symbols: objects, figures, colours used to represent
abstract ideas/concepts
the conch
civilisation
vessel of political legitimacy, as the
boys become more savage, it looses it’s
‘power'
piggy’s glasses
power of
science
intelligence
they start the fire
the lord of the flies
pig’s head
parallels devil/satan
reveals theme of evil within every
human, promises to have “fun” with
Simon (foreshadowing his death)
the beast
they fear it
evil within them all
the more savage they act, the more ‘real’
the beat becomes
the island
paradise, utopia like the Garden of
Eden
microcosm of the outside world
themes: fundamental ideas explored
civilisation vs savagery
Conflict between 2 impulses inside every human. Civilisation
referred to as ‘good’ and savagery referred to as ‘evil’. Allegorical
novel where two impulses represented through the fight between
Ralph and Jack
loss of innocence
boys progress from well behaved children to savages, showing their loss
of innocence. Painted savages in Chapter 12 are far different from the
naked children swimming in the lagoon in Chapter 3.
motifs: re-occuring structures, contrasts that
help to develop themes
biblical parallels
retelling episodes from the bible
The paradise-like island compares to Adam & Eve in the
Garden of Eden. Both later go on to destroy these places.
Pristine places corrupted by the evil and greed within man
Simon shown as Jesus?
He is ‘sacrificed’ by the others
when he realises the truth that
The Beast is the evil inside all
of them
Lord Of The Flies (pig’s head) as the devil?
It works to promote evil among the boys/ mankind. They
offer it things “This head is for the beast. It’s a gift”
Chapt.8