1. Lord of the Flies Written by William Golding Published in 1954
The novel was rejected by 21 different publishers
A story of Good and Evil

2. About the Author
William Golding was born on September 19, in Cornwall, England (Died on June 19, 1993)
Attempted to write his first novel at the age of twelve
Father was a schoolmaster and his mother was very involved in the Women’s Suffrage Movement

3. About the Author (continued)
Attended Oxford and studied natural sciences before changing his focus to English Literature
Graduated from Oxford in 1935
Became a schoolmaster in Salisbury, Wiltshire (just like his father)
Won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1983

4. The War Years
In 1940 (teaching career interrupted) William Golding joined the Royal Navy
Commanded a rocket launching vessel
Participated in the invasion of Normandy
Golding’s experience in WW II had a profound effect on his views of humanity and the evils which it was capable

5. The Novel
Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a tropical island after their plane is shot down during a war
Exploration of the idea of human evil
The boys on the island descend into savagery
Peace vs. Anarchy and Violence

6. More about the Novel Island is a microcosm for society
Fundamental human struggle between the civilizing instinct to obey rules, behave morally and act lawfully and the savage instinct to seek power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral rules and indulge in violence

7. An Allegorical Novel
The characters and objects in the novel are infused with symbolic significance that convey the novel’s central themes and ideas
William Golding explores the spectrum of ways in which humans respond to stress, change and tension
Various Views/Interpretations: the novel explores religious issues, Freudian views (ID, Ego, Superego) and criticism of political and social institutions of the West

8. Themes/Motifs/Symbols
Civilization vs. Savagery
Good vs. Evil
Loss of Innocence
Biblical Parallels (Garden of Eden allegory)
Objects as well as characters will be used throughout the novel as symbols to reinforce various themes

9. Let’s Begin Reading!!!