ENG1D Novel Study Unit • Name: ___________________________
Novel Study
Unit:
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding • Biography
Sir William Gerald Golding CBE (19 September 1911 – 19 June 1993) was an English
novelist, playwright, and poet who won a Nobel Prize in Literature, and is best known
for his novel Lord of the Flies. He was also awarded the Booker Prize for literature in
1980 for his novel Rites of Passage, the first book in what became his sea trilogy, To
the Ends of the Earth.
Golding was knighted by Elizabeth II in 1988. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of
Literature. In 2008, The Times ranked Golding third on their list of "The 50 greatest
British writers since 1945".
Early life
William Golding was born in his grandmother's house, 47 Mountwise, Newquay, Cornwall and he spent
many childhood holidays there. He grew up in Marlborough, Wiltshire, where his father (Alec Golding)
was a science master at Marlborough Grammar School (1905 to retirement). Alec Golding was a
socialist who advocated science-inspired rationalism, and the young Golding and his elder brother
Joseph attended the school where his father taught. His mother, Mildred (Curnoe), kept house at 29, The
Green, Marlborough, and was a campaigner for female suffrage. In 1930 Golding went to Brasenose
College, Oxford, where he read Natural Sciences for two years before transferring to English Literature.
Golding took his B.A. degree with Second Class Honours in the summer of 1934, and later that year a
book of his Poems, was published by Macmillan & Co, with the help of his Oxford friend, the
anthroposophist Adam Bittleston.
Marriage and family
Golding married Ann Brookfield, an analytic chemist, on 30 September 1939 and they had two children,
Judith and David.
War service
During World War II, Golding joined the Royal Navy in 1940. He fought (on board a destroyer) and was
briefly involved in the pursuit and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. He also participated in the
invasion of Normandy on D-Day, commanding a landing ship that fired salvoes of rockets onto the
beaches, and was in action at Walcheren at which 23 out of 24 assault craft were sunk.
Death
In 1985, Golding and his wife moved to Tullimaar House at Perranarworthal, near Truro, Cornwall,
where he died of heart failure, eight years later, on 19 June 1993. He was buried in the village
churchyard at Bowerchalke, South Wiltshire (near the Hampshire and Dorset county boundaries). He left
the draft of a novel, The Double Tongue, set in ancient Delphi, which was published posthumously. His
son David continues to live at Tullimaar House.
From Wikipedia.org
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Lord of the Flies
Character Map
From CliffNotes The Lord of the Flies Summary and Study Guide
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Lord of the Flies
Characters
Directions: Match the following descriptors to the appropriate characters.
Types: ruthless leader, mystic, model boy, thinker
Central Motivation: to be rescued,
to know the truth,
to be rescued,
to hunt
Principal Emotions and Attributes: dreamer; easygoing but responsible,
serious; thoughtful,
visionary; brave,
hatred; a natural leader
Principal Actions:
feeds ideas to Ralph,
talks to the Lord of the Flies; solves the mystery of the Beast,
forms democracy; lights the signal fire,
splits boys into two groups initially
At the Beginning of the Novel:
Ralph
in charge of boys’ choir,
apprehensive; frightened,
fainting; choirboy,
happy; excited by adventure
Jack
Piggy
Simon
Character Type
Central
Motivation
Principle Emotions
and Attributes
Principle Actions
At the Beginning
of the Novel
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Lord of the Flies
Allegory and Symbolism
Definitions
Allegory: a type of story whose surface plot and theme represent a deeper, abstract meaning.
Symbol: an object, sign, or image that is used to stand for something else, as a flag may be used to
symbolize a nation. Henry Adams uses the dynamo as a symbol of vast, inhuman power.
Symbolism: the systematic use of recurrent symbols or images in a work to create an added level of
meaning.
Dante’s Fourfold Method
Interpretations of Allegories by Dante Alighieri
Source: The AP Vertical Team Guide
The literal or historical level: The things that are actually happening in the story on a surface level.
The political level: The level on which human beings relate to others in a community and in the world.
For example, where the rule of law is shaken and a city’s order is threatened. The question is this: Which
is more important, the state’s stability or the individual’s conscience?
The moral or psychological level: The way in which the self relates to the realm of ethics.
