Critical Lens Literature Review Period Four

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding Ralph (protagonist), Piggy (die—hit by the rock), Simon (die—stabbed to death by the boys who think he’s the beast), Jack (antagonist) Foreshadowing: group splits, foreshadows what is to come/the fire Setting: deserted island, WWII (escaping the war) Conflict: external—Jack vs. Ralph, hunters vs. the non-hunters; internal—Ralph vs. himself, Piggy and the glasses Symbolism ◦Glasses (intelligence) ◦Conch (leadership, democracy, order) ◦Pig’s head (the beast—fear, savagery)

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare Lady Macbeth (antagonist), Macbeth (both pro and anta), Duncan (murdered by Macbeth), the witches (foreshadow the events of the play), Banquo (murdered by Macbeth) Setting: Scotland, very dark (rain, at night) Foreshadowing: the witches’ prophesies (three at the beginning, and three towards the end) Irony: Macbeth stabbing his cousin, hiring murderers to kill his best friend Conflict: internal—Macbeth vs. himself (right and wrong); external—Macduff and Macbeth (they fight to the death); Lady Macbeth vs. Macbeth

The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger Holden Caulfield (pro and anta): he hates everyone (thinks they’re phonies), he is anti- establishment, he is mentally distraught (his brother Allie died of leukemia) Conflict: Holden vs. himself (should he go home) Theme: Holden wants to help children—so they don’t end up like him. He wants to protect their innocence. Symbolism: ◦The hunting hat (makes him different, is a sense of security) ◦Ducks (they leave but they come back)

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet (protagonists), Montagues (R) and Capulets (J); Tybalt (antagonist) Conflict: (external)—Ms vs Cs, Tybalt vs Romeo, R&J vs. society/their families, etc. (internal)—Romeo and Juliet Foreshadowing: their deaths Theme: ◦Resolving conflict… ◦Don’t drag your family into your business…

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee Scout (narrator), Boo Radley (quiet neighbor but saves Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell), Dill, Atticus Finch (dad, defense attorney), Jem (older brother), Tom Robinson (black man accused of rape—he is killed when he tries to escape the jail) Conflict: (external)—Atticus vs. the town, Bob Ewell vs. Tom Robinson, Tom Robinson vs. the town (racism); (internal) Scout—she wants to see Boo Setting: Alabama in the Great Depression Symbolism: mockingbird (innocence), tree (friendship)

All My Sons, by Arthur Miller Chris (he wants to marry Ann, he was in WWII, he is a man of integrity), Joe (he is the father, he sold faulty cylinder heads, seems at first to be a good man, but it turns out that he killed 21 pilots for his sons), Annie (former neighbor, was dating Larry), Kate (mother, she is emotionally ruined because Larry never came home and she’s the only one who believes he will return), George (Ann’s brother, lawyer, comes to tell Ann about Steve’s innocence, doesn’t get along with the Kellers), Frank Theme ◦Life is about more than objects and money; it is about being responsible for other human beings. ◦Let your kids marry who they want to marry—everyone deserves happiness. Conflict ◦Joe vs. himself (should he tell the truth?) ◦Ann vs. Kate (Kate doesn’t want Ann to marry Chris) ◦Chris vs. Joe (Joe is not a man of honor, he doesn’t take responsibility for his actions) ◦Chris vs. George (their dads, Ann)

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck George (parent figure to Lenny, he is intelligent) and Lenny (mentally disabled, physically large and strong); Curly (he is egotistical and starts fights) and Curly’s wife (good-looking, flirts with the ranchhands) Setting: California during the Great Depression George shoots Lenny (Lenny accidentally killed Curly’s wife and Curly wants to kill him)