Lord of the Flies by William Golding Section Three

1. Lord of the Fliesby William GoldingSection Three This icon indicates that teacher’s notes are available in the Notes Page. This icon indicates that a worksheet accompanies this slide. This icon indicates that the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable. For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

2. Contents (click to go straight to each chapter) Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Overview and Revision

3. Chapter Nine summary

4. The storm In Chapter Nine the weather on the island changes suddenly. Select four quotes which trace the build-up of the storm. Over the island the build-up of clouds continued. The dark sky was shattered by a blue-white scar. All at once the thunder struck. Then the clouds opened and let down the rain like a waterfall. What is the significance of the storm? What might it symbolize? The growing violence of the boys which is slowly becoming stronger and stronger.

5. Simon Simon is portrayed as a truly good character in the novel, and before his death we see him undertake a final act of kindness in Chapter Nine. • What does he do? • In what other ways has Simon shown his ‘goodness’ throughout the novel? Simon is savagely killed as he tries to tell the others the truth about the beast’ The nature of his death has religious overtones. • Can you identify what Simon’s death could symbolize? • That it is the end of good on the island. The final stage of the boys violence. They have gone that final step

6. Chapter Ten summary

7. Reaction to Simon’s death The boys must deal with the terrible reality of Simon’s death. Look at the responses of Ralph, Piggy and the twins. • What are their true feelings about the event? What do their reactions tell us about them? • Ralph is filled with guilt for his death. He becomes scared of what all have become. Piggy shows that he doesn’t want to believe they killed Simon, that is was not their fault, to ‘justify his death. Sam and Eric are also in denial about it all, they pretend to forget because they cannot handle the horror of it all. • We are not told of Jack’s reaction, but what do you think it would have been? • He would not of cared, he would think they did the ‘right thing’. He may feel some guilt. But he will justify it as something they had to do. ‘Sam touched a scratch on his forehead and then hurriedly took his hand away. Eric fingered his split lip.’ ‘“It was an accident… He was batty. He asked for it.”’ ‘“It was murder… I’m frightened of us.”’

8. What are their true feelings about the event? What do their reactions tell us about them? • Ralph is filled with guilt for his death. He becomes scared of what all have become. Piggy shows that he doesn’t want to believe they killed Simon, that is was not their fault, to ‘justify his death. Sam and Eric are also in denial about it all, they pretend to forget because they cannot handle the horror of it all. • We are not told of Jack’s reaction, but what do you think it would have been? • He would not of cared, he would think they did the ‘right thing’. He may feel some guilt. But he will justify it as something they had to do.

9. Jack the savage

10. Speech Imagine if Jack tried to get more people to join his tribe and launched a political campaign to attract new members. What do you think he would say in his campaign speech? You are going to write it! Think about what is important to Jack, and his approach to leadership. You might like to include in the speech: • why you are such a good leader • what you can offer to all members of your tribe • why your tribe is better than Ralph’s group • a summary of your ‘rules’ and values. Remember this is a speech so you will need to make your writing as persuasive as you can!

11. Chapter Eleven summary

12. Piggy’s death In Chapter Eleven we see a much braver Piggy than we saw at the beginning of the novel. Without his glasses he is very vulnerable yet he insists on going to Castle Rock with Ralph. • Why do you think he does this? • To support Ralph, to make sure he is not alone, because he knows Ralphs cannot do it by himself. At Castle Rock Piggy speaks out for civilized behaviour, just before he is killed by Roger. Which is better – to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?

13. Piggy’s death • How did you feel when you read about Piggy’s death? • That it was not right, and that it is the end of order on the island • How do you think Golding wanted you to feel? • He wanted us to feel just how evil kids could truly be • Think back to Chapter Four. Was Piggy’s death foreshadowed? When Piggy is killed, the conch, which he is holding, is also destroyed. • What is the significance of Piggy’s death and the shattering of the conch? • Roger hurt that littlun with stones earler in the novel and this is just an upscale of that and it shows Rogers true nature. • It signifies what they represented, order/rules/democracy.

14. Chapter Twelve summary

15. The ending When Ralph is rescued at the end of the novel, he breaks down and weeps for: ‘the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart.’ • What does Golding mean by this? Are you satisfied with the way the novel ends? • Think of an alternative ending for Lord of the Flies and write down your ideas. Once you have a plan, have a go at re-writing the final chapter. • Imagine if Golding had added an extra chapter where Ralph and Jack share their story with the naval officer as they travel home. How might this go? Write a script of the conversation between the officer and the boys.

16. What does Golding mean by this? That evil could exist in everyone, children and adults. Ralphs has merely discovered this fact and he sees how truly awful it is.

17. Lord of the Flies by William Golding Overview and Revision

18. Hot seating

19. Setting

20. Creative response Imagine you are Ralph as an older man and you are remembering your time on the island. Write about your excitement on first finding yourself on the island and then your feelings as things started to go wrong. “When I think back to my time on the island I feel…” Imagine you are Jack as an older man and you are remembering your time on the island. Write about your experiences on the island. How do you feel now about what happened? Do you look back with regret?

21. Symbolism

22. Style Choose one of the following passages and explore Golding’s style and use of language: Passage 1: Chapter Nine, from ‘With the running of blood Simon passed into the weariness of sleep’to ‘Then he took the lines in his hands; he freed them from the rocks and the figure from the wind’s indignity.’ Passage 2: Chapter Twelve, from‘What was to be done, then?’to ‘The cries were far now, and faint.’ Look closely at: • the actual words Golding uses and their effect • the length and complexity of the sentence structure • use of imagery and language devices and their effect.

23. Light the fire!

24. Revision THEMES Leadership, democracy, good vs. evil, civilization, savagery. CHARACTERS Their physical appearance, how they behave, their relationships with others, significant events they are involved in. SETTING Five main settings in the novel and what is associated with them. CONTEXT The historical and political background to novel. When revising Lord of the Flies you will need to think about all of the following: SYMBOLISMThe allegorical nature of the novelincluding the conch, the meaning of the beast, the pig’s head, the island, the religious symbolism. THE MESSAGEWhat is Golding saying about society?

25. Anagrams

26. Essay questions 1. Piggy is a tragic figure. He is a victim and an outsider, but his role in the novel is just as important as that of Jack and Ralph. Discuss. 2. When the boys are choosing a leader we are told that ‘the most obvious leader was Jack’. Do you agree with this? Explore Jack’s leadership throughout the novel. 3. Lord of the Flies is regarded as an allegorical novel? What does this mean? What are its main symbols? 4. The characters’ loss of identity is a key theme in the novel. Discuss each of the main characters’ loss of identity as the story progresses, and how this brings about the disintegration that develops.