Patterns of symbolism Patterns are repetitions of similar things, ideas, or places. In Literature, they’re called archetypes –Suggests that the author is writing a story that has a much larger meaning. –If characters are archetypes, the story is even more symbolic.

Piggy’s glasses have symbolism

The conch is also symbolic

The pig is symbolic

Allegory What is it?

Allegory Definition A story-long, extended metaphor A figurative way of story telling; conveys a meaning other than the literal. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or event Modern allegory often reveals the artist’s intent or worldview.

Modern Examples Superman, Spiderman, and Batman, for example, are all allegorical representations of the everyman. In Star Wars, Kylo Ren (the First Order) and Rey (the resistance) and their struggle for power are allegorical representations of good and evil.

Lord of the Flies Most basic level - an allegory of human society today. Novel's primary implication is that "what we have come to call civilization is at best no more than skin deep.”

Allegory Read literally: Boys are stuck on an island Ralph is the leader Jack is always fighting Ralph for power Simon is kind of strange…

Lord of the Flies Can also be read as an allegory: –Religious Allegory –Political Allegory –Moral Allegory –Social Allegory –Psychological Allegory

Religious Allegory Simon: Christ Figure Ralph: Everyman Jack: Evil Evidence: Ralph struggles to find his place between Simon (who is always good) and Jack (who is usually evil). Simon is tempted in the forest by the Lord of the Flies (Beelzebub) just as Jesus was tempted by the devil Simon is killed by the tribe as he returns with the truth about the “beast” just as Jesus is crucified for spreading the “truth”. The island is a “Garden of Eden” until the beast enters.

Political Allegory RALPH: FDR PIGGY: CHURCHILL JACK: HITLER Think about it in respect to WWII… Jack commands his choir (and eventually his tribe) as a dictator Jack constantly attacks Piggy, and Ralph constantly stands up for Piggy Ralph attempts to be a peacemaker, but he fails.

Moral Allegory JACK = EMOTIONS RALPH = COMMON SENSE PIGGY = INTELLECT SIMON = SOUL

Moral Allegory Ralph (common sense) attempts to balance Piggy (intellect), Jack (emotions), and Simon (soul) and fails, plunging into a world of chaos. How does this explanation fit with the actual plot of the story?

Social Allegory

Social Allegory: Ralph (government) tries to balance Jack (power), Piggy (technology), and Simon (soul) and fails as power warps technology, destroys humanism, and attempts to abolish government. How does this fit with the plot of the story?

Psychology allegory Psychological Allegory The characters in the novel personify the different aspects of the human psyche as described by Freud.

Example What sin or vice is depicted in the painting? Why is this painting an allegory?

One of the most interesting workings of allegory in modern television was the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Each week Buffy would face a new demon or vampire that was also allegorical to whatever issues Buffy faced as a high school and later college student.

Lord of the Flies Allegory Essay Pick one: Using evidence from the text, explain how Lord of the Flies is an allegory. Using evidence from the text, explain what Golding was trying to expose about society? –There is no certain length. It must be complete and thoughtful. (yes this means multiple paragraphs!) –Be sure to cite evidence from the book and use page numbers!

PLOT, CONFLICT, AND CHARACTERS Lord of the Flies

Essential Questions What makes an individual powerful? How does individual power change in relationships with others? Do individuals control groups, or do groups control individuals? How does a society maintain order? Are laws necessary? How do fear and desire for acceptance influence human behavior? What are the implications of this story for contemporary society? Does violence create power or control?

Setting vs. Mood Setting is both time & place in which the author has placed the story A setting can be used by the author to create mood Mood & setting are NOT the same thing Setting is where & when; mood is how the author makes you feel by the way he/she describes the setting!

A group of boys is stranded on an island Setting: uninhabited, tropical island, 1950’s What type of imagery could be used to describe the island?

Character development Round –Are emotionally changed by the challenges they face and the decisions they make Flat –Do not emotionally develop during the course of the story Dynamic –Their actions impact the course of events in the story Static –They participate in the story but do not alter the chain of events

RALPH A QUIET SORT OF LEADER

PIGGY EASILY PICKED-ON, INTELLIGENT

SIMON SENSITIVE, CARING TYPE

JACK A BULLY; TRIES TO FORCE HIS WILL ON OTHERS

Plot Components Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

What is conflict? Internal For example, a character might be torn between two tough decisions. The conflict happens inside the character’s mind External The conflict is between character(s) and some other “thing” or other characters. –Often phrased as: Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society, etc. –External conflicts are what we will focus upon in Lord of the Flies.

Ralph vs. Jack Man vs. Man Man vs. Man Ralph represents order & composure in society. Ralph represents order & composure in society. Jack grows tired of Ralph being in charge. He lets the cruelty inside of him transform him into a savage-like creature, then he goes on a rampage, destroying the ‘civilization’ the boys worked so hard to create. Jack grows tired of Ralph being in charge. He lets the cruelty inside of him transform him into a savage-like creature, then he goes on a rampage, destroying the ‘civilization’ the boys worked so hard to create.

Boys vs. Beastie Man vs. Evil, Man vs. Fear Man vs. Evil, Man vs. Fear The Beastie symbolizes the Devil, and is a manifestation of all the evil inside the boys. As the boys grow further away from civilization, their desire to kill the Beastie grows. They go from being scared at first, to wanting to hang his head on a pole. The Beastie symbolizes the Devil, and is a manifestation of all the evil inside the boys. As the boys grow further away from civilization, their desire to kill the Beastie grows. They go from being scared at first, to wanting to hang his head on a pole.

Boys vs. Nature Man vs. Nature Man vs. Nature The boys begin hunting to try to keep themselves alive. At first, Ralph is afraid to kill the mother pig (sow). Towards the end, Jack's warrior identity brutally murdered the sow and hung her head on a stick. The boys begin hunting to try to keep themselves alive. At first, Ralph is afraid to kill the mother pig (sow). Towards the end, Jack's warrior identity brutally murdered the sow and hung her head on a stick.

Boys vs. Piggy Man vs. Man Man vs. Man Piggy represents the weak who are often victimized. The boys tortured him because he was fat and needed such thick glasses. His torture can also be considered a lack of understanding, because the boys had likely never met anyone with problems like his. This can be seen in the boys lack of understanding of asthma, or "ass-mar". Piggy represents the weak who are often victimized. The boys tortured him because he was fat and needed such thick glasses. His torture can also be considered a lack of understanding, because the boys had likely never met anyone with problems like his. This can be seen in the boys lack of understanding of asthma, or "ass-mar".

Jack vs. Ralph’s Society Man vs. Society Man vs. Society The barbaric quality that arises in Jack is really a rebellion against society. He gets tired of taking orders from Ralph and participating in the democratic system. This desire for anarchy (or ‘no rules’) must have existed inside of Jack before he lands on the island, but his experiences serve to bring the rebellion out of him. The barbaric quality that arises in Jack is really a rebellion against society. He gets tired of taking orders from Ralph and participating in the democratic system. This desire for anarchy (or ‘no rules’) must have existed inside of Jack before he lands on the island, but his experiences serve to bring the rebellion out of him.