SymbolismSymbolism

•““A A symbol symbol is a person, place, or is a person, place, or object that represents something object that represents something beyond itself. Symbols can beyond itself. Symbols can succinctly communicate succinctly communicate complicated, emotionally rich complicated, emotionally rich ideas.” ideas.” (The Language of Literature, 1236)(The Language of Literature, 1236)

•The characters themselves serve The characters themselves serve more as symbols than individualsmore as symbols than individuals

• Piggy & his GlassesPiggy & his Glasses– Signify man’s ability to perceive, to Signify man’s ability to perceive, to

thinkthink– Clear-sightedness, intelligence. Clear-sightedness, intelligence. – Their condition represents the status Their condition represents the status

of social order. of social order. – This quality separates man from the This quality separates man from the

animal world.animal world.– Brain power can be misused for Brain power can be misused for

destructive purposes. destructive purposes. – In the end, they are used to smoke In the end, they are used to smoke

Ralph out.Ralph out.

SymbolismSymbolism

SymbolismSymbolism• Ralph & The ConchRalph & The Conch

– DemocracyDemocracy– Order Order

• The conch shell– powerThe conch shell– power– Law & OrderLaw & Order– Represents Ralph’s parliamentary Represents Ralph’s parliamentary

type of government.type of government.– As anarchy grows, the conch fades in As anarchy grows, the conch fades in

color and its power diminishescolor and its power diminishes– The frailty of the civilization is The frailty of the civilization is

suggested by the fragile shellsuggested by the fragile shell

SymbolismSymbolism

•SimonSimon–Pure GoodnessPure Goodness–Christ-like FigureChrist-like Figure–PurityPurity

SymbolismSymbolism

•RogerRoger–EvilEvil–Satan-like figure Satan-like figure

SymbolismSymbolism

• JackJack– SavagerySavagery– AnarchyAnarchy

• Face Paint/ MasksFace Paint/ Masks– Masks / Can change into another personMasks / Can change into another person– Is the other person free from moral Is the other person free from moral

obligations?obligations?•Superheroes & villiansSuperheroes & villians

– Do the characters start to change after Do the characters start to change after they paint their faces?they paint their faces?

SymbolismSymbolism

• The IslandThe Island– A microcosm (small world) representing A microcosm (small world) representing

the worldthe world– Micro=SmallMicro=Small– Cosmos=WorldCosmos=World– The boys plane crash landed on the island The boys plane crash landed on the island

after they were escaping the war.after they were escaping the war.– The ended up creating their own war on The ended up creating their own war on

the islandthe island

SymbolismSymbolism

• The ScarThe Scar– The plane crashed into the jungle and The plane crashed into the jungle and

ended up in the lagoon leaving behind a ended up in the lagoon leaving behind a scarscar

– Once the boys landed on the island they Once the boys landed on the island they made their mark (or scar)made their mark (or scar)

– Represents: Man's destruction, Represents: Man's destruction, destructive forces destructive forces

SymbolismSymbolism

• The BeastThe Beast– Represents the evil residing within Represents the evil residing within

everyoneeveryone– Represents the dark side of human Represents the dark side of human

nature. nature.

SymbolismSymbolism

•Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies– Represents the “rotting” of the Represents the “rotting” of the

social ordersocial order– Represents a great danger or evil Represents a great danger or evil – Translation from Greek: Translation from Greek: “Beelzebub”“Beelzebub” prince of demons. prince of demons.

– Shown as the head of the pig, Shown as the head of the pig, covered with Flies.covered with Flies.

– The LOTF “talks” to SimonThe LOTF “talks” to Simon

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

•““The The theme theme is the central is the central idea or message in a work of idea or message in a work of literature. …theme is a literature. …theme is a perception about life or human perception about life or human nature shared with the nature shared with the reader.” reader.” (The Language of Literature, (The Language of Literature, 1236)1236)

Themes Apparent in Lord of the Flies Themes Apparent in Lord of the Flies

• Humanity’s problem stems from a Humanity’s problem stems from a lack of awareness of “the beast lack of awareness of “the beast within.” People remain trapped within.” People remain trapped inside themselves, too self absorbed inside themselves, too self absorbed to look at the world.to look at the world.

Themes Continued Themes Continued

• One cannot change basic human One cannot change basic human nature, but can recognize and nature, but can recognize and understand it. understand it.

• Individuals choose to suppress the Individuals choose to suppress the savagery beneath their humanity. savagery beneath their humanity.

• ““The beast” is an individual’s lack of The beast” is an individual’s lack of integrity or lack of ethical/moral integrity or lack of ethical/moral fiber. fiber.

Theme: Words of GoldingTheme: Words of Golding

• ““The theme is an attempt to trace The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.”defects of human nature.”

Basic Conflict Basic Conflict

• Shows what can and what does occur Shows what can and what does occur when individuals fail to see when individuals fail to see themselves as part of the whole. themselves as part of the whole.