Lord of the Lord of the FliesFlies

William GoldingWilliam Golding

William Golding (1911-William Golding (1911-1993)1993)

Born in Cornwall, UKBorn in Cornwall, UK Studied anthropology, Studied anthropology,

archaeology, literature archaeology, literature in collegein college

Became a school Became a school teacher (1935-1961)teacher (1935-1961)

Entered the navy Entered the navy during WWII; during WWII; participated in the participated in the invasion of Normandy invasion of Normandy on D-Dayon D-Day

Won the Nobel Prize Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983for Literature in 1983

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

WWI – the “Great War” or the “War to WWI – the “Great War” or the “War to end all wars”end all wars”– Can we ever have peace?Can we ever have peace?

WWII – the advent of the atom bomb – WWII – the advent of the atom bomb – power to destroy the world? power to destroy the world? – Britain feared an invasion and evacuated Britain feared an invasion and evacuated

children to other countrieschildren to other countries– 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a British 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a British

ship carrying children, killing the boys, thus ship carrying children, killing the boys, thus suspending the oversees evacuation programsuspending the oversees evacuation program

On Writing Lord of the FliesOn Writing Lord of the Flies

““It was simply what seemed sensible for It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazis. I’d was thanking God they weren’t Nazis. I’d seen enough to realize that every single seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazis.”one of us could be Nazis.” --William Golding--William Golding

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies Published in 1954Published in 1954 Rejected 21 times before Rejected 21 times before

being published!being published! On the American Library On the American Library

Association’s list of the 100 Association’s list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.Books of 1990-2000.

Written partially in response Written partially in response to to The Coral Island,The Coral Island, a story a story of how people supposedly of how people supposedly ascend in their goodness on ascend in their goodness on an island.an island.

Human nature Human nature Duality of manDuality of man Nature Vs. NurtureNature Vs. Nurture Good Vs. EvilGood Vs. Evil

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies TitleTitle

– Translation of “Beelzebub” or SatanTranslation of “Beelzebub” or Satan SettingSetting

– A tiny coral island in the South Pacific during a war when A tiny coral island in the South Pacific during a war when the atomic bomb may have (and most likely has) been the atomic bomb may have (and most likely has) been used. This world becomes their ‘microcosm’, which is used. This world becomes their ‘microcosm’, which is definitely one of your symbols!definitely one of your symbols!

PlotPlot– A group of young boys is stranded on an island and they A group of young boys is stranded on an island and they

must negotiate the social issues of cooperation and self-must negotiate the social issues of cooperation and self-governmentgovernment

– The outside world is consumed with warThe outside world is consumed with war Main charactersMain characters

– Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Sam ‘n EricRalph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Sam ‘n Eric

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions

– Does every human being Does every human being have a dark side? Are have a dark side? Are humans inherently good humans inherently good or evil?or evil?

– What does it mean to be What does it mean to be civilized?civilized?

– Rules of government – Rules of government – democracy vs. democracy vs. dictatorship? What type dictatorship? What type of government works of government works best? Why?best? Why?

– What are the outcomes What are the outcomes when evil is an influence?when evil is an influence?

From the author…From the author…

Basic Philosophies to Consider Basic Philosophies to Consider While ReadingWhile Reading

Humans are inherently evil; society Humans are inherently evil; society establishes government to curb evil instinctsestablishes government to curb evil instincts– ““We all saw a hell of a lot in the war that can’t be We all saw a hell of a lot in the war that can’t be

accounted for except on the basis of original evil”accounted for except on the basis of original evil” Humans are inherently good; humans are born Humans are inherently good; humans are born

good and are corrupted by societygood and are corrupted by society Humans are inherently neutral; our Humans are inherently neutral; our

experiences determine the balance between experiences determine the balance between good and evilgood and evil– Which do you agree/disagree with now? Choose the Which do you agree/disagree with now? Choose the

one with the closet alignment to your own ideas.one with the closet alignment to your own ideas.

Golding’s Literary Golding’s Literary TechniqueTechnique

Heavy use of symbolismHeavy use of symbolism IronyIrony Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor PersonificationPersonification

Abundant imagery and sensory detailAbundant imagery and sensory detail Allusions (references to stories, Allusions (references to stories,

names, history names, history outsideoutside the text) the text)

Lord of the Flies in Pop Lord of the Flies in Pop CultureCulture

In In HookHook, Robin Williams compares Lost Boys , Robin Williams compares Lost Boys to savages in LOTFto savages in LOTF

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons episode “Das Bus” is a parody episode “Das Bus” is a parody Inspiration for the anime series Inspiration for the anime series Infinite Infinite

RyviusRyvius Mel Gibson’s 2006 movie Mel Gibson’s 2006 movie ApocalyptoApocalypto has a has a

similar ending.similar ending. T.V. shows T.V. shows SurvivorSurvivor and and Lost Lost are said to are said to

have been inspired from LOTFhave been inspired from LOTF 2006 movie 2006 movie Unaccompanied MinorsUnaccompanied Minors makes makes

reference to LOTFreference to LOTF

Popular Culture Cont.Popular Culture Cont.

Stephen King uses the name “Castle Rock” Stephen King uses the name “Castle Rock” (from the novel) as the name of a town in (from the novel) as the name of a town in his books. He also makes reference to his books. He also makes reference to LOTF in the novels LOTF in the novels The Girl Who Loved The Girl Who Loved Tom GordonTom Gordon, , CujoCujo and and Hearts in AtlantisHearts in Atlantis

Orson Scott Card makes reference in his Orson Scott Card makes reference in his novel, novel, Ender’s ShadowEnder’s Shadow..

Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation, , DannyDanny PhantomPhantom, , The Daily ShowThe Daily Show all mention the all mention the novelnovel

Source of Inspiration to Source of Inspiration to Musicians Musicians

Musicians U2, Iron Maiden, Gatsby’s Musicians U2, Iron Maiden, Gatsby’s American Dream, Nine Inch Nails, Tori American Dream, Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos, A.F.I., and Danielle Dax have all Amos, A.F.I., and Danielle Dax have all recorded songs about the novel.recorded songs about the novel.

Titles such as:Titles such as:““Where the Flies Are”Where the Flies Are”

““Touch Piggy’s Eyes”Touch Piggy’s Eyes”

“ “Lord of the Flies”Lord of the Flies”

““PiggyPiggy

““Fable”Fable”

““Boy”Boy”

““Shadows and Tall Trees”Shadows and Tall Trees”

Sources CitedSources Cited

http://www.william-golding.co.uk/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

William_GoldingWilliam_Golding