The spiritual level: The universal level on which a person relates to the cosmos, the way of the pilgrim
soul. For example, an individual representing a free spirit bound to rebel against the repression of
absolute authority. This person symbolizes free will and the power of the individual, showing the reader
the idealism of youth that inflexibly seeks martyrdom rather than compromise.
Ralph
Jack
Piggy
Simon
Moral allegory
Common sense
Emotion
Intellect
Soul
Social allegory
Democratic
government
Power; dictator
Technology
Humanism
Ruthless/corrupt
Intellect
Spiritual truth
Religious allegory Everyday person
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Lord of the Flies
Theme Statements
A theme is a statement that suggests a universal observation on like that authors convey through their
stories. Theme statements are not preachy, and they are not specific to the text; instead they offer insight
that is promoted through the text.
Possible topics for themes in Lord of the Flies include:
civilization versus savagery
loss of innocence
innate evil in humans
anarchy versus democracy
reason (wisdom) versus power
innocence versus experience
strength versus weakness
loss of communication
and there are probably many more…
Sample Statement of Theme:
When civilization is overcome by savagery, there is always a loss of innocence.
Sample Connection:
Civilization versus savagery
Loss of innocence
Using the topics above, try to create theme statements for each of the topics listed.
1. The following organizer contains a list of primary conflicts in the novel. Conflicts are not themes but
often serve as signposts, which point towards themes. Within the conflict is a major idea about
human nature that the author is trying to convey to you as the reader. This major idea is referred to as
the theme.
2. Uncover at least five examples from the novel for each listed conflict. Based on the examples
collected, specify the major idea the author is trying to convey (theme).
Primary Conflicts
Themes
Civilized Behaviour (Ralph)
vs. Savage Behaviour (Jack)
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Lord of the Flies
Primary Conflicts
Theme Statements
Themes
Anarchy vs. Democracy
Reason (Wisdom) vs.
Power
Innocence vs. Experience
Strength vs. Weakness
(physical and
psychological)
Spirituality vs. Agnosticism
Humans vs. Nature
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Lord of the Flies
Rituals
A ritual, according to Confucian philosophers, refers to the symbolic expression of the sentiments,
which are attached to a given situation. A situation could include a person, time, concept, thing, or
occasion (i.e., marriage, funeral, sporting event, etc.). In other words, there is significant meaning or
feeling attached to the particular practice, custom, expression, etc.
In determining whether an act or event is a ritual, watch for certain behavioiurs from costumes to the
words used. Examine what purpose these practices provide that is not stated explicitly.
Note: habitual behaviours are actions that have no symbolic connection to the repetition of behaviour.
For example, tying one’s shoes is not a ritual.
Classification of Some Types of Rituals
Source: Keutsche, Paul. Field Ethnography: A Manual for Doing Cultural Anthropology. Prentice Hall,
Toronto. 1998
1. Rites of Deference: rituals that show differences in status, ranging from tipping a hat to a lady to
bowing oneself before a throne. These can be indirect, such as the right to interrupt another in
conversation or to arrive late for an appointment.
2. Rites of Passage: rituals associated with the change of status of an individual or group of individuals.
For example, christening, marriage, funeral, initiation, crowning. Examples of functions for such
rituals are as follows:
A. Closure: marks the end of stages of life or of situations. Examples: Closing Ceremonies of the
Olympic Games is an example of closure.
B. Promotion of Familiarity: promoting stepped up social interaction between the new member and
others in the association. Consider whether this ritual involves an opportunity for two groups to
interact when they usually would not.
3. Rites of Intensification: rituals, for which the main purpose is to reassert social relations, to intensify
social bonds. Functions include:
A. Activation of Status Relationships: helps maintain status systems by giving them the excuse to
operate. For example, a king’s coronation with all its pageantry could help promote and maintain
his status and role. Look at the costumes of individuals for this case.
B. Value Reiteration: ceremonies that promote loyalty. For example, a group of Toronto Maple Leaf
fans wear the same colour, in order to show they support this team.
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Lord of the Flies
Ritual Activity
1. In the organizer below, list three modern rituals that you are familiar with and, in a sentence,
describe the purpose of each ritual.
