Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
- born on September, 19th 1911 in Cornwall
- 1st published novel “Lord of the Flies”
- was made into film in 1963
- Nobel-prize winner in 1982
- Died in 1992
Title “Lord of the Flies”
- Goethe’s Faust: line 1334
Mephisto introduces himself as “Fliegengott”
- “Lord of the Flies”: translation from the Hebrew term “Ba’alzevuv”
- Greek: “Beelzebub” (devil)
What happened?
During an atomic war a plane carrying schoolboys (6-12 years old) who were evacuated from England crash-landed on an island in he Pacific
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Chapter 1
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Ralph:
- 12-year old boy with fair hair > traditional image of a hero (positive character); one of the goodies
- active
- his father is a commander in the Navy > hope of romantic rescue
- he thinks of adventures on the island =Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten real situation
Piggy:
- very fat, short,
- wearing glasses, having asthma > handicapped, physical deficient
- orphan (lives wit his aunt)
- afraid, no illusions
- called by his nickname PIG – GY
- symbol
- foreshadowing
- not self-confident, unsure, scared of loneliness
- intelligent, wise, rational > symbol: glasses
- clumsy, needs authority
Jack:
- tall, tin, bony, red-haired, blue eyes, blackcap
- leader of the choir
- egoist with strong personality > repetition of the pronoun “I”
- always associated with darkness
- called “Merridew” > superiority > gives the orders
- boys in the choir have lost their identity > they look absolutely alike
- sun-blind when he sees Ralph
- implies devil
- symbol: knife
- he does not kill the pig because the pressure of the civilisation is still to prominent
Frequently asked questions
What is "Lord of the Flies" about?
"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding is about a group of English schoolboys who crash-land on a deserted island during an atomic war. The book explores their descent into savagery as they struggle for survival and power.
Who is William Golding?
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Cornwall. He is the author of "Lord of the Flies," which was his first published novel and was adapted into a film in 1963. He won the Nobel Prize in 1982 and died in 1992.
What is the significance of the title "Lord of the Flies"?
The title "Lord of the Flies" is derived from Goethe's Faust, where Mephisto introduces himself as "Fliegengott." It's also a translation from the Hebrew term "Ba'alzevuv," which translates to Greek as "Beelzebub" (devil).
Who is Ralph?
Ralph is a 12-year-old boy with fair hair, portrayed as a heroic and positive character. He's active and his father is a commander in the Navy, representing a hope for rescue. Initially, he sees the island as an adventure.
Who is Piggy?
Piggy is a fat, short boy who wears glasses and has asthma, making him physically deficient. He's an orphan, afraid, and has no illusions. He lacks self-confidence, is scared of loneliness, but is intelligent, wise, and rational, symbolized by his glasses. He's clumsy and needs authority.
Who is Jack?
Jack is tall, thin, bony, red-haired, and has blue eyes, identified by his blackcap. He is the leader of the choir and an egoist with a strong personality, often associated with darkness. He's referred to as "Merridew," indicating superiority. He is associated with a knife. He is unable to kill the pig at first due to the constraints of civilization.
What are some of the symbols mentioned in the preview?
Some symbols mentioned include Piggy's glasses representing intelligence and rationality, Jack's knife, and darkness being associated with Jack. Piggy is mentioned as being a symbol and used for foreshadowing.
What happens in Chapter 1?
Chapter 1 introduces Ralph, Piggy, and Jack. The boys are stranded on the island. Jack is unable to kill the pig initially due to the pressure of civilization.
- Quote paper
- Barbara Späker (Author), 2001, Golding, William - Lord of the Flies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/105368
