All Quotations + Analysis Flashcards
“Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!”
THEME: savagery
TECHNIQUES: all imperatives and repetition of exclamatives > shows agression and anger
CONNOTATIONS: kill > verb > connotations of violence and savagery
POINTS TO MAKE: boys are starting to become the beast, less civilised etc. Detail in the killing of the beast is also very brutal and raw > emphasizes the beast they are starting to become. There’s also a dangerous foreshadowing> they enjoy killing the beast> rather than needing it for food, taken on a ritualistic connotation that binds the boys together with bonds of blood and common endeavour.
-The repetition of violent commands underscores the belief that overpowering the perceived threat, the beast, requires a demonstration of physical strength and dominance.
-Golding employs this chilling chant to critique the destructive consequences of embracing an ideology where might, expressed through violence, becomes the primary means of asserting control and order on the island.
“The creature was a party of boys, marching…”
THEME: civilisation
TECHNIQUES: irony and contrasts > boys later become savages. Ellipsis > unusual, wondering what is it
CONNOTATIONS: noun creature> foreshadows how the boys later become like animals (beast), also has an ambiguous meaning which can make the reader nervous and tensed as to the creature is.
“He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling.”
THEME: savagery, loss of innocence, mask, fear
TECHNIQUES: imagery his laughter
CONNOTATIONS: adjective blood thirsty shows how he starting to have a desire to kill and use violence, become savage> murderous
verb snarling > make and aggressive growl > started to become animal like
“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”
THEME: Fear
TECHNIQUES: repetition of the adverb maybe, ellipsis> shows hesitation
CONNOTATIONS: adjective beast has connotations of darkness and savagery > become the thing they are most afraid of. Suggest that it is them, something in them is beast they are so troubled by
CONTEXT: Golding refers to it as “mankind’s eternal illness” meaning the unchecked nature in all of us, which is prone to evil when there is no civilizing force or authority to hold back.
-reflects the profound realization of the boys that the true source of fear might reside within themselves.
-The ambiguity in acknowledging the existence of a beast underscores the psychological impact of fear, transforming the unknown into a more abstract and internal threat.
-The phrase “maybe it’s only us” highlights the introspective nature of fear, suggesting that the boys are confronting the darker aspects of their own human nature.
-William Golding employs this quote to emphasize how fear can manifest as a projection of inner anxieties, blurring the line between external threats and the internal struggles within the human psyche.
“The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.”
-The use of “understandable and lawful world” highlights the initial order and structure that the boys sought.
-The phrase “slipping away” signifies the gradual descent into chaos and primal instincts.
-Golding criticizes the fragility of civilization when faced with the challenges of survival, illustrating how the veneer of order can quickly erode in the face of human nature’s darker impulses.
-The quote emphasizes the novel’s exploration of the delicate balance between maintaining a civilized society and succumbing to the inherent savagery within.
‘We got to have rules and obey them. After all we’re not savages”
Chapter 2
-Said by Jack (dialogue)
-Jack articulates an early commitment to maintaining civilization on the island in. This statement underscores the importance of rules as a civilizing force, emphasizing order and societal structure.
-However, as the narrative unfolds, Jack’s perspective shifts, and this initial insistence on rules becomes ironic, highlighting the fragility of civilization in the face of primal instincts. The quote encapsulates the broader theme of civilization versus savagery, showcasing the tenuous balance between order and chaos in the boys’ descent into a more primitive state.
‘Seductive, maddening promise of meat’
Chapter 3
narrative
-‘seductive’ & ‘maddening’. the meat is so enticing that the boys are regressing into an animalistic nature over it
-captures the allure of primal instincts and the descent into savagery. The use of “seductive” suggests the irresistible appeal of basic desires that lead the boys away from civilization.
-“Maddening” implies the overwhelming and irrational nature of the temptation, emphasizing the struggle against the civilizing influences. This phrase encapsulates the broader theme of civilization versus savagery, highlighting how the basic instinct for survival can disrupt societal norms and push individuals towards a more primitive and chaotic state.
‘He lost himself in a maze of thoughts’
Chapter 4
-narrative relating to ralph
-he is rational and civilized characters, represents the struggle to maintain order and reason in the face of the growing savagery on the island.
-suggests that as the boys grapple with the challenges of survival and the absence of adult authority
-Ralph becomes entangled in a complex web of thoughts, possibly reflecting the internal conflict between his commitment to civilization and the allure of primal instincts.
