Background Information for Lord of the Flies Take notes or print. You’ll want these notes for your essay.

William Golding  Born September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England In 1935 started teaching English and philosophy in Salisbury Married Ann Brookfield in 1939 Two children, David (b. 1940) and Judith (b. 1945).  In 1940 joined the Royal Navy June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.

The prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 Golding’s Successes The prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 The coveted Booker Prizein 1980 The James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1979

Lord of the Flies “The novel told the gripping story of a group of adolescent boys stranded on a deserted island after a plane wreck. Lord of the Flies explored the savage side of human nature as the boys, let loose from the constraints of society, brutally turned against one another in the face of an imagined enemy. Riddled with symbolism, the book set the tone for Golding’s future work, in which he continued to examine man’s internal struggle between good and evil.”-Biography.com

Inspiration for the novel: OPERATION PIED PIPER Britain’s Evacuation

When? What? At the start of World War Two 11:07am on Thursday, 31 August 1939 Biggest and most concentrated mass movement of people in Britain's history In the first four days of September 1939, nearly 3,000,000 people were transported from towns and cities in danger from enemy bombers to places of safety in the countryside.

Who? About 800,000 children left their homes. Most were schoolchildren, who had been labeled like pieces of luggage, separated from their parents and accompanied instead by a small army of guardians - 100,000 teachers. Most were unaware of where they were going, what they would be doing and all were wholly ignorant of when they would be coming back.

Why? The fear of air attack from German bombers at the start of hostilities encouraged parents to send their children to safety. There were predictions of 4,000,000 civilian casualties in London alone. The estimates of casualties were grossly over- exaggerated and the subsequent Government propaganda caused near panic rather than controlled movement.

Why did they leave? Air Attacks They couldn’t bring much. Children were to leave.

Lord of the Flies

Characters

Symbols to Look for Conch, Piggy’s Glasses, Beastie, Lord of the Flies, Signal Fire