This book was unbelievable in many, many ways. Not only was it a thought provoking novel filled with symbolism based on the common concept that when we are up against a wall with nothing but our basic beliefs and instincts we become different people, but it also shows that we are not necessarily good ones. The humane thinking that becomes a standered to these boys changes and each of them deals with it in their own way.
Roger, Jack's second in Command, carries a two sided spear in the end. This is a symbol for his bloodlust. He is hurting others for his own pleasure and hurting himself by letting his conciousness believe this was right.
Piggy's Glasses, the source of not only light and fire , but the very hope needed to carry on. It was how they started the fire, leading them to a fight about keeping up the fire. Eventually leading to Jack and Ralph becoming nemisies. All of which lead to the many times the almost kill eachother. Piggy's were not just hope but the instigation of chaos.
Relevance to Today: Even though the war is over we are still at risk. We are still at risk to give into the basic instincts that rely on savagery to survive. We are still at risk to crash on an island. We are still at risk of being turned on. We are still at risk to be killed by someone who has no remorse.
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Character Sheets
Character Name: Ralph
Age (approximate): 12 Appearance: Athletic with loose blond hair Title: Chief Basic Beliefs: Strong Leadership and Civilization How do others perceive them? Strong will, brave, and bossy How does this character perceive him? Best possible option Important Quotations:
Character Name: Piggy
Age (approximate): 11 Appearance: Fat, freckled and bespectacled Title: “Lieutenant” to Ralph Basic Beliefs: Order and Right vs. Wrong How do others perceive them? Intellectual and Whiny How does this character perceive him? Intellectual and responsible Important Quotations:
Character Name: Roger
Age (approximate): 13 Appearance: Bulky and Tough Title: Ralph’s 2nd in Command Basic Beliefs: Sadism and Cruelty How do others perceive them? He is perceived as an jerk, cruel, unreasonable, and destructive. How does this character perceive him? Strong, tough, and fun loving Important Quotations:
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Character Name: Jack Merridew
Age (approximate): 13 Appearance: Red hair, Athletic Title: Savage Chief Basic Beliefs: Savagery and Bloodlust How do others perceive them? Crazed, Strong, and Violent How does this character perceive him? Strong and brave Important Quotations:
Character Name: Simon
Age (approximate): 7 Appearance: Small and delicate Title: Messiah to the little ones Basic Beliefs: Nature and Kindness How do others perceive them? Weak, Kind, and Supportive How does this character perceive him? Weak, Kind, and Supportive Important Quotations:
Character Name: Samneric
Age (approximate): 6 Appearance: Identical twins, small, somewhere between a weak and an athletic physique. Title: Samneric Basic Beliefs: Fun, teamwork, and love. How do others perceive them? Hard to separate and playful How does this character perceive him? Co-supportive and playful Important Quotations:
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Journal Entries
- “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily
want to go, but ought to be.”-Rosalynn Carter. Obstacles are almost never pleasant. To put it in survival terms, you may need to climb a mountain for fresh water. The mountain is dangerous and you don’t want to risk getting hurt. Only two other people can go, a woman with two kids who won’t leave their side and an old but spry man. You are strong and young, you are the best choice. “You don’t want to go, but you ought to.” So says a great
leader. - “There aren’t any grownups; we’ll have to look after ourselves.”-Ralph. This quote of Ralph’s was supposed to make the others realize that they were on their own now and that they’d have to take on many more responsibilities than they are used to. Unfortunately, it inspires joy in the ignorance of the trials that lay ahead. Many of the children have had their imaginations“oppressed” by the grownups in their lives. This brings truth to the phrase“ignorance is bliss.” The ignorance is short lived because they soon realize what troubles lay ahead. “What will we eat?”, “where will we sleep?”, and “who is in charge?”
- What does ‘good’ mean in the phrase “this is a good island.”? They are referring to the word good as peaceful. On page 52, Jack says, “As if this wasn’t a good island.” They were discussing the beastie and how it is affecting the little ones. This could possibly explain why they must distract themselves in the morning, because they are haunted in the night. Live while you can… for the night is full of nightmares of death.
- “They became accustomed to these mysteries and ignored them, just as they ignored the miraculous,
throbbing stars.”-William Golding. They were an enigma they would not be able to answer so they got used to it. It became an everyday part of their new life. Go to sleep, wake up, covered in, dirt makeup. See crazy shapes in the water, forget them, and move on. Mirages are all kinds of craziness; you just need to ignore it. - “He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of his life, where every path was an improvisation, and a considerable part of one’s walking life was spent watching one’s own feet.”-Ralph’s thoughts, William Golding. It was obvious that Ralph was laid back Pre-Island. As a leader, he wasn’t too serous until the fire went out. He wasn’t serious until they missed the ship. Now in the wake of all that’s happened he sees that he has made guesses and took chances for all decisions in his life. Even so, he also realizes how careful one must be when walking the path of life. One wrong turn can put you in a very, very, bad place.
