By William Golding

William Golding ( )  Was in World War II 1940 – Royal Navy Took part in D-Day and the sinking of the Bismarck Affected by what he saw in war Returned home, returned to teaching and wrote LotF in six weeks Published the novel in 1954 popular in 1950s, especially among teens

Lord of the Flies  The novel explores human nature – it assesses moral and ethical capabilities of man.  Asks the question is man innately good or evil?

Terms to know:  Allegory = a work that functions on two or more levels of meaning by comparing objects to symbols beyond the scope of the work  Bildungsroman = “formation novel”; follows a child or naïve person from innocence to experience or from youth to adulthood

Terms continued:  Dystopia = imaginary place where people are dehumanized and lead fearful lives; condition of life is extremely bad

Symbols in the novel:  Island  Huts  Rocks  Glasses  Conch  Painted faces/chanting  Long hair  sow

Symbols in the novel:  Fire  Beastie  Flies  Lord of the Flies

Characters are also symbolic  Ralph  Jack  Simon  Piggy  Samneric

Setting is Significant!  Archetypal settings – settings that are symbolic Rivercastle Gardentower Wastelandwilderness Mazesea Desertsthreshold

Setting of the novel:  Post WWII  The boys are on a plane that travels from England east  It passes the Rock of Gilbraltor – a link between Africa and Europe – savagery and enlightment  The plane crashes on an unchartered island in the Indian Ocean (maybe the Pacific)

Setting of the novel:  The island contains: Warm sand Fruit Palm trees A lagoon A reef to protect from surf The island also contains a scar, pink granite, a rock fort, grasslands and a jungle

Theme topics  Disaster  Isolation  Survival  Power  Rebellion  Violence  Guilt, grief  coercion

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1. Physiological needs -water, food, oxygen – we would die without them 2. Safety Needs – shelter, protection 3. Love and Belonging – (culture can begin here) escape loneliness, give and receive love, a sense of belonging 4. Esteem needs – to feel value, respect. If not met, a person feels weak, inferior, worthless 5. Self-actualization – all needs are met; it is finding one’s calling

Maslow  Maslow’s is generally a positive view of man. As long as the basic needs are met, man achieves growth towards self- actualization

Sigmund Freud  Physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist, father of psychoanalysis  Theory that the mind is structured into three parts: Id, Ego, and Superego

Freud’s Structure of Mind  Id Irrational and emotional part of the brain Primitive mind “pleasure principle” – I want it, I want it now We equate id with child If the Id is too strong = bound up in self- gratification and uncaring to others

Freud’s Structure of Mind  EGO Functions with the rational part of the mind Negotiates between the ID and the SUPEREGO Operates on reality Compromises “adult” Seeks to balance pleasure (ID) with long- term consequences (Superego).

Freud’s Structure of Mind SUPEREGO ○ Moral part of the mind ○ Last part to develop ○ Embodiment of parents’ and society’s views ○ Strives for perfection ○ Follows rules ○ Creates anxiety

Reading Schedule  Plan to read a chapter a day between 1/20 and 2/7 – 12 chapters in 19 days  You will have reading checks on class meeting days.  January – chapters 1-2 should be finished by our class meeting on 1/24  24th – chapter 3  25 th – chapter 4  26 th – chapter 5

Reading Schedule  27 th - chapter 6  28 th – chapter 7  29 th - catch up day  30 th – chapter 8  31 st – chapter 9  Feb. 1 – chapter 10  Feb. 2 – chapter 11  Feb. 3 – chapter 12