102), antagonism (118), infuriating (121), diminishing ( 123), indignant (128), assurance (129), assured (132), dreadful (135), sufficiency (141), misguided ( 143), intersperse (146), inaudible (153), gesticulating/gestures (156 and 157), composite (166), luminous (169 and 174), timidly (171), multitudinous (173), incantation (180), inimical (187), ululation/ululating ( 189 and 191), scorched (202)

Idioms and Cultural References

“Lord of the Flies”; a wave of fear, closed circuit, storm of laughter, piggy in the middle

Content Knowledge and Connections

Fishtank ELA units related to the content in this unit.

Having general background knowledge on World War II and the destruction caused by this war will serve as a useful backdrop for students’ understanding of this text.

Explain how Golding’s experiences impacted his writing.

Formulate a position on some of the central thematic questions posed by the novel.

• “Picture of Childhood”
• Stanford Prison Experiment
• “All There is To Know...”

Evaluate Golding’s opinion of humanity.

Describe the power-dynamic between Ralph and Piggy by closely analyzing the author’s diction and descriptions.

• Photo of Golding
• Lord of the Flies pp. 14 – 21

Analyze word choice and characterization to draw conclusions about characters (Ralph, Piggy, Jack Merridew, the choir), evaluate the dynamics between them and make predictions about what the characters represent.

Summarize non-fiction and make connections between the non-fiction article and the novel.

Identify evidence of theme, power dynamics, symbols, conflict, etc.

Closely read a portion of the text in order to analyze the author’s word choice.

Analyze how the author uses and develops symbols to convey important ideas.

Read the article independently, drawing connections between the article and the novel.

Consider how Golding is developing the major themes of the novel, and to compare that with how the author of the article develops the same theme.

Track major symbols/characters and explain how their development reveals theme.

Trace the escalating conflict between Jack and Ralph.

Explain Simon’s symbolic significance on pages 55 and 57.

Analyze specific lines of text and use them to draw conclusions about the theme of order and chaos.

Explain how Golding develops the theme of chaos vs. order in pages 64-75.

Identify the most important lines in this section of text and explain what makes the line significant.

Explain Freud’s theory of mind and define the three parts of the subconscious brain. Students will also be able to evaluate the major characters of the novel based on Freud’s archetypes.

Analyze the symbol of the Beast and explain the role it plays in the novel.

Describe the growing conflict between Ralph and Jack.

Explain how Ralph’s internal conflict is developing.

• Lord of the Flies pp. 124 – 132
• Genesis 3 (New International Version)

Draw parallels between the biblical story of “The Fall of Man” and the boys’ experiences on the island.

Explain the symbolism of the Lord of the Flies and the significance of Simon’s interaction with him.

• Lord of the Flies pp. 145 – 154
• The Gospel of Matthew (New International Version) — Matthew 27:32-56, The Crucifixion of Jesus

Explain the ways in which Simon can be understood to be the “Christ” figure in the novel.

Analyze the language Golding uses to describe the fight between the tribes of Ralph and Jack, making inferences about the author’s purpose.

Analyze Golding’s development of Piggy as a character and his significance in the novel.

Analyze specific excerpts of Chapter 12 and explain how they help to develop Golding’s message and themes.

Create a free account to access thousands of lesson plans.

Already have an account? Sign In

(ON DEMAND)

Write a journal entry from the perspective of Piggy in which you reflect on your relationship with your friend Ralph and your current situation.

An effective essay:

• uses relevant evidence and details from the text, including establishing the setting;
• accurately portrays the relationship and power dynamics between Piggy and Ralph;
• is written in a tone and style that reflect Piggy’s character; and
• uses specific and relevant diction to develop the narrative.

L.9-10.6 W.9-10.3 W.9-10.4 W.9-10.6

In Lord of the Flies , William Golding uses characterization to reveal both conflict and theme. Explain how Golding uses the characters of Ralph and Jack, as well as the relationship between the two boys, to develop the central conflict of the novel. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

• includes a clear, relevant, and complete thesis statement;
• demonstrates clear and logical reasoning;
• draws relevant evidence to support position and provide context;
• uses advanced and specific vocabulary; and
• is professionally revised.

W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.9-10.2.a W.9-10.2.b W.9-10.4 W.9-10.5 W.9-10.6 W.9-10.9

“Look out. The evil is in all of us.” This statement was made by William Golding as he reflected on human nature in the aftermath of World War II. Summarize the meaning of his statement and explain whether you agree or disagree with Golding’s premise. Use examples from the novel Lord of the Flies , other poems and readings from this unit, and/or your own experiences to support your answer.

• includes a thesis statement that previews what is to come;
• summarizes Golding’s statement and states a clear position;
• supports the position with relevant evidence from multiple sources;

SL.9-10.1 W.9-10.2.a W.9-10.2.b W.9-10.4 W.9-10.6

Common Core Standards

Core standards.

