Key Words and Phrases

a story, play, poem, picture, or other work in which the characters and events represent particular qualities or ideas, related to morals, religion, or politics. Lord of the Flies is allegorical. Golding’s Lord of the Flies is an allegory of the battle between Good and Evil.

a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective government. Lord of the Flies presents the island’s descent into anarchy. When the boys begin to follow Jack, there is anarchy on the island.

a person who is strongly opposed to something or someone. Jack is the antagonist of the novel.

the exact opposite. Ralph stands for order and civilisation - the very antithesis of Jack, who represents savagery and chaos.

A moment in the story which has strong similarities to a story from the Bible. The description of the island in Chapter 1 has many biblical parallels with the Garden of Eden.

The British Empire comprised the territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. Lord of the Flies can be interpreted as a critique of the British Empire and its domination of other peoples.

The opposite of order. Disorder. As the novel progresses, the order on the island descends into chaos.

The quality of charisma, which is the ability to impress or influence people. Ralph is elected as chief because of his charismatic qualities.

Government by force / intimidation. Jack coerces the boys to become ‘hunters’ by intimidating them.

government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Ralph is elected democratically as the boys’ ‘chief’. The democracy on the island begins to break down with the…

The gradual loss of civilised society; the emergence of an uncivilised, wild state in which rules and laws are no longer respected / obeyed. As the novel progresses, the boys descend into savagery.

fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; obvious; leaving nothing merely implied; the opposite of implied. Golding makes the novel’s biblical parallels increasingly explicit.

to act as a warning or sign of a future event. The outbreak of violence on the island is foreshadowed by smaller incidents earlier on in the novel, such as the fire at the beginning.

An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful. On one hand, the description of the island at the beginning of the novel makes it seem idyllic.

Imposed: something (usually a law, rule or punishment) is imposed when it is forced upon someone. Imposed morality: A set of ethical beliefs about what is right and wrong which are forced upon someone. Ralph’s imposed morality at the start of the novel is not sustained for long.

The idea that evil is part of human nature; we all have the capacity to be / act in evil ways. Golding suggests that evil in inherent in everyone. Golding implies that evil is an innate part of humanity.

A miniature version of the world / universe. In many ways, the island is a microcosm of the world.

A set of values about what is right/good and wrong/evil. Without a strong sense of morality, evil regimes can flourish. Ralph’s morality is challenged by the boys’ hunger for meat.

to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group or society. Ralph and Piggy are ostracised by the Hunters. Jack is instrumental in the ostracism of Piggy at the start of the novel.

a person who has no place in their society or in a particular group, because the society or group refuses to accept th em. Ralph and Piggy become outcasts when the hunters expel them from Castle Rock.

emphasizing or thinking of the bad part of a situation rather than the good part, or the feeling that bad things are more likely to happen than good things. Ralph becomes increasingly pessimistic about the possibility of rescue.

The protagonist is the main character in a story, novel, drama, or other literary work, the character that the reader or audience empathizes with.

Someone who is able to think about things reasonably and sensibly. In the midst of a crisis, even Ralph finds it difficult to think in a rational manner. Jack uses the irrational fears of the littl’uns to control them.

The state or fact of being responsible for something within one's power, control, or management. responsible Jack wants all of the power but none of the responsibility of being the ‘Chief’.

Deriving pleasure or sexual gratification from extreme cruelty. Roger’s sadistic tendencies can be seen when he throws rocks at the littl’uns.

The position of an individual in relation to another or others, especially in regard to social standing. Jack’s jealousy of Ralph’s status on the island is clear from Chapter One.

The state of being under the authority of a superior. Piggy is subordinate to Ralph from the first page: he follows him into the clearing.