William Golding

THE LORD OF THE FLIES

Setting: A deserted island in during the middle of a nuclear world war

Point of View: Third Person Omniscient

FOUNDATION

Ralph- The protagonist and elected leader of the boys.

Piggy- Ralph’s second hand man and rational thinker for Ralph.

Jack- Leader of the hunters, and antagonist of the story

Simon- Generally kind boy, treats everyone with respect

Sam and Eric- Twins that are inseparable who are under Ralph’s leadership.

Roger- A tortuous boy who joins Jack’s group and later kills Piggy.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS

The Littluns- the youngest kids in the group of boys.

Maurice- An older boy who supports Jack and his efforts

Robert- He plays the role of a pig during a tribal dance

Percival Wemys Madison- a littlun who has a nervous breakdown

Johnny- a littlun who has a mean streak

Henry- Biggest of the littluns and is pranked by Roger

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

Arrival on the island

Conch shell

Assembly

Island exploration

Second assembly

Signal Fire

Time passes and boys become lackadaisical

Jack becomes obsessed with hunting

Ralph and Jack fight

SUMMARY OVERVIEW

Assembly is called

Dead parachutist

Search the island for the beast

Jack challenges Ralph

Jack leaves the group

Lord of the Flies

Jack invites everyone to a feast

Piggy’s glasses

Jack captures Sam and Eric

Piggy is killed by Roger

Ralph is hunted

Island catches fire

Rescue

SUMMARY OVERVIEW

Symbolism• Conch• Fire• Hair

Allegory• Island: World• Ralph’s Government: Democratic Government• Jack’s Government: Autocratic Government• Simon: Morals• Piggy: Intellect that is ignored

Imagery• Fire• Setting

GOLDING’S STYLE

“He [Jack] laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye.

I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.”

"I just take the conch to say this. I can't see no more and I got to get my glasses back. Awful things has been done on this island.

I voted for you for chief. He's the only one who ever got anything done. So now you speak, Ralph, and tell us what. Or

else—” Piggy broke off, sniveling. Ralph took back the conch as he sat down. "Just an ordinary fire. You'd think we could do that, wouldn't you? Just a smoke signal so we can be rescued. Are we

savages or what?"

QUOTES

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SOURCES