Sample essays
WJEC
1Look at the opening section of the novel up to ‘He
smeared the sweat from his cheeks and quickly
adjusted the spectacles on his nose’ (p. 3). How does
Golding use language and style to create the scene
and characters at the start of the book? (On the
WJEC specification, the first question is normally on a
compulsory passage from the novel with a question on
style.)
Grade A* answer
Golding opens the novel by establishing the characters of Ralph
and Piggy and by giving a real sense of the inhospitable nature of
the island.1 Ralph is immediately introduced as ‘the boy with fair
hair’, identifying his fair and good-looking features from the very
beginning.2
The sense of heat, which is an unpleasant thing, is emphasised
by ‘his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his
forehead.’ It might be pleasant to be warm, but this is the sort of
heat that makes you feel uncomfortable. 3 Golding immediately tells
the reader that this is not an hospitable one for the boys and makes
them uncomfortable, foreshadowing4 the uncomfortable events to
follow. This is backed up by the violent metaphor ‘All round him the
long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat’. Words such
as ‘smashed’, ‘heavily’, ‘broken’ and ‘witch-like’ all add to the unwelcoming and aggressively threatening environment.5
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1The answer begins clearly, with a focus
on the purpose of the opening of the
novel.
2There is a clear, succinct comment
on Ralph and how his character is
established at the start of the novel.
3There is a relevant quotation with
exploration of Golding’s possible
purposes.
4Exploring the idea of the foreshadowing
technique is a very good way of
examining authorial techniques.
5This is really good, close exploration of
language.
1
LORD OF THE FLIES
Sample essays
The second character is introduced and our first impressions of
him are that he is a helpless figure as he has been caught up in
creepers6 and he lags behind Ralph. His clothes seem unkempt
(‘greasy wind-breaker’) and physically he is immediately identified
as fat (‘his knees were plump’). Golding compares7 Piggy to Ralph
to show how different they are, as Ralph is fair and tall, while Piggy
is ‘shorter…and very fat.’ The use of the word ‘very’ emphasises his
largeness and almost creates a comic figure, which is exacerbated
by the fact that he keeps getting caught up in the creepers while
Ralph seems to have no such problems. We are meant to think that
he is less than perfect and it is understandable, later on, that others
make fun of him and he is not seen as a potential chief, since he
does not have the attractive appearance that would make him more
desirable.
The fatter boy (for we have not been told his name yet — a device
that Golding uses to show us that we first judge people on appearances, not on what they are called or what they say)8 asks questions
about what has happened to them. This is achieving two aims9: first,
it tells the reader what has happened to the boys and second, it
establishes Piggy’s intelligence. He asks the right questions, but,
as he is only a boy, he has few answers at this stage. We are told
that there was a pilot, that the boys were in a ‘passenger tube’ and
that they must have survived. This gives them a purpose: to find the
other survivors. Piggy also explains why there are no adults on the
island and hints at the background of the novel: ‘We was attacked!’,
showing that a war is going on.10
The landscape is described further with words such as ‘scar’ and
‘jagged end of a trunk’, making it seem an uninviting place.
We discover Ralph’s name first, perhaps a way of establishing his
importance and authority.11 As readers, he is the first character
name we encounter, so we are likely to remember him. Piggy does
not reveal his own name, either because he is too polite to just blurt
it out and wants Ralph to ask him, or12 because he is embarrassed
to tell him what others call him. Instead, we are given more information about his physical limitations — he has asthma and wears
glasses. It is telling that Piggy has to explain what asthma is (‘Assmar?’ asks Ralph) as the condition was less well known then and
there was not the sort of treatment available now to make it a less
debilitating condition.13
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2
6This is an indirect quotation from the
passage.
7Again, the answer explores the
introduction of both characters and is
able to compare them both, looking
at language in detail ‘very’ and what
Golding is trying to say, using the
character of Piggy.
8This identifies a technique (not
naming the boys) used by the writer
and examines its effect, exploring why
Golding chooses not to name them
yet.
9This is analytical, as the answer
examines two possible reasons for
looking at appearances firstly, without
giving the characters a name.
10A good comment on how the boys
have landed on the island and
the way Golding presents this
information.
11Further, apt comment on Golding’s
writing style and choices.
12Again, exploration of more than one
idea with the use of ‘either’ and ‘or’.
13An apt contextual link is made about
the understanding of asthma now
compared to when the novel was
written and set.
LORD OF THE FLIES
Sample essays
Piggy seems a pained figure as he discusses his physical
weaknesses and this is highlighted by the fact that he takes off
his glasses to clean them. The mere act of doing this symbolises
Piggy’s sight, as the glasses could be said to symbolise the ability
to see clearly. Piggy cleans his glasses at this point to physically
see more clearly, but also to help him concentrate and think about
what they have to do next.14
Overall, Golding sets up two of the main characters, introduces
us to the harsh conditions of the island and identifies the first key
symbol of the novel in Piggy’s glasses.15
●●
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14Some good, detailed exploration of
Piggy’s weaknesses.
