Lord of the Flies 1954

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Lord of the Flies1954

• Introduction and Background

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Title Translation

• Beelzebub a Hebrew word for
• LUCIFER
• However, the literal translation of Beelzebub
• into English is LORD OF THE FLIES

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Your notes

• Beelzebub-In HebrewLuciferliterally means Lord
  of the Flies

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L.O.T.F Author

• William Golding
• Born in Britain
• 1911-1993

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• As a child, Golding had witnessed WWI, which was
  referred to as the war to end all wars
• HOWEVER,
• 22 years later Britain was again involved in
• ANOTHER WAR, WWII
• to end all wars, which caused more
  devastation than was imaginable

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Your Notes

• WG saw two World Wars and was greatly impacted.

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In the decade before LOTF was published,
Britain had been involved in two wars

• WWII

• Korean War

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(No Transcript)
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Allegory

• A work of fiction carrying two levels of meaning
• - 1) a surface plot/narrative (literal)
• - 2) symbolic/metaphorical meaning in which
  everything in story symbolizes something greater

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Political Allegory

• The world was divided into two camps, the free
  world and the Soviet Union. How can the LOTF be
  seen as a political allegory?
• Ralphconcerned with the good of the camp and the
  return to civilization.
• Jack-concerned more with his own need to kill and
  not the return to civilization.
• Conflict-could equal end of civilization.

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Religious Allegory

• Garden of Eden 
• Snake
• Fall of Mankind
• Cain and Abel
• Simon

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Your notes

• Garden of Eden  the island
• Snake the beastie
• Fall of Mankind parachutist and Piggy
• Cain and Abel Jack and Ralph
• Simon Christ figure

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LOTF Symbols (Objects, characters, figures, or
colors that represent ideas or concepts)

• Piggys Glasses
• rational intelligence
• Conch Shell
• civilization
• The Beast/
• The Lord of the Flies
• Evil within

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Your Notes

• Piggys glasses-clear sight, rational ideas
• Conch-civilization, order
• Snake-fear
• Beastie/Lord of the Fliesevil within

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Dialectical Journal
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Important Images

• The Beast The imaginary evil that is projected
  onto the island by the boys paranoia
• Lord of the Flies A pigs head on a stick that
  becomes the physical acceptance of evil on the
  island

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TERMS to REMEMBER

• Microcosm A small world that represents the
  world at large
• Edenic Eden like, paradise like, a setting that
  has not yet been spoiled by man

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Character Analysis

• Ralph Main character described as fair
  haired, having broad shoulderslike a
  boxers, and has a face that proclaims no
  devil
• Represents civilization
• Translation GOOD

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Character Analysis

• Piggy \ Described as fat, intellectual,
  asthmatic, and needs glasses
• Represents scientific, rational side of
  civilization, and social order

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Character Analysis

• Jack Described as having red hair, wears black
  with a snake clasp, ugly
• Cruel and manipulative
• Represents our savage instincts played out
• EVIL

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Character Analysis

• Simon Described as a skinny, vivid little boy,
  who meditates and he faints, which some
  cultures have believed is a sign of connecting
  with the spiritual world
• Mystic
• Seems to be connected with nature, and he
  represents an innate, spiritual goodness

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Character Analysis

• Roger Silent and sadistic
• Targets the littluns
• The only one to premeditate murder
• Kills without conscience
• Represents Pure evil

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Character Analysis

• Sam and Eric (Samneric) Twins
• Described as barely having enough skin to cover
  both, bullet-headed, and they finish each others
  sentences
• The last to remain loyal to Ralph
• Represent the tug-of-war
• within us to remain good

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Character Analysis

• Littluns The younger kids
• Represent the common folk, who easily follow the
  lead of others into savagery when there is no
  enforced structure in society

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Review

• Know the author.
• Know how world events influenced the author.
• Know the allegorical interpretations.
• Know the themes.
• Know the terms.
• Know the symbols.
• Know the characters.