1. Lord of the Flies
by William Golding

2. Historical Background
Published in 1954; takes place during WWII
British boys being sent to the countryside because of threat of atomic bomb being dropped on cities
Their plane crashes on a deserted island; no adults survive, so they have to establish a “society” on their own
As you read, ask yourself: Why is the setting so important?
Golding said after WWII: “It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazis. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazis.”

3. Psychological Background
Sigmund Freud = psychoanalyst, published during Golding’s lifetime
Developed a theory of human nature that influenced Golding’s writing
Defined “id,” “ego,” and “superego” (all parts of our inner natures)

4. ID Impulsive instincts No thought of “the best way” or “the right way”
Wants instant gratification, no concern for consequences
A newborn only has id; as we get older, it’s still there, but (hopefully!) we learn to control it
E.g. I want that candy, so I’ll just take it from the store.

5. EGO Decision-making aspect
Balances desires (id) with realistic expectations of the world
May delay gratification if that’s the most realistic way to achieve the ultimate goal
Not concerned with morals, just wants to find the best way to achieve the goal
E.g. I want this candy, but society will punish me if I just take it, and then I won’t get it in the end. The best way to get it is to pay for it.

6. SUPEREGO Conscience; concerned with moral right vs. wrong
Whereas the ego is concerned with setting realistic goals, the superego sets moralistic goals
Allows you to feel pride when you make the “right” decision and guilt when you do something “wrong”
E.g. I want this candy, but it’s not morally right to steal. The right thing to do is to pay for it.

7. Psyche in LotF
As you read, pay attention to which characters rely on their superego (moral decisions), which only consider their ego (reasonable decisions), and which act on their id (instincts)
Golding said: “The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable.”

8. Literary Devices

9. Allegory
An allegory is a genre of writing in which the people, objects, and events in the story hold a specific symbolic meaning
In other words, the novel as a whole represents something else
Focus is not on literal plot or characters but on what they represent in the real world

10. LotF as an Allegory Literal interpretation:
Plane full of boys crashes on an island; as they try to survive, many conflicts arise
Allegorical interpretation:
The boys represent humankind; the struggles they go through represent universal religious, political, and social issues

11. Religious Allegory As you read, ask yourself:
How does Simon represent a Christ figure?
How does Jack represent the devil?
How does Ralph represent the average man, struggling between good and evil?

12. Political Allegory As you read, ask yourself:
What countries and/or leaders from WWII do Jack, Ralph, and Piggy represent?
How can you tell?

13. Social Allegory As you read, ask yourself:
If the boys represent all of mankind, what is Golding saying about society and/or human nature?
(Hint: It’s a very pessimistic view!)

14. Symbolism
Pay attention to the following symbols and figure out what they represent as the novel progresses:
The conch shell
Piggy’s glasses
The beast
Fire
The lord of the flies

15. What’s in a name?
Hebrew word, “baal-zevuv” (Greek translation = “Beelzeboub”) means “chief devil” (Satan)
English meaning: “lord of the flies” (promotes decay and destruction, like the devil)
“Ralph” means “counsel”
“Jack” means “one who deceives” or “one who takes over”
“Piggy” is a nickname, but we think of pigs, who are very intelligent
“Simon” means “listener”
“Roger” means “spear”

16. Mountain Castle Rock Scar Bathing Hole Pig Fire Simon’s Hideaway
*Lord of the Flies*
Scar
Bathing Hole
Pig Fire