- “The statistics say that something like 65% of us will give the wrong answer just because we heard someone else say it, even if we know it’s the wrong answer. The power of suggestion is very strong”-Real-Hypnonis.com. This concept not only applies to the book but also common ways of life. We don’t like seeming different (most of us anyway), In order to seem similar we dress like each other, talk like each other, and attempt to think like each other. We can know without uncertainty that something is wrong but agree with it anyway. So we can make friends, make enemies, or just seem normal. All the littluns agree there is a monster, even though only a handful has “seen” it. They are trying to receive approval from their peers.
- “… All struggles are essentially power struggles. Who will rule? Who will lead? Who will define, refine, confine, and design? Who will dominate? All struggles are essentially power struggles, and most are no more intellectual than two rams knocking their heads together.”-Octavia E. Butler. Proving one is a better leader is generally done when either the current leader or the current leader’s reliability is absent. Doing what the other couldn’t in a time of need. However, in this novel being better is determined by being the strongest. More specifically, more intimidating. By taunting and being cruel to one another, Ralph and Jack are testing each other. Who is the strongest? Who gets to lead this tribe of misfits? Who will survive?
- If we can’t separate our civilized self from our savage self which will take over and why? This is a tough thing
to call. I think in most cases the savage self will take over. The only times I can see the civilized half talking over are: a. If the civilized way was applicable to the situation at hand or b. If the civilized half had something to hold on to. Think of the island’s occupants as a single person. It was split up into the three voices. Piggy is the voice of reason, Ralph is the voice of compassion, and Jack is the voice of wrath. Piggy and Ralph make the civilized self and Jack is the savage self. What is letting the civilized half keep the upper hand is their determination to get back home. - “Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death.”-Andre Gide. This quote revels on the concept of exclusion.“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound.” “If a man is there but no one knows of him does he really exist.” Jack tries to “kill” Ralph by taking away his tribesman. Also, Simon was no beast, but was unheard of. He was not perceived as a man, so he was perceived as a beast, and was killed for it. He was not in the circle of murderers/hunters, he was an outsider. Society is a cruel mistress and no one can purify a soul that tainted.
- “I know. They didn’t come for the conch.”-Ralph. What did they come for? What does what they took symbolize?The ability to create fire is what they took when they stole Piggy’s glasses. Originally they came to steal their fire itself. They took away the one thing that fueled their hope. That thing that lit the fire and made them think, “We can get home.” They left embers of fire that would be the last flicker of hope for Ralph’s Tribe. I cannot imagine what they think they could possibly do now.
- “Which is better…”-Piggy and Ralph. They were trying to explain that their way was better by making the others realize what they had become. They were trying to show them that Ralph was a better chief. They were trying to show that if they didn’t work together then they’f be doomed. Their only hope of survival was the fire. Unless they compromised , no one would be able to get off the island. Unless they worked together, no one would live.
- “He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance.”-William Golding. These are the final words of the novel. A naval officer had come to the island. They were being rescued! Now, knowing that their strife was over, they reflected. They saw man-kind at its absolute ugliest. Without civilization all they had left was savagery. All of them, particularly Ralph, began to weep for humanity.
Lord of the Flies Vocabulary
Efflorescence (12) - an example of the results of growth and development
Enmity (14)- a feeling or condition of hostility Decorous (15) - characterized by dignified propriety in manners Chorister (22) - choir leader Bastion (29)- fortified place Hiatus (31)- any gap or opening Ebullience (38) - boiling over; overflow Recrimination (43)-act of countercharging Tumult (43)- general outbreak, riot, uprising, or other disorder Tirade (45)- long vehement speech Oppressive (49)-burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical Inscrutable (49) - not easily understood Vicissitudes (49) - interchange or alteration Declivities (54) - downward slope, as of ground Tacit (55)- unspoken understanding Blatant (58)- offensively nasty or loud Taboo (62)- Forbidden by custom or tradition Sinewy (64)- vigorous; forceful Malevolently (71) - wishing evil to happen to others Ludicrous (78) - causing derisive laughter Ineffectual (79)-without effect Jeer (84)- make fun rudely or unkindly Inarticulate (89) - not uttered in distinct syllables or words |
Leviathan (105) - a huge sea animal
Clamor (108)-loud noise or continuous uproar Mutinously-not controllable, unruly Crestfallen (117) - dejected, discouraged Impervious (121)-allowing no passage Enterprise (122) - an important, difficult, or dangerous plan to be tried Glowered (127) - stared angrily Rebuke (128)- to disapprove of Demure (133)- reserved or composed in demeanor Fervor (133)- intense heat Corpulent (146)-large or bulk of body Sauntered (150) - strolled Compelled (167) - driven or urged with force. Luminous (169) - shining by its own light Myopia (169)- nearsightedness Sniveling (170) - cry with sniffling Quavered (174) - shake tremulously Parried (179)- to ward off, avert Talisman (180) - anything meant to be a charm Acrid (186)- irritating in matter Cordon (191)- cord, braid, or ribbon worn as a badge of honor Elephantine (194) - like an elephant in action or manner Epaulettes (200) - ornament on the shoulders of a uniform, not usually only worn as part of a military dress. |