Annotated Bibliography
1. Baker, James R. William Golding: A Critical Study. New York: St. Martin’s, 1965. Print.
The most relevant chapter makes many allusions to other works, mythology mainly, that
examine human nature; the main concepts considered include: reason, science, sin, and hope.
Useful also for its connection to the Bible (church ideological state apparatus).
2. Belsey, Catherine. “Constructing the Subject: Deconstructing the Text.” Literary Criticism:
Literary and Cultural Studies. Ed. Davis, Robert Con and Schleifer, Ronald. 4th Ed. pp.
378-392. New York: Longman, 1998. Print.
Illuminates Althusser’s assertions about ISAs and reproducing the relations of production.
Discusses “subjects” and their subjectivity and subjection. Expands with connections to Lacan,
Derrida, and Barthes. Includes helpful analyses of stories of Robinson Crusoe and Sherlock
Holmes, which do not add specifically to an Althusserian reading.
3. Clark, George. “An Illiberal Education: William Golding’s Pedagogy.” Seven Contemporary
Authors. Ed. Thomas B. Whitbread. pp. 73-95. Austin: U of Texas, 1966. Print.
Urges a “rethinking” of Lord of the Flies. Requires a reading that considers Ralph’s position, as
a young boy in a stressful setting with unmanageable circumstances, a strenuous setting, and a
complex psyche. Summarizes sections and makes enlightening analyses and connections to
other works, such as “The Song of Roland” of French lore. Useful because it helps an
interpretation of Ralph as “mother.”
4. Dick, Bernard F. William Golding. New York: Twayne, 1967. Print.
Explains how Golding rejects simplifying and categorizing in interviews, but actually does just
that with his characters and other literary devices—there is much polarity in Golding’s
depictions (many sets of binary oppositions). In the most relevant sections, elaborates on the
characters, the anarchy, the symbolism and irony, the religiosity (Tower of Babel, relating to
debate between Jack and Ralph; Beelzebub, Prince of Devils). Shows how the lecture circuit
was counterproductive for Golding, who wound up doing what he deplored in critics, minimizing
interpretation and labeling significance. Very useful because of its analysis of each character,
which is information that can be used to read Lord of the Flies with Althusser in mind.
5. Elmen, Paul. “William Golding: A Critical Essay.” Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1967. Print.
Attempts to label Lord of the Flies as fable or myth or something altogether more complex than
either. Points out valuable spots—without using Althusserian language—where the boys show
that they have been interpellated; they still hail the codes they are used to, being from a proper
British school. Illustrates how the boys gradually become a pack, after demonstrating such
loyalty to what they were conditioned to recognize. Relevant in that it admits that these boys
came from a regimented place and reach a deteriorated position.
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6. Kennard, Jean E. Number and Nightmare: Forms of Fantasy in Contemporary Fiction.
Hamden, CT: Archon, 1975. Print.
The pertinent chapter provides useful historical context within the British canon. Really helpful
when examining Percival Wemys Madison’s portrayal in Golding’s book—how he is
representative of the extent to which these boys change so very drastically. An Althusserian
connection is easily made, considering what these boys were used to.
7. Kinkead-Weekes, Mark and Gregor, Ian. William Golding: A Critical Study. New York:
Harcourt, 1967. Print.
Analyzes all of Golding’s novels, even saying they have become a family of sorts. Full of useful
readings that are more smoothly connected to Althusser. Cites examples from the text about
each character, probing into their roles. Works as evidence in the argument that boys are a
family, with a distinct mother, father, big brother, etc. Looks at location in Lord of the Flies;
each place can be read as significant. Lauds Golding for the more plausible characters (than
Ballantyne’s in The Coral Island) and for the economy of his depictions.
8. Koopmans, Andy. Understanding Lord of the Flies. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent, 2003. Print.
Clearly educates about Golding’s life; his reasons for writing Lord of the Flies and other books;
interesting historical background, especially the McCarthyism anxiety that sparked interest in
Lord of the Flies; and the many readings (fable, vulgarity, evil, morality, children, human nature,
civilization and chaos, point of view, setting, structure, etc.) applied to Golding’s most famous
book. Offers opportunities for further research, with suggestions for possible essays and
excerpts of criticism. Holds an extensive list of consulted works as well.
9. Hynes, Samuel. “William Golding.” Six Contemporary British Novelists. Ed. George Stade.
pp. 165-218. New York: Columbia UP, 1976. Print.
Notes Golding’s gift to create an allegory with realistic characters, ones who do not become
abstractions themselves. Shows how Ballantyne’s The Coral Island has just three boys who are
able to conquer all obstacles with British wiles and Christian qualities. Explains how
Ballantyne’s boys are wholly unbelievable, but, of course, fit the prescription of what the British
audience wanted. Hynes goes on to illustrate that the “audience” in Lord of the Flies is the naval
commander who judges them in the end and charges them with being British and putting on a
bad show relative to what is expected.
10. Sullivan, Walter. “The Long Chronicle of Guilt.” The Sounder Few. Ed. R.H.W. Dillard,
George Garrett, and John Rees Moore. pp. 43-59. Athens: U of Georgia, 1971. Print.
Examines Golding’s novels and the common themes of depravity, evil, innocence, and guilt—in
short, the moral complexity of his body of work. Aptly appraises Golding’s abilities with
symbolism, detail, and dialogue. Regarding Lord of the Flies, asserts that all mankind must heed
natural laws just like physical laws and, furthermore, accept inherent sinfulness and continuing
guilt.
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11. Waldman, Mark Robert. Shadow: Searching for the Hidden Self. New York: Putnam, 2002.
Print.
Poses questions about human nature, but just skims the discussion. Offers an excerpt from Lord
of the Flies—when Simon is “conversing” with the pig’s head on the stake, the “Beast.” Simply
urges an uncovering of what is going on psychologically in various texts, from poems to
paintings, from fiction to photographs.
Other Works Consulted
Althusser, Louis, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses." in Lenin and Philosophy and
Other Essays. New York: Monthly Review Press. 2001: 85-126. Print.
-----. For Marx. New York: Pantheon, 1969. Print.
Aune, James Arnt. “The Argument from Evil in the Rhetoric of Reaction.” Rhetoric & Public
Affairs 6.3 (2003) 518-522. Michigan State University. Print.
Barratt, David. “William Golding.” Notable British Novelists. Vol. 1. Ed. Carl Rollyson.
Pasadena: Salem Press, 2001. Print.
Bloom, Harold. Ed. Bloom’s Notes: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. New York: Chelsea
House, 1996. Print.
Dick, Bernard F. “’The Novelist is a Displaced Person’—An Interview with William Golding.”
College English > Vol. 26, No. 6 (Mar., 1965), pp. 480-482. Print.
Franklin, Paul B. and Goicolea, Anthony. “Boyology.” GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay
Studies 7.2 (2001) 355-356. Duke University. Print.
Lederer, Richard H. “Student Reactions to Lord of the Flies.” The English Journal > Vol. 53, No.
8 (Nov., 1964), pp. 575-579. Print.
Martin, Jerome. “Symbol Hunting Lord of the Flies.” The English Journal > Vol. 58, No. 3
(Mar., 1969), pp. 408-413. Print.
Sunderman, Wendy L. “Reading, Living, and Loving Lord of the Flies.” The English Journal >
Vol. 89, No. 2, Our Love Affair with Literature (Nov., 1999), pp. 49-54. Print.
Veidemanis, Gladys. “Lord of the Flies in the Classroom—No Passing Fad.”
The English Journal > Vol. 53, No. 8 (Nov., 1964), pp. 569-574. Print.
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