-“he lost himself in a maze of thoughts,” Ralph’s internal turmoil encapsulates the conflict between civilization and savagery This phrase suggests Ralph’s struggle to navigate the complexities of maintaining order and morality in the face of the boys’ descent into primal instincts.
- The metaphorical maze reflects the challenges of upholding societal norms amidst the chaotic circumstances on the island, mirroring the broader theme of the fragility of civilization in the absence of external constraints. Ultimately, Ralph’s experience encapsulates the profound tension between the desire for order and the inexorable pull towards savagery in the novel.
‘Roger’s arm was conditioned by a society that knew nothing of him’
Chapter 4
narrative, synecdoche & metaphor
-Roger’s arm is a synecdoche for how society all have an inner evil that we all try to hide
-his arm is metaphorically controlled. the urge of harm is stopped by the rules and consequences of society
-reflects the novel’s exploration of the impact of societal conditioning on individual behavior.
-The mention of Roger’s arm suggests a physical manifestation of the influence of societal norms.
- The phrase “conditioned by a society that knew nothing of him” highlights the tension between individual identity and the collective influence of societal expectations.
-William Golding uses this to underscore how even in the absence of direct societal oversight, the remnants of societal conditioning can play a role in shaping behavior, contributing to the broader theme of civilization versus savagery in the novel.
‘Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that, brown, vulnerable flesh’
Chapter 7
Narrative about ralph
-illustrates the erosion of civilization as the characters succumb to their primal urges. Ralph, initially a symbol of order, is now drawn into the chaotic frenzy, emphasizing the powerful pull of savagery.
-The struggle to obtain “brown, vulnerable flesh” underscores the descent into a more primitive state, as the characters abandon societal norms in pursuit of basic desires.
-This moment encapsulates the novel’s theme of civilization versus savagery, showcasing how the instinct for survival can override the principles that initially held the boys together.
‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence’
Chapter 12
narrative about Ralph
-encapsulates the profound theme of the loss of civilization and the descent into savagery. Ralph’s tears signify not only his personal sorrow but also a lamentation for the collective loss of the boys’ innocence and the breakdown of societal norms. -The “end of innocence” points to the irreversible shift from a civilized state to a more primal one, as the boys grapple with the harsh realities of survival.
-This poignant moment underscores the novel’s exploration of the fragile nature of civilization and the profound impact of primal instincts on the human psyche.
“The rules!” shouted Ralph, “you’re breaking the rules!”
Chapter 5
dialogue
-Ralph’s insistence on rules reflects his commitment to maintaining order and civilization on the island.
-This underscores the novel’s criticism of the ‘might is right’ ideology, as Ralph emphasizes the importance of agreed-upon rules and societal norms over brute force.
-The quote symbolizes the tension between the desire for structured governance and the growing threat of anarchy, critiquing the notion that dominance through physical strength is a sustainable or just form of societal organization.
-Golding, through Ralph’s character, highlights the inherent flaws and dangers of an ideology where might determines the rules rather than adherence to agreed-upon principles.
“Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong - we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat-“
Chapter 5
Dialogue
-Jack’s dismissal of rules in favor of strength and hunting encapsulates the ‘might is right’ ideology that Golding critiques.
-Jack’s rejection of rules signifies a shift towards primal instincts and a disregard for the structured governance that Ralph advocates.
-The emphasis on strength and hunting as the primary means of asserting control reflects a belief that physical dominance should dictate the group’s actions.
-Golding, through Jack’s character, critiques the inherent dangers of such an ideology, as it leads to the abandonment of societal order and a descent into chaos and brutality on the island.
“Which is better—to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?”
Chapter 11
Dialogue from Piggy
-Piggy contrasts the notion of civilized governance with the primal instinct of hunting and killing, highlighting the pivotal theme of civilization versus savagery in the novel.
-The question challenges the belief that dominance through physical strength is superior to the establishment of laws and cooperation.
-Golding uses this dialogue to underscore the consequences of abandoning societal order in favor of unchecked power and violence, ultimately suggesting that a reliance on ‘might is right’ leads to the erosion of civilization.
“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!”
Chapter 8
Dialogue from Beelzebub
-challenges the boys’ belief that physical prowess alone can conquer their fears.
-This criticism by the Lord of the Flies (the severed pig’s head) underscores Golding’s skepticism towards the ‘might is right’ ideology.
-The remark implies that the true source of fear, represented by the Beast, cannot be simply overcome through brute force. -Golding uses this to illustrate the novel’s broader commentary on the limitations of relying solely on strength and aggression as a solution, emphasizing the complexity of human nature and the inadequacy of primal instincts to address deeper societal challenges.