The content standards covered in this unit

Language Standards

L.9-10.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

L.9-10.6 — Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Reading Standards for Informational Text

RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.9-10.1 — Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

RL.9-10.5 — Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Speaking and Listening Standards

SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Writing Standards

W.9-10.1 — Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

W.9-10.1.a — Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

W.9-10.1.b — Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

W.9-10.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

W.9-10.2.a — Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

W.9-10.2.b — Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic.

W.9-10.2.d — Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic.

W.9-10.3 — Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

W.9-10.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.9-10.5 — Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

W.9-10.6 — Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

W.9-10.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

W.9-10.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Gender and Power in The Taming of the Shrew

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School information, what courses are you interested in, are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders, any other information you would like to provide about your school.

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free

Resources you can trust

Gold star essays

All reviews

Have you used this resource?

Veronica Newman

Resources you might like

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Lord of The Flies — Lord of the Flies: Symbolism Analysis

Lord of The Flies: Symbolism Analysis

• Categories: Lord of The Flies Symbolism

About this sample

Words: 501 |

Published: Mar 20, 2024

Words: 501 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Symbolism in lord of the flies, analysis of symbolism.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 794 words

2.5 pages / 1336 words

2 pages / 931 words

4 pages / 1725 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Lord of The Flies

Novel Lord of the Flies explores the theme of power and its manifestations in a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. Throughout the novel, different characters vie for power in various ways, leading to a breakdown in [...]

In William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," the concept of a microcosm is elegantly explored through the experiences of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island. This microcosm serves as a mirror that reflects the [...]

William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies is a literary masterpiece that delves into the psyche of human beings and the horrors of society. One of the significant features of this novel is the presence of the littluns, who are [...]

Lord Of The Flies is a novel written by William Golding, first published in 1954. The story follows a group of young boys who are stranded on a deserted island and must fend for themselves. Among the characters in the novel, one [...]

In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, the conch shell is a powerful symbol that represents order, civilization, and the rule of law. Throughout the story, the conch shell is used to call assemblies and establish rules [...]

William Golding’s 1954 novel, “Lord Of The Flies”, conveys the unimaginable journey that a collection of vulnerable British schoolboys experience. After being neglected on a deserted island are left to establish their own [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Suggestions

• A Streetcar Named Desire
• Fahrenheit 451
• Romeo and Juliet
• The Great Gatsby
• The Scarlet Letter

Please wait while we process your payment

Reset Password

Your password reset email should arrive shortly..

If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.

Something went wrong

Log in or create account.

•   Be between 8-15 characters.
•   Contain at least one capital letter.
•   Contain at least one number.
•   Be different from your email address.

By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy .

Don’t have an account? Subscribe now

Create Your Account

Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial

• Ad-free experience
• Note-taking
• Flashcards & Quizzes
• AP® English Test Prep
• Plus much more

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Already have an account? Log in

Choose Your Plan

Group Discount

$4.99 /month + tax

$24.99 /year + tax

Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!

Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?

Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!

$24.99 $18.74   / subscription + tax

Subtotal $37.48 + tax

Save 25% on 2-49 accounts

Save 30% on 50-99 accounts

Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.

Payment Details

Payment Summary

SparkNotes Plus

 Change

You'll be billed after your free trial ends.

7-Day Free Trial

Not Applicable

Renews May 14, 2024 May 7, 2024

Discounts (applied to next billing)

SNPLUSROCKS20  |  20% Discount

This is not a valid promo code.

Discount Code (one code per order)

SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan - Group Discount

SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected] . Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.

For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!

You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.

Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.

Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.

We're sorry, we could not create your account. SparkNotes PLUS is not available in your country. See what countries we’re in.

There was an error creating your account. Please check your payment details and try again.

Your PLUS subscription has expired

• We’d love to have you back! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools.
• Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools.
• Go ad-free AND get instant access to grade-boosting study tools!
• Start the school year strong with SparkNotes PLUS!
• Start the school year strong with PLUS!

Lord of the Flies

• Study Guide
• Mastery Quizzes
• Infographic

William Golding

Unlock your free sparknotes plus trial, unlock your free trial.

• Ad-Free experience
• Easy-to-access study notes
• AP® English test prep

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Civilization versus Savagery

The central concern of Lord of the Flies is the conflict between two competing impulses that exist within all human beings: the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully, follow moral commands, and value the good of the group against the instinct to gratify one’s immediate desires, act violently to obtain supremacy over others, and enforce one’s will. This conflict might be expressed in a number of ways: civilization versus savagery, order versus chaos, reason versus impulse, law versus anarchy, or the broader heading of good versus evil. Throughout the novel, Golding associates the instinct of civilization with good and the instinct of savagery with evil. The conflict between the two instincts is the driving force of the novel, explored through the dissolution of the young English boys’ civilized, moral, disciplined behavior as they accustom themselves to a wild, brutal, barbaric life in the jungle.

Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel, which means that Golding conveys many of his main ideas and themes through symbolic characters and objects. He represents the conflict between civilization and savagery in the conflict between the novel’s two main characters: Ralph, the protagonist, who represents order and leadership; and Jack, the antagonist, who represents savagery and the desire for power. As the novel progresses, Golding shows how different people feel the influences of the instincts of civilization and savagery to different degrees. Piggy, for instance, has no savage feelings, while Roger seems barely capable of comprehending the rules of civilization. Generally, however, Golding implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal and fundamental to the human psyche than the instinct of civilization.

Golding sees moral behavior, in many cases, as something that civilization forces upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human individuality. When left to their own devices, Golding implies, people naturally revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism. This idea of innate human evil is central to Lord of the Flies , and finds expression in several important symbols, most notably the beast and the sow’s head on the stake. Among all the characters, only Simon seems to possess anything like a natural, innate goodness.

Loss of Innocence

As the boys on the island progress from well-behaved, orderly children longing for rescue to cruel, bloodthirsty hunters who have no desire to return to civilization, they naturally lose the sense of innocence that they possessed at the beginning of the novel. The painted savages in Chapter 12 who have hunted, tortured, and killed animals and human beings are a far cry from the guileless children swimming in the lagoon in Chapter 3. But Golding does not portray this loss of innocence as something that is done to the children; rather, it results naturally from their increasing openness to the innate evil and savagery that has always existed within them. Golding implies that civilization can mitigate but never wipe out the innate evil that exists within all human beings. The forest glade in which Simon sits in Chapter 3 symbolizes this loss of innocence. At first, it is a place of natural beauty and peace, but when Simon returns later in the novel, he discovers the bloody sow’s head impaled upon a stake in the middle of the clearing. The bloody offering to the beast has disrupted the paradise that existed before—a powerful symbol of innate human evil disrupting childhood innocence.

Read more about how the loss of innocence shapes characters in Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner .

Struggle to Build Civilization

The struggle to build civilization forms the main conflict of Lord of the Flies . Ralph and Piggy believe that structure, rules, and maintaining a signal fire are the greatest priorities, while Jack believes hunting, violence, and fun should be prioritized over safety, protection, and planning for the future. While initially the boys, including Jack, agree to abide by Ralph’s rules and democratic decision-making, the slow and thoughtful process of building an orderly society proves too difficult for many of the boys. They don’t want to help build the shelters, maintain the signal fire, or take care of the littluns. The immediate fun and visceral rewards of hunting, chanting, and dancing around the fire are more attractive than the work of building a sustainable society. Near the end of the novel, even Ralph is tempted by Jack’s authoritarian regime, regularly forgetting why the fire and rescue is so important.

Man’s Inherent Evil

The fact that the main characters in Lord of the Flies are young boys suggests the potential for evil is inherent even in small children. Jack, for example, is initially keen for rules and civility, but becomes obsessed with hunting, frightened and empowered by the promise of violence. Jack’s desire to control and subjugate proves more powerful than his desire for empathy, intellect, and civilization, and Jack becomes a brutal and leader. Even Ralph and Piggy, who both strive to maintain their sense of humanity, ultimately join in on the mass murder of Simon, momentarily surrendering to the thrill of violence and mass hysteria. While Piggy tries to ignore their participation, Ralph is devastated when he realizes that he is no better than Jack or Roger, and that he has a darkness inside as well.

Read more about the nature of evil in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter .

But the character of Simon suggests humans can resist their inherently violent tendencies. The only boy who never participates in the island’s savagery, Simon has the purest moral code and is able to remain an individual throughout Lord of the Flies . While the others consider him weak and strange, Simon stands up for Piggy and the littluns, helps Ralph build the shelters, and provides thoughtful and insightful assessment of their predicament. Simon recognizes that the beast is not a physical beast, but perhaps the darkness and innate brutality within the boys themselves. After a terrifying conversation with the Lord of the Flies, Simon recognizes the paratrooper as a symbol of fear and the boys as agents of evil, and runs to tell the others. But Simon is never able to properly explain this to the other boys before they beat him to death in a frenzy of excitement and fear.

Dangers of Mob Mentality

Lord of the Flies explores the dangers of mob mentality in terrifying scenes of violence and torture . Early on, the boys sing “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood,” after a successful hunt, elevating their shared act of violence into a celebratory chant. By coming together as a mob, the boys transform the upsetting experience of killing an animal into a bonding ritual. Acting as one group, the boys are able to commit worse and worse crimes, deluding one another into believing in the potential danger posed by the beast justifies their violence. Similarly, the boys use warpaint to hide their identities as individuals, and avoid personal responsibility. Ralph, Piggy and Samneric both fear and envy the hunters’ “liberation into savagery.” Their desire to be part of the group leads to voluntary participation in the ritualistic dance and brutal killing of Simon. The mob’s shared irrational fear and proclivity toward violence results in a devastating act of ultimate cruelty.

