STARTER: UNSCRAMBLE THE ANAGRAMS TO REVEAL THE MAIN THEMES (BIG IDEAS AND ISSUES) IN LORD OF THE FLIES IETSOCY TUREAN FARE ODGO UVERSS VIEL RYAGESAV

THEMES IN LORD OF THE FLIES 1.SOCIETY 2.NATURE 3.FEAR 4.GOOD VERSUS EVIL 5.SAVAGERY Challenge: Can you elaborate? E.g. Whose nature? What are they afraid of?

1.SOCIETY - rules 2.NATURE – human, versus nurture, survival of the fittest 3.FEAR – of the beast (the unknown) 4.GOOD VERSUS EVIL 5.SAVAGERY – the heart of darkness (Conrad – civilised man’s decent into savagery)

Good Versus Evil Clearly GoodUnclearClearly Evil Ralph builds shelters to help all the boys Ralph tells the boys Piggy’s nickname Roger kills Piggy Jack gives all the boys a share of the first pig he catches Jack plays the hunting game with a real boy Jack orders the death of Ralph

Grade booster A* candidates might comment on how Golding makes several of the main characters much more complex than just good versus evil. This reflects his interest in how people can move from being good to being evil. None of the boys (even Roger) is thoroughly evil when the novel starts.

On your own, or in pairs… 1.SOCIETY 2.NATURE 3.FEAR 4.GOOD VERSUS EVIL 5.SAVAGERY You’ll be creating an A3 poster about your theme. You will need to include all of the following… 1.Details of where the theme is present in the novel 2.Which characters are associated with the theme 3.What Golding might have been trying to teach us about the theme 4.Your thoughts on the theme 5.At least five quotations from the novel which link to the theme 6.A picture of a scene you think helps explain where the theme is present. You’ll be creating an A3 poster about your theme. You will need to include all of the following… 1.Details of where the theme is present in the novel 2.Which characters are associated with the theme 3.What Golding might have been trying to teach us about the theme 4.Your thoughts on the theme 5.At least five quotations from the novel which link to the theme 6.A picture of a scene you think helps explain where the theme is present.

EXAMPLE… The title of the novel reinforces the idea that we all have something of the 'devil' within us - and that the 'devil' can be released all too easily. Roger enjoys sharpening a stick at both ends with which to kill Ralph Roger is an executioner. He kills Piggy and, in the final hunt, Ralph fears Roger because he "carried death in his hands". ?? PIGGY’S DEATH THE LORD OF THE FLIES THE MURDER OF SIMON

Nature versus Nurture This debate is about whether a person is born good or evil (nature) or learns to be good or evil (nurture). This old question has been explored in various literary works including: The Tempest by Shakespeare and Oliver Twist by Dickens.

“A devil…on whose nature/ nurture can never stick” Caliban’s name might be a play on the word cannibal Nancy was brought up on the streets and sold into prostitution. Yet, she still sacrifices herself to save Oliver.

Roger represents the type of person who is naturally evil and just needs a chance to let this evil run free. Golding leaves it up the reader to decide why this is. We do not know what nurturing or lack of nurturing factors have made Jack and Roger the way they are.

The murder of Simon shows that even the boys who are good can be influenced to be evil The key factor with Ralph and Piggy is their remorse for their part in the killing. Piggy tries to pretend it did not happen, but he is still sorry for Simon; Ralph talks about the incident and realises he has been part of something terrible.

Grade booster Higher-grade candidates could explore how some philosophers believe that a person’s nature cannot be changed. If someone is naturally evil, then all that person needs is an opportunity for this side of his or her nature to come out. Jack and Roger clearly have a greater tendency to be evil than many of the other boys.