2. List three rituals that the boys create in Lord of the Flies. In a sentence, describe the purpose of each
ritual.
3. In a paragraph, pretend that you are a field ethnographer describing a ritual you have just witnessed
the boys perform in Lord of the Flies.
Modern Ritual
Description of Modern Ritual
Text Ritual
Description of Text Ritual
e.g., marriage
Purpose of Modern Ritual
e.g., to celebrate the permanent union of
two people from a society–rite of passage
1
2
3
Purpose of Text Ritual
1
2
3
Assume you are a field ethnographer observing one of the rituals in Lord of the Flies. Describe in detail
the boys’ behaviour and try to explain the ritual’s purpose.
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* Please write your paragraph rough draft on the lines provided below *
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Lord of the Flies
Quotation Analysis Practice
Complete the chart table below on each of the quotations provided from Lord of the Flies:
Quotations
“he was old enough…
stood on
head” (Golding 5).
“Within the diamond
haze…eccentric
clothing” (15).
“This last piece…with
his glasses” (16-17).
Speaker
Context
Type of Significance
Proof
Explain
(complete two types) (one for each type) (an explanation for each type)
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
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“Flowers and fruit…
outstretched
hands” (57).
“Come on! I’ll creep
up and stab. The mask
compelled them” (67).
“Yet Ralph’s throat
refused to pass one…
his throat” (76).
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
1)
1)
1)
2)
2)
2)
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Lord of the Flies Innocent or Guilty? • Trial
Students will be placed into groups and assigned a case and will serve as prosecution or defense. The
teams will prepare to present in front of the court their findings and will be provided the opportunity to
refute the opposing team’s arguments. They will be evaluated on their writing and oral presentation
skills.
Case 1: The State versus Ralph
Team One:
Four members are the lawyers for Ralph. You must come up with arguments to prove that your client is
an effective leader (i.e., not guilty of ineffective leadership). Prior to presenting your case, students must
individually submit an argumentative paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include
quotations) as evidence of their case. Students must use trial language in their presentation (watch
formality, diction and style) and must critically analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence
support their argument.
Team Two:
Four members are the prosecution. You must come up with arguments to prove that Ralph is guilty of
ineffective leadership. Prior to presenting your case, students must individually submit an argumentative
paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include quotations) as evidence of their case. Students
must use trial language in their presentation (watch formality, diction and style) and must critically
analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence support their argument.
Case 2: The Prosecutor versus Jack Merridew
Team Three:
Four members are the lawyers for Jack. You must come up with arguments to prove that your client is not
guilty of crimes against humanity. Prior to presenting your case, students must individually submit an
argumentative paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include quotations) as evidence of their
case. Students must use trial language in their presentation (watch formality, diction and style) and must
critically analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence support their argument.
Team Four:
Four members are the prosecution. You must come up with arguments to prove that Jack is guilty of
crimes against humanity. Prior to presenting your case, students must individually submit an
argumentative paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include quotations) as evidence of their
case. Students must use trial language in their presentation (watch formality, diction and style) and must
critically analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence support their argument.
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Lord of the Flies Innocent or Guilty? • Trial
Case 3: The State versus Jack’s Tribe
Team Five:
Four members are the lawyers for the defense. You must come up with arguments to prove that Jack’s
tribe is not guilty of civil disobedience. Prior to presenting your case, students must individually submit
an argumentative paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include quotations) as evidence of
their case. Students must use trial language in their presentation (watch formality, diction and style) and
must critically analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence support their argument.
Team Six:
Four members are the prosecution. You must come up with arguments to prove that Jack’s tribe is guilty
of civil disobedience. Prior to presenting your case, students must individually submit an argumentative
paragraph outlining their three pieces of support (include quotations) as evidence of their case. Students
must use trial language in their presentation (watch formality, diction and style) and must critically
analyze/comment on how the three pieces of evidence support their argument.
Things to Remember:
•
Each team member must have an original argument (point, proof explanation) when he/she
presents.
•
Academic vocabulary should be utilized during the presentation.
•
Attempt to use the vocabulary and tone that would be present in a court case. Ex: Ladies and
Gentlemen of the jury
•
Attire should be professional and no sharing of costumes is permitted.
