What is the
“Lord of the Flies”?
The Pig’s head is dubbed the Lord of the Flies. It is offered
as a sacrifice to the beast
The head speaks to Simon at one point
This is when Simon realizes that the beast isn’t really a
creature on the island, but evil that lurks in all of us. The
LOTF is kind of like the devil – always there to tempt. He
actually taunts Simon and warns him that “they’ll have fun”
foreshadowing his death.
The demon Beelzebub’s name translated into English is
Lord of the Flies. He is supposed to be one of the worst
demons if not Satan himself.
Allegory
A story that represents abstract ideas about the
world. A story that can be interpreted to have a
deeper meaning.
The allegory of LOTF is that we learn that
without the restraints of civilization, we/humans
are capable of doing horrific things. Human
natures causes us to act like savages when
restraints are removed.
Symbols:
A thing that represents something else. For example: Cross = Christianity
The island itself – a microcosm (miniature version) of the real world
The glasses – knowledge/reason and power of SCIENTIFIC
THOUGHT (Piggy has them) &
power over others when Jack has
them
The conch – order, civilization, rules. When it’s crushed – so is order.
The beast - our capacity for evil ~ differs for each boy
The signal fire - this fire helps us determine how aware the boys are
of their savagery or civility. When it goes out its b/c they are ignoring
the need of keeping it alive to be saved.
Other ideas to discuss:
The Masks or Face Paint – allows boys to ignore
who they are. They do not have shame when
they wear their face paint because it’s “not
really them”.
All of the boys EXCEPT Simon get caught up in
the savagery at one point or another. The
difference is that Piggy, Ralph, and Samneric
feel great shame after being involved – even on
the outskirts of- the tribal dance.
Quotes:
“Grownups know things… they ain’t afraid of the
dark. They’d meet and have tea and discuss.
Then things ‘ud be all right-” - Piggy
“It was an accident…that’s what it was. An
accident…Coming in the dark-he hadn’t no
business crawling like that out of the dark. He
was batty. He asked for it.” - Piggy
The BEAST
“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you
could hunt and kill! You knew didn’t you? I’m
part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason
why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”
– the Lord of the Flies speaking to Simon
“Maybe… there is a beast. What I mean is…
maybe it’s only us.” – Simon
ROGER
“He gathered a handful of stones and began to
throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry,
perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare
not throw.” – regarding Roger
“Roger sharpened a stick at both ends” –
Samneric talking to Ralph
End of the Novel Quotes
“The officer looked at Ralph doubtfully for a moment, then
took his hand away from the butt of the revolver. ‘Hullo’
Squirming a little, conscious of his filthy appearance,
Ralph answered shyly. ~ Ralph feels shame and
embarrassment to look as he does in front of the
adult/civilized man.
“Who’s boss here?” “I am,” said Ralph loudly. A little boy
who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his
red hair and how carried the remains of a pair of
spectacles at his waist, started forward, then changed his
mind and stood still. ~ Seeing Jack for the small boy he
really is.
“Jolly good show. Like the Coral Island” Allusion to a
different novel where there is a shipwreck & the boys that
survived have wild, but not horrific adventures. (Fight
/befriend pirates… and then make it safely home)
“I should have thought,” said the officer as he visualized
the search before him, “I should have thought that a pack
of British boys – you’re all British, aren’t you? – would
have been able to put up a better show than that – I mean –
“ ~ The officer speaking about what he is seeing and is
shocked to find on the island.
“He wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s
heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend
called Piggy.” - Regarding Ralph
“The officer, surrounded by these noises, was moved and
little embarrassed. He turned away to give them time to
pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to
rest on the trim cruiser in the distance.” ~ he is
uncomfortable around this blatant display of emotion and
shame.
Questions ???
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