Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies (1954) (1954)

William GoldingWilliam Golding

Essential Question: What is Essential Question: What is Justice?Justice?

Guiding Questions to consider while reading Guiding Questions to consider while reading the novel:the novel:

Is evil innate (already exists), or must it be Is evil innate (already exists), or must it be taught (nature vs. nurture)?taught (nature vs. nurture)?

Are children “naturally” innocent?Are children “naturally” innocent?

Does evil come from people, or from their Does evil come from people, or from their society?society?

Sir William Golding (1911-Sir William Golding (1911-1993)1993)• Born in Cornwall, EnglandBorn in Cornwall, England

• Graduated from Oxford University with B.A. in Graduated from Oxford University with B.A. in English Literature in 1934English Literature in 1934

• Fought with distinction in Royal Navy during WWIIFought with distinction in Royal Navy during WWII• LOTFLOTF his second book (1954), won Nobel Prize his second book (1954), won Nobel Prize• Golding’s novels often were Golding’s novels often were allegoriesallegories, set in , set in

closed societies, dealing with ancient societies closed societies, dealing with ancient societies (hunter-gatherers, Egyptians, Greeks), and (hunter-gatherers, Egyptians, Greeks), and heavily mythic and symbolic. (Allegory: like a heavily mythic and symbolic. (Allegory: like a fable, a text that represents a different meaning fable, a text that represents a different meaning besides the obvious, is imaginative, and may besides the obvious, is imaginative, and may teach a moral).teach a moral).

• Sometimes criticized for being heavy-handed in Sometimes criticized for being heavy-handed in allegory and symbolismallegory and symbolism

• Knighted by QEII in 1988Knighted by QEII in 1988

The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900, L. Frank Baum) (1900, L. Frank Baum)

AllegoryAllegory of 1890’s political debates over “Gold of 1890’s political debates over “Gold Standard”?Standard”?

• ““Yellow Brick Road” = gold standardYellow Brick Road” = gold standard• Dorothy’s “silver” shoes (which she loses one in fight Dorothy’s “silver” shoes (which she loses one in fight

with Wicked Witch) = silver standard, which failed with Wicked Witch) = silver standard, which failed (more coins creates less value)(more coins creates less value)

• Scarecrow = Populist farmersScarecrow = Populist farmers• Tin Man = North industrializationTin Man = North industrialization• Lion = William Jennings Bryan, fiery Populist Lion = William Jennings Bryan, fiery Populist

candidatecandidate• Munchkins = common peopleMunchkins = common people• Wizard = President, Emerald City = “cash-greedy” Wizard = President, Emerald City = “cash-greedy”

Washington, Oz = “oz.”, ouncesWashington, Oz = “oz.”, ounces

Literary Device Focus for Literary Device Focus for LOTFLOTF

• CharacterizationCharacterization

• ThemeTheme

• SymbolismSymbolism

• MicrocosmMicrocosm

• Deus Ex MachinaDeus Ex Machina

• Stylistic Choices: Stylistic Choices: WhyWhy did did Golding . . .Golding . . .

Symbolism in Symbolism in Lord of the Lord of the FliesFliesWhat could the following items in the book What could the following items in the book

signify?signify?

• ConchConch

• GlassesGlasses

• FireFire

• ClothingClothing

• Beach, Forest, MountainBeach, Forest, Mountain

• The Dead Pilot (who parachutes on The Dead Pilot (who parachutes on island)island)

MicrocosmMicrocosm

•DefinitionDefinition: A small scale, or : A small scale, or miniature, version of the miniature, version of the large world.large world.

•Multimedia examples?Multimedia examples?

•How might the island in How might the island in LOTFLOTF be a microcosm?be a microcosm?

Deus Ex MachinaDeus Ex Machina• Came from ancient Greek theater: a crane Came from ancient Greek theater: a crane

that would “drop in” an actor portraying a that would “drop in” an actor portraying a god who would intervene in a story (“god god who would intervene in a story (“god out of a machine”).out of a machine”).

• In literatureIn literature: an improbable plot device, : an improbable plot device, when a character, event or unexpected turn when a character, event or unexpected turn of events “saves the day.”of events “saves the day.”

• Usually criticized, since it seems forced.Usually criticized, since it seems forced.• Examples?Examples?• Think of this literary device when reading Think of this literary device when reading

the end of the end of LOTFLOTF..