Introduction to Lord of the Flies

For your test you are going to write two essays. Do not ask me or Mr. Ellis how long is the essay supposed to be because you know I hate that question. It needs to be longer than a fifth grade standard.

Choose two of the following topics. You are going to have to do research to respond to your essay prompts because I was not here to teach half the novel to you. Do not summarize the novel in your response – instead, be sure to provide proof by stating brief and specific examples. Be sure to CITE your research sources.

I strongly recommend http://www.shmoop.com/lord-of-the-flies/ for this assignment.

1. The characters in Lord of the Flies are archetypes. What groups or types of people did certain characters or groups of characters represent?

2. In what ways does Golding make the story believable?

3. Choose at least three of the following to discuss the symbolic importance: the conch, the fire on the mountaintop, the shelters, the sandcastles, the physical appearance of the boys, the beastie, and Piggy’s glasses.

4. According to Mr. Golding, is evil intrinsic or extrinsic to humans? How does he show this?

5. Contrast Ralph and Jack. In the struggle for power, what advantages does Jack have? What are Ralph’s advantages?

6. Compare Jack’s tactics to terrorist and gang tactics. How are they similar?

7. Compare and contrast Piggy and Roger as the seconds to the leaders.

8. How do Piggy and Ralph attempt to rationalize their participation in the death of
Simon? Contrast that with Jack and his group’s reactions to their participation in Simon’s death.

9. What faults in our society does Golding point out in Lord of the Flies? What or who does he use to illustrate these faults?

10. Traditionally, children are portrayed as innocent. Are they in Lord of the Flies?
In what way does the fact that the people on the island are children affect the story? Lord of the Flies In accordance to William Golding and his acclaimed novel, “Lord of the Flies”, evil is an intrinsic quality of human nature. The story takes place in an undisclosed island in the Pacific, where the group of boys, none older than 12, are now stranded and left to fend for themselves without adult supervision. Struggle for power is initial, as Jack and Ralph fight for the role of leader of the group. As the story continues to unfold, the groups of boys become more and more savage. Losing sight of their morality and relying on basic, animal-like instincts to survive, the boys begin to run wild, becoming increasingly violent as the days go by and many become the embodiment of evil. This being said, as the novel proceeds, it becomes evident that the author believes that evil is an intrinsic quality as he illustrates the character’s transformation from proper British school boys to savage, unruly beasts.

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