LORD OF THE FLIES REVIEW PROJECT By: Jenna Mueller
EXPLANATION I chose this book because I had read it in the past and knew it was full of information. I relied on a book that I knew would fit many prompts. The amount of characters in the book helped set me up for anything Mrs. Fisher or the AP Exam could throw my way. Having already read the book, it was not difficult for me in the beginning. I already knew most of the plot so rereading it was a breeze.
SUMMARY During a time of war, a plane with a group of British boys crashes on an island. The pilot of the plane is killed, but the boys survive and find themselves alone on an island without supervision. They must work together to make a society that works, creating rules and jobs to keep them civilized. All seems fine until a monster begins to terrorize the island. The boys start to turn against each other, being led by Jack, a boy who wants to become the new leader. Jack wants to rule like a dictator whereas Ralph, the current leader, is more civilized. Ralph and Jack go to “war” against each other. Just when all seems lost, a soldier shows up. However, the innocence the boys’ came with on the island is already long gone.
PROTAGONIST Ralph is a young British boy, who just so happens to be the oldest of the boys. He symbolizes leadership. It quickly becomes apparent that he is a civilized boy. Ralph's capacity for leadership is evident from the very beginning when he is the only elected leader of the boys. Ralph, being the civilized boy he is, is challenged by both the beast and Jack, as Ralph cannot enforce rules without help from others. He is the symbolic form of civil rule and democracy.
ANTAGONIST Throughout the novel, Jack stands in Ralph’s way as Ralph attempts to create a civilized society on the island. However, unlike Ralph, Jack is unable to lead the boys by being civil, so instead he uses fear tactics and bullying to get his way. He works to usurp Ralph’s leadership and turn the boys against him. By starting his own tribe, stealing from Ralph, and allowing the hunters to terrorize the boys, Jack effectively becomes a savage in his ways.
MAJOR THEMES Civilization V. Savagery: There are two basic instincts in humans. One is to create peace and follow strong morals. The other is to gratify immediate desires and act with violence. This novel shows both sides and how quickly things can fall apart when they clash. Innocence: When faced with circumstances where rules are not enforced, things can get out of hand. In the novel, the boys face the evil within each other as they battle to keep their innocence.
PROS: Length Activity Difficulty Comprehension Handiness The book is not very long, so if you have not read it, it won’t be hard to finish it. The book is a quick read that is worth it in the long run. Activity With all the characters and events happening in the book, there is so much to analyze. This book could answer many prompts. Difficulty This book is not hard to understand or read. It is a basic difficulty novel that is actually quite easy to comprehend. Comprehension Understanding the book is a very important thing when it comes to picking the right book. This novel is easy to analyze and fun to learn about. Handiness There are online versions of this novel. You won’t have to go out and purchase one because it can be right at your fingertips for free!
CONS: Overall Reading Analysis Reading this book more than once can be quite tedious. It gets annoying having to continuously reread to make sure you know the prompt’s answer. Analysis If you are not good at analyzing characters and locating symbolism, this is not the book for you. It is difficult to understand the book is about if you don’t know how to analyze properly
RECOMMENDATIONS I highly recommend this book to students who are looking for an easy and timeless read! It is an amazing book for AP Exam essay prompts. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat and it is full of information. I recommend this book if you are a good analyzer and can recognize symbolism. I give it 5 pigs out of 5!