Lord of the Flies by William Golding

William Golding born in 1911 in Cornwall. in World War 2, he joined Royal Navy after the war he returned to teaching and began writing novels 1954 Lord of the Flies – first and most successful novel 1983 awarded Nobel prize for Literature died 1993

Golding wrote the novel after his experiences in WW2 He was horrified by the man’s cruelty to fellow man His novel explores the potential for evil in all of us

The Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima

Jewish Concentration Camps

Japanese POW

The novel is an allegory What does that mean? It tells a story on a superficial level Underneath it has a deeper meaning and an explicit moral point Characters, incidents and images stand for something else in the “real world” e.g. the conch stands for authority

Some people see the boys’ life on the island as parallel to the rise off fascism in Germany before WW2 Jack and the hunters represent Hitler’s Youth

Contemporary relevance In 1992 Jamie Bulger was lured away from his mother in a shopping centre By two boys aged 10 years. He was tortured and they battered him to death. With this act came a turning point in public perception of children; the notion of childhood innocence died.

In October 1997 Luke Woodham , aged 16, stabbed his mother, drove to school in her car and shot his sweetheart who had spurned him along with another girl. The police later found a “manifesto” he had written: “I am not insane … for murder is not weak or slow-witted. Murder is gutsy and daring …. I do this to show society : Push and we will push back”

In March 1998 In Jonesboro Arkansas, two young males aged 11 and 13, shot dead 4 children and one adult. A report into the incident commented: “They had laid an unsophisticated but effective trap; they set off the fire alarm in order to send the children into the playground to face the gunfire. Te Jonesboro boys had decided to kit themselves out in fatigues – even combat hats for the occasion”

Parallels to in “Lord of the Flies” is clear The young age of the boys who batter Simon to death The chilling way they dress themselves up as part of the gang and smear blood on their faces The calculating way Ralph is flushed out of the forest by fire The pleasure Roger takes in causing pain

Adventure books referred to: “Treasure Island” by R.L Stevenson This is about a young lad, Jack Hawkins, who goes on a treasure seeking voyage. He is kidnapped by pirates but his courage and loyalty bring about a happy ending

“Swallows and Amazons” by Arthur Ransome This novel is set in the Lake District in England. It tells of the adventures a group of children have as they explore the islands by boat. In many ways it portrays a perfect childhood, full of fun, in which being “decent” always brings success.

The Coral Island

Ralph (15), Jack (18) and Peterkin (14), “This is the novel most closely linked to Lord of the Flies. It is about three British boys, Ralph (15), Jack (18) and Peterkin (14), who are shipwrecked on a desert island in the South Pacific.

Ralph is the centre figure and tells the story Jack is the hero Peterkin is funny and clever (almost like a popular Piggy).

Fire on the island is a symbol for safety but also for destruction Fire on the island is a symbol for safety but also for destruction. Traditionally it represents hope, warmth and comfort There is another two-edged symbol. What is it?

The conch