Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies19541954

Introduction and BackgroundIntroduction and Background

““Beelzebub” a Hebrew word for LUCIFER. Beelzebub” a Hebrew word for LUCIFER. However, the literal translation of However, the literal translation of “Beelzebub” into English is LORD OF THE “Beelzebub” into English is LORD OF THE FLIES.FLIES.

Title TranslationTitle Translation

About the AuthorAbout the Author

• William GoldingWilliam Golding

• Born in BritainBorn in Britain

• 1911-19931911-1993

In the decade before In the decade before LOTF was published, LOTF was published,

Britain had been involved Britain had been involved in two wars:in two wars:

• Korean WarKorean War• WWIIWWII

As a child, Golding had witnessed As a child, Golding had witnessed WWI, which was referred to as WWI, which was referred to as “the war to end all wars”“the war to end all wars”

HOWEVER,22 years later Britain HOWEVER,22 years later Britain was again involved in was again involved in ANOTHER WAR to end all wars, ANOTHER WAR to end all wars, which caused more devastation which caused more devastation than was imaginablethan was imaginable

On WarOn War

“When I was young, before the war, I did have some airy-fairy views about man. . . . But I went through the war and that changed me. The war taught me different and a lot of others like me" ~Golding told Douglas A. Davis in the New Republic.

SettingSetting

• In the setting for In the setting for Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies, Golding has created his , Golding has created his own "Coral Island"—an allusion, or literary reference, to a own "Coral Island"—an allusion, or literary reference, to a book of that name by R. M. Ballantyne. book of that name by R. M. Ballantyne.

• Using the same scenario of boys being abandoned on a Using the same scenario of boys being abandoned on a tropical island, tropical island, The Coral Island The Coral Island (1857) is a classic boys' (1857) is a classic boys' romantic adventure story, in which everyone has a great time romantic adventure story, in which everyone has a great time and nobody dies or ends up unhappy. and nobody dies or ends up unhappy.

• Golding, however, has quite different ideas, and he has used Golding, however, has quite different ideas, and he has used the setting in his story to reinforce his themes and symbols.the setting in his story to reinforce his themes and symbols.

• Yes, the island can be a wonderful place, as the littluns Yes, the island can be a wonderful place, as the littluns discover by day when they are bathing in the lagoon pool or discover by day when they are bathing in the lagoon pool or eating fruit from the trees. But at night the same beach can eating fruit from the trees. But at night the same beach can be the setting for nightmares, as some boys fancy that they be the setting for nightmares, as some boys fancy that they see "snake-things" in the trees.see "snake-things" in the trees.

Through Lord of the Flies, Golding is making the statement that we cannot

escape our savage, violent tendencies…

……and without and without social order,social order,we devolve we devolve

into a state of chaosinto a state of chaos

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

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

Golding’s FictionGolding’s Fiction

•AllegoricalAllegorical• Yes, there’s a basic story: but there’s Yes, there’s a basic story: but there’s muchmuch

more to it than what meets the eyemore to it than what meets the eye• Pay attention as you read: what life lessons Pay attention as you read: what life lessons

could this novel be teaching? could this novel be teaching?

•Allusions toAllusions to• Classical literatureClassical literature• MythologyMythology• Christian SymbolismChristian Symbolism

About the NovelAbout the Novel

• Set in mid 1940’s when Europe Set in mid 1940’s when Europe engulfed in war.engulfed in war.

• A plane carrying British school A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot down.and shot down.

• Only the boys survive the crash, Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society and and try to form a society and govern themselves.govern themselves.

Themes in the NovelThemes in the Novel

•Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery

•Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence

•Original SinOriginal Sin

•Fear that separates one from GodFear that separates one from God

•Nature of Good and Evil Nature of Good and Evil

•Goodness is rare and fleetingGoodness is rare and fleeting

ThemeTheme

The main theme (according to Golding): The main theme (according to Golding):

““A desire to trace the defects of society A desire to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.” back to the defects of human nature.”

Thoughts about this? What does it mean? Thoughts about this? What does it mean?

Golding’s LOTF Golding’s LOTF IntroductionIntroduction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYnfSV27vLY