Do Now In extreme situations, people often act differently than they normally would. Have you ever been in a situation where your actions surprised you? How did you feel about the way you reacted to the situation? Explain.

William Golding

Golding Golding’s experience in World War II altered his view of humanity. What sort of things might have occurred that changed his opinion of human beings? After the war, Golding returned to his job as a school teacher. Wrote Lord of the Flies in 1954 Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983

Theme The story deals with the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, and act lawfully versus the impulse to seek power over others, act selfishly, abandon moral rules, and commit violence. How would you characterize this struggle? ________ vs. ________ Civilization vs. savagery

Classwork Complete Predictions worksheet.

Homework Complete Chapter 1 of Lord of the Flies and answer corresponding questions.

Do Now The premise of this book – people cut off from civilization that must create their own society – has been repeated often in books, television, and film. Where have you seen this plot repeated? What do you think of this as a storyline? Do you find it intriguing? Or slightly predictable?

Chapter 1 Examine the characters of Ralph, Jack, or Piggy in terms of what they possess that links them with their past lives, and what their emerging roles on the island are. Is there any indication which of these characters may be advancing more rapidly toward savagery than the others? Support your conclusion. What is the symbolism of the conch? Why does it seem to have so much power? What characteristics does the conch have in common with what it appears to symbolize?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now What do you think of the ages of the children in the story? Do you think children this age would be able to survive at all in these circumstances? Explain why or why not.

Chapter 2 What is the significance of the boys’ first attempt at the fire? How does the result foreshadow events to come? Why are the creeper vines significant? How does the fire’s result mirror the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark’s fear? What is the meaning of the beast that makes its first appearance in this chapter? Discuss how it is portrayed.

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 3 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Trace the characters and who they are allied to at this point. Discuss these alliances and why they are occurring.

Chapter 3 Trace the path of Jack’s success as a hunter and Ralph’s growing ineffectiveness as a leader. Compare Jack’s and Ralph’s emerging viewpoints in the argument that occurs on the beach. What does this say about the two boys and their roles as civilized young men? What divisions are becoming apparent among the boys on the island?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 4 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now How can changing appearances affect a personality? How important are looks to a person’s self-image?

Chapter 4 Examine Simon’s actions in this chapter and compare them to Roger’s. Both boys are outsiders like Piggy, yet seem to be accepted. Based upon these observations, present an argument for whom they will eventually align themselves and explain why. What is the significance of the camouflage paint that Jack puts on? How does it affect his personality? What does it reveal about his personality? Discuss its symbolic meaning as well as the others’ reaction to it.

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 5 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Think of an instance in your life when a breakdown of communication occurred. What happened as a result of this? What was the end result?

Chapter 5 What is the true nature of the beast on the island that Simon is unable to verbally define? Discuss how and why Jack disrupts the meeting. What is at the core of the power struggle between him and Ralph? What techniques of anarchy and disruption does Jack apply? What is the result? What does it tell you about the characters of Jack and Ralph?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 6 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Fear can be a powerful emotion. In the novel, the boys’ fear of the beast takes over their lives. Think of a time in your life when your fear or worry over something became all you could think about. How do you handle your emotions? How did you eventually get over the fear?

Chapter 6 Consider the character of Jack Merridew. How does he appear to be a qualified leader? What are his actual qualifications? Compare Jack to Ralph. Who is better suited to lead the boys? What is the symbolic significance of the parachutist? In what ways is it a symbol of the beast?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Remember what you were like at 12 or 13. How would you have felt if you were in the situation that the boys on the island are in? Would you have viewed it more from Piggy’s perspective or Ralph’s?

Chapter 7 The scene in which the boys beat Robert is a crucial development in the story. Examine this situation. What do the boys’ actions say about their descent toward savagery? Why does Ralph take part in the ritual? What do the boys’ actions after the beating say about their situation? Consider the character of Simon. How is he different from the others? Why is he unable to express his thoughts?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 8 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Why do you think authors write books about people in extreme situations? What do you think people find appealing about this sort of story?

Chapter 8 Trace the boys’ gradual descent toward savagery to this point in the novel. Use specific examples. Trace the symbolism of Simon’s relationship with the Lord of the Flies.

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Golding’s experiences in World War II were part of his inspiration for the book. How do you think these experiences find their way into the plot of the novel? Can you see how his time at war would have given him the idea for the story?

Chapter 9 Why does Simon travel to the mountaintop? What is the symbolic meaning of his journey and discovery? What is the meaning behind Simon’s death? Why do Ralph and Piggy have a part in his death?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now Have you ever encountered someone like Jack? How did knowing someone like this affect you?

Chapter 10 How do Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric react to their roles in Simon’s death? What does this tell about them? What does it tell about the boys in general? How are the boys’ reactions to Simon’s death related to Golding’s theme that the flaws of mankind are inherent in man’s nature? Examine and compare the two groups’ relationship to fire. What is significant about the fire keepers versus the fire takers?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 11 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now What has kept boys like Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric sane? What do you think has saved them from the fate of the others?

Chapter 11 How is Roger an extension of Jack’s authority? Examine Piggy’s last day of life on the island. What does it say about his character and his role on the island? How does death contribute to the symbolism of the boys’ descent toward savagery?

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Read Chapter 12 of Lord of the Flies and answer the corresponding questions.

Do Now How do you feel about the way Golding ended the story? What would you have done differently, if anything?

Chapter 12 Choose any of the main characters in the story whose personalities are described in detail (Ralph, Jack, Simon, Piggy, Roger) and trace their development in the story as it pertains to Golding’s theory that the basic flaw of mankind is inherent in man. Support your thesis with character details highlighting their flaws or descent into savagery.

Classwork Complete classwork worksheet.

Homework Bring three questions about Lord of the Flies for test review.