Unit 5 Literary Term Focus

1. Allegory A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. Written in many forms including poems and stories. Written in many forms including poems and stories. Main purpose is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other symbols, that have literal and figurative meanings. Main purpose is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other symbols, that have literal and figurative meanings.

Allegory continued In Lord of the Flies there is a deliberate symbolic superstructure. Jack’s masculine name and perverted form of leadership link him with dark forces. Jack’s masculine name and perverted form of leadership link him with dark forces. Piggy’s “soft” name and ignorance link him with innocence. Piggy’s “soft” name and ignorance link him with innocence.

Lord of the Flies is an allegory on three levels: 1. Political 2. Religious 3. Psychological

As a political allegory- State of the world when Golding wrote was at the end of WWII. State of the world when Golding wrote was at the end of WWII. World was divided into two camps, the free world and the Soviets (much like the two camps of Ralph and Jack). World was divided into two camps, the free world and the Soviets (much like the two camps of Ralph and Jack). Cold War Era- fears of atomic destruction. Cold War Era- fears of atomic destruction. Novel serves as a warning to the leaders of the world. Novel serves as a warning to the leaders of the world.

As a psychological allegory Characters personify the different aspects of the human psyche (the id, the super ego, and the ego). Characters personify the different aspects of the human psyche (the id, the super ego, and the ego). Jack= id= part of the unconscious mind that always works to gratify its own impulse. Jack= id= part of the unconscious mind that always works to gratify its own impulse. Piggy= super ego= part of the mind that seeks to control impulsive behavior. Piggy reminds others of responsibilities. Piggy= super ego= part of the mind that seeks to control impulsive behavior. Piggy reminds others of responsibilities. Ralph= ego= conscious mind that mediates between id’s demand for pleasure and super ego’s social pressure. Ralph= ego= conscious mind that mediates between id’s demand for pleasure and super ego’s social pressure.

As a religious allegory Setting is like the Garden of Eden. Setting is like the Garden of Eden. Perfect island with good food, weather, water. Perfect island with good food, weather, water. Beastie is the snake in the Garden of Eden. Beastie is the snake in the Garden of Eden. Two people represent the fall of mankind. Two people represent the fall of mankind. Allusions to Cain and Able and Christ. Allusions to Cain and Able and Christ.

2. Symbolism Plays an important part in the development of the plot. Plays an important part in the development of the plot. Technique that Golding uses to give significance to certain objects and people that represent something else. Technique that Golding uses to give significance to certain objects and people that represent something else. As you are reading pay careful attention to these items that are symbols: glasses, conch shell, the island, and war paint. As you are reading pay careful attention to these items that are symbols: glasses, conch shell, the island, and war paint. You will definitely find more but these are the most notable. You will definitely find more but these are the most notable.

3.Bildungsroman Literally means a formation novel Literally means a formation novel Describes the “coming-of-age” of an untried/naïve youth. Describes the “coming-of-age” of an untried/naïve youth. Pay attention to what happens to Jack and Ralph Pay attention to what happens to Jack and Ralph

4. Deux ex machina Unforeseen rescuer. Unforeseen rescuer. An officer is this in the novel. An officer is this in the novel.

5.Irony An implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. An implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. Rampant throughout the novel. Rampant throughout the novel. Golding is a master at using this as a technique to affect the reader. Golding is a master at using this as a technique to affect the reader. All three types evident in the novel (verbal, situational, and dramatic). All three types evident in the novel (verbal, situational, and dramatic).

6. Oxymoron A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. Look at the title- a lord and flies? Look at the title- a lord and flies?

7. Allusion References to a well known person, place, or thing in a work of literature. References to a well known person, place, or thing in a work of literature. Pay attention to the idyllic adventure novels Golding references throughout the book. He was quite critical of them in real life. Pay attention to the idyllic adventure novels Golding references throughout the book. He was quite critical of them in real life.

8. Themes A unifying idea or recurring element A unifying idea or recurring element Look for these as you read the novel: Look for these as you read the novel: A) The nature of evil B) Man’s need for civilization C) Innocence and its loss D) Power E) Blindness and sight F) Loss of identity

9. Tone The writer’s attitude towards his material and/or readers. The writer’s attitude towards his material and/or readers. Golding’s tone is that of a lecturer. Golding’s tone is that of a lecturer. He tries to teach us and warn us about our own evil. He tries to teach us and warn us about our own evil. Maintained throughout the book. Maintained throughout the book. Writing style is neutral. Writing style is neutral.

10. Style Author’s manner of expression. Author’s manner of expression. How a writer or speaker says what he says. How a writer or speaker says what he says. Usually through diction, syntax, choice of literary techniques. Usually through diction, syntax, choice of literary techniques. Golding’s style is using a simple story to convey a weighty idea. He uses all of the literary terms in this power point as techniques to reach his readers. Golding’s style is using a simple story to convey a weighty idea. He uses all of the literary terms in this power point as techniques to reach his readers.