15A simple, straightforward
conclusion that could explore
Golding’s overall purpose of the
opening in more detail, but this is
an excellent, exploratory answer
and it would score highly.
LORD OF THE FLIES
Sample essays
2How does Golding present Jack’s leadership qualities
in Lord of the Flies?
Grade C answer
Jack is a dictator, while Ralph is set up as a democratic leader
(he calls for an election in Chapter 1). Jack declares ‘I ought to
be chief…because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing
C sharp’ (p. 18).1 He is probably used to getting his own way, as a
leader at school, and he is not used to having a rival leader.2 He
expects to be chief and that there will be no vote.
Later, when he leaves Ralph’s tribe to form his own breakaway
group, Jack tells the boys that he is the chief. There is no discussion
about this. The boys want to be led and Jack offers them hunting
and protection from the beast, which Ralph cannot.3 The boys have
allowed their primitive side, the desire for food and superstitious
beliefs, to take over and this dictates their decision at this stage.
Ralph is more focused on getting them rescued and on sheltering
the boys from the storms, but this is far less attractive to the boys
than Jack’s ‘world’.4
Jack plays on the boys’ irrational fears. The fear of the beast, which
begins at the end of the first chapter and develops into something
more serious as time passes, dominates most of the younger boys’
minds.5
There is a nasty side to Jack’s leadership style. In Chapter 10 he
beats Wilfred but neither the boys nor the reader find out why.6
Golding uses this incident to show us that a powerful dictator is
never questioned and he builds up a wall of fear around him, which
enables him to maintain his power. The only seeming threat to this
is by Roger, who seems to be strangely and ominously sadistic.7
Golding describes Jack’s first appearance in a way that makes the
reader think that he is unpleasant. He is described physically as
being ‘tall, thin, and bony: and his hair was red beneath the black
cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness’
(p. 16).8
He has full control over his choir, who do as they are told.
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1This is all correct, but there needs
to be a focus on ‘How does Golding
present’, which this does not yet do.
2Making an additional comment such
as ‘Golding shows us that those who
feel they are leaders do not like being
challenged and will do anything to
gain control’ would push this higher
up the mark range.
3This is mainly narrative, although
there is some comment on the
differences between Ralph and Jack.
Again, this is not fully answering the
question.
4To push this essay into the higher
mark bands, this needs to be
developed with a comment such as:
‘Golding is exploring how human
nature makes us normally side with
someone who offers us something
interesting and attractive, not
something boring and sensible.
Perhaps this is a reference to how
people have voted for leaders in the
past, or why countries have accepted
dictatorships without putting up a
real fight.’
5This is an appropriate point, but
it needs to be illustrated with
appropriate references.
6A quotation to back this up would be
useful.
7Again, this needs support from the
text.
8Good use of the text, but this now
needs to be explored more fully with
a comment such as: ‘While he is
not ugly, there is something sinister
about him, which contrasts with the
attractiveness of Ralph’s appearance.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons the
boys vote for Ralph as chief to begin
with, as they are slightly scared of
Jack.’
LORD OF THE FLIES
Sample essays
Jack shows a liking for rules and punishment early on as he
discusses what will happen if anyone breaks the rules, which gives
the reader a hint of the violent nature of Jack and what is to follow.
‘Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks ‘em—’ (p. 32).
He is the first to put on face paint and look like a savage9 and he is
the first to kill a pig, which he seems determined to do. He becomes
more aggressive to the weaker boys and punches Piggy in the face,
knocking off his glasses, which is a significant event.10
Later he becomes a figure of authority and an idol, almost like a
king or god.11 He becomes much more scary later in the novel: ‘A
savage raised his hand and the Chief turned a bleak, painted face
towards him’ (p. 177) and it seems all the boys are scared of him.
He doesn’t seem to care when Piggy dies and is intent on killing
Ralph, his main rival.
9This needs to be backed up by
support such as: ‘A sharpened stick
about five feet long trailed from his
right hand; and except for a pair a
tattered shorts held up by his knifebelt he was naked’ (p. 48).
10Why is this a significant event?
11This needs the support of a quotation
like ‘painted and garlanded, sat there
like an idol’ (p. 164).
However, at the end of the novel Golding makes Jack seem like a
boy again when the adult appears:
‘“Who’s boss here?”
“I am,” said Ralph, loudly.
A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on
his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at
his waist, started forward, then changed his mind and stood still.’
(p. 224)12
12While this is a good point and is
supported with a quotation, the
quotation is a little long and this
appears to be the ending of the
essay. There needs to be a clearer
concluding paragraph, linking back to
the question.
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LORD OF THE FLIES
PHILIP ALLAN LITERATURE GUIDE FOR GCSE
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