War and the Future of Mankind

Set during a global war, Lord of the Flies offers a view of what society might look like trying to rebuild after a largescale manmade catastrophe. In their attempt to rebuild society, the boys cannot agree on a new order and eventually fall into savagery. Ralph comes to realize that social order, fairness and thoughtfulness have little value in a world where basic survival a struggle, such as after a devastating war. The paratrooper who lands on the island reminds the reader that while the boys are struggling to survive peacefully on the island, the world at large is still at war. Even in their isolation and youth, the boys are unable to avoid violence. In their descent into torture and murder, they mirror the warring world around them.

Take the Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Quick Quiz 

Every Literary Reference Found in Taylor Swift's Lyrics

The 7 Most Messed-Up Short Stories We All Had to Read in School

Lord of the flies sparknotes literature guide.

Ace your assignments with our guide to Lord of the Flies ! 

Popular pages: Lord of the Flies

Full book analysis summary, character list characters, ralph characters, themes literary devices, the struggle to build civilization quotes, full book quick quizzes, take a study break.

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

QUIZ: Which Bennet Sister Are You?

A Common Trope In Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

A common trope in any post-apocalyptic media is how the real evil, or monster, is man. Overall, it is a common trope within all media. How applicable is it to reality? This trope can be seen within reality; one can see this play out in real life whenever someone turns on the news. Authors such as William Golding have pointed out this reality. Throughout the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding presents the idea of humanity being inherently evil; this concept is seen outside this microcosm through humanity’s inherent power-hungry and sadistic nature in both reality and fiction. Golding, throughout his novel Lord of the Flies, presents humans as a bringer of evil; man would fall into evil without the rules of society. Roger’s behavior throughout …show more content…

This concept is mirrored in both Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm. Jack, once he is no longer part of Ralph’s lot, immediately makes himself chief and places himself above others. His choice of words mirrors this and what the boys call him. He asks the boys “who’s going to join his tribe,” and he is referred to as chief by the boys in his tribe (Golding 150). Jack proceeds to abuse his position in power to keep himself in power. He was “going to beat Wilfred” for no known reason to the rest of the boys; “he got angry” and “made the boys tie Wilfred up” (Golding 159). Jack, the moment he was able to, took up the role of chief, and abused his power to make sure he stayed in power; he used Wilfred as an example to scare the other boys from daring to stand against him. If he was willing to beat a boy for no reason, what would he do to someone who wronged him? This is also mirrored in Animal Farm with Napoleon and his treatment towards Snowball, his supposed ally. Napoleon’s dogs “dashed straight for Snowball”. In a moment he was out the door and they were after him” (Orwell, 53). The two pigs once worked together, but Napoleon quickly became hungry for more power, more control. Thus, he had the dogs run Snowball out to gain the power Snowball had. These dogs also reinforced the fact Napoleon would keep his power; his dogs would run anyone out at his request. If another animal were …show more content…

The boys, specifically the hunters, show this trait whilst hunting. One of the many instances is when Jack “giggled and flicked” the other boys with blood while they “laughed at his reeking palms” (Golding, 135). They are playing with the blood, acting as if it is some toy and not coming from a gutted pig. Little boys, who should be innocent, are finding twisted joy in their blood. The sadistic nature of humans does not only apply to scenes within fiction; this type of behavior is mimicked within the Stanford Prison Experiment. Whether the guards or the experiment’s creator wanted a certain reaction, cruelty was still at play. One of the guards, John Mark, claimed that Zimbardo, the creator of the experiment, “went out of his way to create tension” through “things like forced sleep deprivation” (Stanford Magazine). He wanted a certain result and would do whatever he wanted to get a said result; if the guards were at fault for these actions, they willingly put the prisoners through “extreme emotional trauma” on their own accord (Stanford Magazine). No matter whose lens one looks at this experiment through, the sadistic nature is apparent. Either a man had a result he wished for and made it come true, or men caved into their sadistic nature because they could. In all instances, the sadistic nature of humankind is seen on full

Good Leaders In Lord Of The Flies

There are many facets to being a good leader. Some of which may not be apparent to those people- sheep, if you will- who like a certain person over another when it comes to being their top choice. Lord of the flies by William Golding has some fine examples of both good and bad leaders as characters. Before we delve into who those characters are, it should be necessary to elaborate on what makes an individual a good and effective leader, and a bad one to an extent. Now, what makes you a good leader

ANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

• 28843 Words

TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed “model”