Lord of the FliesBy William Golding

Our approach: As we read through Lord of the Flies, you will

be asked to focus on two elements- Symbols- Characters

In groups you will trace the development of one symbol and one character from the beginning of the book to the end

Each day, groups will share with the larger group their findings

What word comes to mind?

Symbol Something that on the surface is its literal

self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings.

A symbol may be said to embody an idea. There are two types of symbols: Universal

and Constructed

Universal Symbols Universal symbols embody universally

recognizable meanings wherever used

Eg. Light = Knowledge

Skull = Death

Constructed Symbol Constructed symbols are given symbolic

meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary work

Eg. Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird to represent injustice.

Thinking about Lord of the Flies, draw an

object that you believe might be a symbol.

Characters

Much of the interest in a novel lies in the characters whose world we enter and in whose lives we share. We usually respond to them first as people.

We can analyze their personalities, trace how they are affected by events and empathize or disapprove of them

However…

We do need to remember that they do not have lives outside the pages of the novel and so it is rarely useful to speculate about their past or future experiences.

More importantly, we need to pay attention to how they are presented.

Methods of Characterization

Description

Dialogue

Thoughts and Feelings

Actions and Reactions

Impression from Other Characters

Background

Time to get in your groups…