Lord of the Flies

1. Lord of the Flies William Golding 1911- 1993

2. About William Golding • British novelist • Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in literature • Fought in Royal Navy during WWII • Participated in invasion of Normandy on D-Day • At war’s end, returned to teaching and writing

3. Golding’s Fiction • Allegorical • This means his stories have a deeper meaning than what is on the surface. • In an allegory, there is symbolism. People, places, and things can be symbolic to display the deeper meaning • Allusions to • Classical literature • Mythology • Christian Symbolism

4. Lord of the Flies • “It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazi’s.” • William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies

5. Some psychology… • Id • In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the personality which contains our primitive impulses such as sex, anger, and hunger. • Superego • In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the personality that represents the conscience. • Ego • In Psychoanalytical theory, the part of the personality which maintains a balance between our impulses (id) and our conscience (superego).

6. A Big Idea • Microcosm • A small version of something larger • As you read… • What could be a microcosm in Lord of the Flies?

7. About the Novel • Set in mid 1940’s when Europe engulfed in war. • Some argue it is just WWIII • A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot down. • Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society and govern themselves.

8. Philosophical Influence • Thomas Hobbes • English Philosopher: 1588- 1679 • Man is by nature selfishly individualistic • Man is constantly at war with other men • Fear of violent death is sole motivation to create civilizations • Men need to be controlled by absolute sovereignty to avoid brutish behavior

9. The World Golding Knew • WWII 1939- 1945 • The fall of France to Nazi Germany in1940 • Britain feared an invasion and evacuated children to other countries • 1940- A German U-Boat torpedoed a British ship carrying children killing the boys…thus suspending the overseas evacuation program

10. Major WWII Events • 1939- Britain joined France in war against Nazi Germany • 1940- Fall of France • 1940- Fascist Italy joins the Axis with Germany • 1941- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor causing USA to declare war on Japan and enter the world war • 1944- D-Day Normandy Landings • 1945- Bombing of Dresden • 1945- European victory celebrated • 1945- Atomic Bomb dropped in Hiroshima immediately killing 60-80,000 people (final death toll 135,000 people) • Death and destruction abound!!!

11. Modern Day Allusions • Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to something There are many, many modern day allusions to Lord of the Flies in popular culture. Some of these are parodies. For example….

12. The Simpsons • The Simpson’s episode titled Das Bus is a parody of Lord of the Flies.

13. Survivor • Mark Burnett’s CBS island show is said to have been inspired by LOTF.

14. Sponge Bob Squarepants • The episode Club Spongebob is a spoof of LOTF.

15. Popular Music • Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, and Pink Floyd have written songs about or have alluded to LOTF in their music.

16. Danger Do Not Go to the next slide…yet… • Wait! • Those of you looking for an extra challenge, read Coral Island—it inspired Golding to write the novel.

17. Symbols in the Novel • The Conch- Civilization and orderThe Beast- The fear that separates man from making positive choices • Piggy’s Glasses- Reason, science and insight • Lord of the Flies- Evil • Fire Signal- Hope, salvation

18. Themes in the Novel • Civilization vs. Savagery • Loss of Innocence • Original Sin • Nature of Good and Evil • Goodness is rare and fleeting

19. Motifs in the Novel • Pristine (perfect, unspoiled, pure) places corrupted by evil • Beel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of the flies