Lord of the Flies was first published in 1954 and from then on has been read by millions of pupils, students and adults. Today the book is still popular as it deals with a subject that is timeless and fundamental : the human struggle between civilisation and the savage instinct. The book is a fable showing how the inherent evil in man’s nature threatens order in a society. Golding uses an allegorical story to illustrate this threat to civilisation. Because of it’s timeless topic and because it is an ideal showcase for allegorical structure and literary analysis the novel has been dealt with in numerous school lessons and university courses.
This paper gives an overview of some aspects of Lord of the Flies which are important for understanding the text and interpreting the film. I will first investigate how the characters are presented in the book and comment on some narrative aspects. I will then go on to discuss the role of the book as an anti-robinsonade in the historical context of the English novel. I will also point out some philosophical aspects of Lord of the Flies. I am going to focus on aspects of the view of human nature as argued by Thomas Hobbes in his book The Leviathan and contrast it against the philosophy of Jean Jacques Rousseau.
Being one of the most successful English novels Lord of the Flies has been turned into a movie twice: One version is from 1963 in black and white by Peter Brook and a later one from 1992 by Harry Hook. Due to its better visual quality it is usually the latter one that is chosen to be shown in class by teachers. Unfortunately this version neglects some of the key aspects of the novel. The second part of this paper will investigate how this film has adapted Golding’s novel and point out some of the shortcomings of this adaptation. I will concentrate on differences between the book and the movie. I am going to demonstrate how Hook presents his characters and how he treats symbols. Furthermore I will comment on some narrative features of the film. David Bordwell suggests a definition of ‘narration’ as “the organization of a set of cues for the construction of a story” . I will investigate how Harry Hook organises these cues and how they are conveyed to the audience.
Table of Contents
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 LORD OF THE FLIES BY WILLIAM GOLDING
- 2.1 Characters
- 2.2 Narrative aspects
- 2.3 Symbolism in the novel
- 2.4 Philosophical and political aspects in Lord of the Flies
- 2.5 Robinsonade and anti-robinsonade
- 3 THE MOVIE LORD OF THE FLIES BY HARRY HOOK
- 3.1 Characters
- 3.2 Narrative aspects
- 3.3 Symbolism in the film
- 3.4 Is the film an anti-robinsonade?
- 4 CONCLUSION
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes William Golding's Lord of the Flies and its cinematic adaptation by Harry Hook, focusing on key differences and parallels. The objective is to provide a comparative analysis of character representation, narrative structure, symbolism, and the novel's treatment as an anti-robinsonade. The analysis will also consider philosophical aspects of the novel, drawing upon the philosophies of Hobbes and Rousseau.
- The representation of human nature and the conflict between civilization and savagery.
- A comparative analysis of character development and portrayal in the novel and film.
- The use of symbolism and allegory in conveying the central themes.
- An examination of the narrative techniques employed in both the novel and the film.
- The interpretation of Lord of the Flies within the context of the Robinsonade tradition.
Chapter Summaries
1 INTRODUCTION: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the comparative analysis of William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, and its cinematic adaptation by Harry Hook. It highlights the enduring popularity of Golding's novel due to its timeless exploration of the conflict between civilization and savagery. The introduction establishes the paper's scope, outlining its intention to examine character portrayals, narrative aspects, philosophical underpinnings, and the novel's classification as an anti-robinsonade. The chapter also briefly mentions the existence of multiple film adaptations, highlighting the 1992 version by Harry Hook as the focus of the comparative analysis due to its widespread use in educational settings. The introduction lays the groundwork for the subsequent chapters by emphasizing the key themes and analytical approaches to be explored in the paper.
2 LORD OF THE FLIES BY WILLIAM GOLDING: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies. It begins by exploring the diverse cast of characters, each representing a facet of human nature and undergoing transformations as they adapt to their isolated environment. The chapter meticulously examines Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon, analyzing their personalities, motivations, and the impact of the island setting on their behavior. Significant attention is paid to the use of symbolism, especially the conch shell as a representation of order and democracy. The chapter also situates the novel within philosophical and political frameworks, contrasting the ideas presented with the philosophies of Hobbes and Rousseau, and lastly exploring the novel's significance as an anti-robinsonade within the context of English literature. This section would encompass themes of savagery, leadership, and the loss of innocence.
3 THE MOVIE LORD OF THE FLIES BY HARRY HOOK: This chapter undertakes a comprehensive examination of Harry Hook's 1992 film adaptation of Lord of the Flies. It focuses on comparing and contrasting the film's portrayal of characters, narrative structure, and symbolism with those in Golding's novel. The chapter analyzes how Hook adapts Golding's story and points out the shortcomings of the adaptation, evaluating the film's visual representation and faithfulness to the source material. The discussion involves an assessment of the film's narrative techniques, including the organization of cues for the construction of the story, as suggested by David Bordwell's definition of narration. This section would analyze the directorial choices and their effects on the overall message and interpretation of the story. The extent to which the film successfully maintains the novel's themes and ideas is evaluated in detail.
Keywords
Lord of the Flies, William Golding, Harry Hook, film adaptation, comparative analysis, character analysis, narrative structure, symbolism, allegory, anti-robinsonade, civilization, savagery, human nature, Hobbes, Rousseau, leadership, innocence, democracy.
Lord of the Flies: A Comparative Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper provides a comparative analysis of William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, and its 1992 film adaptation by Harry Hook. It examines key differences and parallels between the novel and the film, focusing on character representation, narrative structure, symbolism, and the novel's treatment as an anti-robinsonade.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the representation of human nature, the conflict between civilization and savagery, character development, the use of symbolism and allegory, narrative techniques, and the interpretation of Lord of the Flies within the context of the Robinsonade tradition. Philosophical aspects are also considered, drawing upon the philosophies of Hobbes and Rousseau.
Which aspects of the novel and film are compared?
The comparison includes a detailed analysis of character portrayals (particularly Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon), narrative structure, the use of symbolism (e.g., the conch shell), and the overall philosophical and political implications. The analysis also assesses the film's adaptation of the novel's themes and examines the directorial choices made by Harry Hook.
How does the analysis approach the "anti-robinsonade" aspect?
The paper explores how both the novel and the film fit (or don't fit) within the Robinsonade tradition, examining the themes of savagery, leadership, and the loss of innocence in light of this literary genre. It analyzes how these themes are presented differently in the novel and its cinematic adaptation.
What is included in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide an overview of each section of the paper. The introduction sets the stage for the comparative analysis, highlighting the paper's scope and objectives. Chapter 2 delves into a detailed analysis of Golding's novel, focusing on character analysis, symbolism, and philosophical interpretations. Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive examination of Hook's film adaptation, comparing and contrasting it with the novel. The conclusion is not explicitly detailed in the provided text.
What are the objectives of the paper?
The primary objective is to offer a comparative analysis of the novel and the film, highlighting similarities and differences in their approaches to characterization, narrative, symbolism, and philosophical underpinnings. The analysis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of both works and their individual interpretations of the central themes.
What are the key philosophical influences discussed?
The analysis draws upon the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to provide a framework for understanding the depiction of human nature and the conflict between civilization and savagery in both the novel and film.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include Lord of the Flies, William Golding, Harry Hook, film adaptation, comparative analysis, character analysis, narrative structure, symbolism, allegory, anti-robinsonade, civilization, savagery, human nature, Hobbes, Rousseau, leadership, innocence, and democracy.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Benjamin Althaus (Autor:in), 2005, Lord of the Flies - parallels and differences between Golding's novel and Hook's cinematic adaption, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/44567
