Example Student

Example Student

Mrs. Mesdjian

English 2H, Period 6

13 September 2010

A.P. Book Report

Title of Work: Lord of the Flies

Author and date written: William Golding, 1954

Country of Author:England

Characters:

Ralph – He is the central protagonist and one of the older boys who possess good looks and an amiable personality. As the original leader of the tribe, Ralph struggles to maintain order with the boys who elect him chief. Amid Ralph’s pragmatic desire to keep the fire going to ensure a rescue, he daydreams and lacks the needed authority to keep the boys in line. His inability to think through dilemmas and solve them allows for dissention amongst the tribe

Jack – He is Ralph’s antagonist and a mean-spirited boy who challenges Ralph’s authority from the moment the boys hold the election for chief. Jack is a natural leader who doesn’t like to take orders from anyone. The introduction of Jack as leader of the choirboys in the opening of the novel serves as a stark contrast to his savage leadership of the hunters in the closing pages. His aggressive nature propels him from pig hunter to man hunter when all of the boys submit to his dominance except for Ralph.

Simon –

Roger –

Piggy –

Samneric –

Percival –.

Settings:

The Mountaintop – This is the highest point on the island, appropriately named since there is one large mountain centered on the island. There are several pig trails lower down on the mountain, but the boys have to scramble under and over the creepers in order to gain access to the higher reaches of the mountain. Towards the top are large exposed boulders. The boys try to keep a fire going on the mountaintop until “the beast” scars them away. The mountaintop, because it is difficult to get to, remains mysterious and feared.

The Scar – This is the site of the plane crash where the fuselage had torn up the trees and undergrowth of the jungle. The shell of the plane had fallen back into the ocean, leaving only the scarred land behind. The name suggests a place of physical trauma and pain. A scar is something that fades, but never completely goes away. Above this place is a shaded, palm tree lined place where the boys assemble for their meetings. There are fallen palm trees for the boys to sit on, one of which rocks distractingly, bothering Ralph when he tries to keep his thoughts together.

The Beach –

Castle Rock –

Simon’s Secret Bower –

Plot Outline:

Themes:

Civilization versus inherent evil – Prior to the opening action in the novel, the adults attempt to save the children from the ravages of war by sending them away. Then the boys try to maintain order on the island by electing a chief, dividing labor, and following rules; however, by the end of the novel, the boys regress to an animalistic state, reverting to brutality and to murder. Golding’s central message is that all men are inherently evil even though they may try to suppress this natural tendency through the laws of civilization.

Alliances – Certain boys stick together like Ralph and Piggy / Jack and his hunters, through the bond of loyalty while those who were easily swayed switched from Ralph’s tribe to Jack’s tribe. As in wartimes, those with a strong sense of belonging and commitment can stay the course while those who are weak or put under duress tend to forget their allegiances and take the path of least resistance.

Symbols:

Conch – found on the beach early in the novel by Ralph and Piggy, used to call the boys together for meetings and was originally used when individuals wished to speak. The conch represents parliamentary order in which rules and authority are respected. Its destruction represents the height of moral decline.

Pig’s Head (the Lord of the Flies) –

Clothing –

Fire –

The glasses –

Imagery:

Pg. 102 – Ralph is recalling images of home and longing for the time, “when you went to bed [and] there was a bowl of cornflakes with sugar and cream.” This image emphasizes the homesickness that Ralph feels; it also provides a stark contrast between the harsh life on the island and the comfortable life at home.

Pg. 123 – Simon’s secret bower is described as a place, “where bright flowers grew and butterflies danced round each other and the air was hot and still.” This garden-image including butterflies and flowers emphasizes Simon’s purity and innocence.

Pg. 125 – Simon’s secret bower is turned into a place of slaughter where, “the pile of guts was a black blob of flies that buzzed like a saw.” This image shows the ruination of a once-peaceful place.

Significance of title of work:

The Lord of the Flies is the English translation of the Hebrew Ba’alzevuv (or Beelzebub in Greek), loosely meaning devil. Golding’s title hints at his message in the novel, which is that evil resides within all people and that given the right circumstances, anyone has the capacity to express truly brutish behavior.

Author’s techniques:

Irony –

Foreshadowing –

Foil pair –