•
Be prepared to answer questions from the judge.
•
Each team will have ten minutes to present.
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Lord of the Flies
Presentation Evaluation
Student Names:
1. _______________________________________
4. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
5. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
6. _______________________________________
Team: _______________________________________
Content
• Team has provided at least four points /quotations to support their ideas
/5
• 1 2 3 4 points were effectively analyzed
/10
Style
• Students use appropriate vocabulary
/4
• Students have the correct tone and formality for a court trial
/4
Student
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Presentation
Skills
(tone, volume,
pitch, stress, rate,
gestures)
/5
Courtroom
Attire
/2
Total
/30
Feedback:
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Lord of the Flies
Types of Writing • DANE Paragraphs
There are many different forms of writing, but most of them can be classified under the DANE-CCC
acronym:
Descriptive
Argumentative and Persuasive
Narrative
Expository
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Critical Analysis
Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing generally uses a lot of sensory details that appeal to the five senses. It can also
describe what something is, how it works, or how something happened. A literary device that is directly
associated with this form of writing is imagery.
Argumentative and Persuasive Writing
Argumentative and persuasive writing both try to convince the reader to accept the
writer’s point of view. This writing can either be serious or funny, but is always focused on
convincing the reader of the validity of an opinion.
Although both argumentative and persuasive writing aim to convince someone of
something, they are different in how they approach this goal. Argumentative writing relies
solely on facts and logic to convince the reader, while persuasive writing, which also uses
facts and logic, employ rhetorical devices/persuasive strategies to convince the reader.
While rhetorical devices/persuasive strategies enhance a persuasive essay, they are
considered fallacies in an argumentative essay.
Narrative Writing
Narrative writing tells a story. Generally, narrative writing is conversational in style, and tells of a
personal experience. It uses action verbs, and is most commonly written in the first person, present tense
to communicate a feeling of immediacy and currency in the story.
Expository Writing
Expository writing is informative, and explains how something is done. It generally explains actions that
should be performed in a series. This form of writing is considered “how-to” writing, and is found in
most instruction manuals. It may be in the form of step-by-step instructions or in a story form with the
instructions/explanations subtly given along the way.
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* Please write your paragraph rough draft on the lines provided below *
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Rubric
Argumentative Paragraph
/20
Name: ______________________________________
**Submit this sheet to your teacher prior to presenting.**
Criteria
Structure/
Organization
Support/
Analysis
Below Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
(0-49%)
(50-59%)
(60-69%)
(70-79%)
(80-100%)
Demonstrates a very
limited understanding
of an argumentative
paragraph
Demonstrates a
limited understanding
of an argumentative
paragraph
Demonstrates some
understanding of an
argumentative
paragraph
Demonstrates a
considerable
understanding of an
argumentative
paragraph
Demonstrates a
strong understanding
of an argumentative
paragraph
The supporting
arguments, examples
and analysis support
the topic sentence
with very limited
effectiveness
The supporting
arguments, examples
and analysis support
the topic sentence
with limited
effectiveness
The supporting
arguments, examples
and analysis support
the topic sentence
some effectiveness
The supporting
arguments, examples
and analysis support
the topic sentence
with considerable
effectiveness
The supporting
arguments, examples
and analysis support
the topic sentence a
high degree of
effectiveness
Communication Communicates
Mechanics
Communicates
information and ideas information and ideas
with very limited
with limited clarity
clarity
Limited word choice
Very limited word
and little variance in
choice and very little sentence structure
variance in sentence
structure
Communicates
Communicates
Communicates
information and ideas information and ideas information and ideas
with some clarity
with considerable
with a high degree of
clarity
clarity
Some variance in
word choice and in
Word choice is
Excellent use of
sentence structure
effective and in
diction and sentence
sentence structure is structure to
varied effectively
communicate main
argument
Uses language
connections with very
limited accuracy and
effectiveness
Uses language
conventions with
some accuracy and
effectiveness
Uses language
conventions with
limited accuracy and
effectiveness
Uses language
conventions with
considerable accuracy
and effectiveness
Uses language
conventions with a
high degree of
accuracy and
effectiveness
Feedback:
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