Critical Essays

Question 1

Theme?

Answer 1

• “Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and was in ruins” Roger being evil and foreshadows Piggy’s death
• “Liberated from shame and self-consciousness” Jacks mask both allowing freedom and hiding jack from the feeling of guilt or responsibility
• “ ‘Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.’ “ Linking the conch directly to idea of democracy and order and helps later highlight end of it when it is destroyed
• “I know there’s no beast-not with claws and all that, I mean-but I know there isn’t no fear either.’ Piggy paused. ‘Unless-‘ “ Highlight doubt and fear - directly to Simons death “There were no words, no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws” savage way to kill someone
• “ Ralph wept, for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true wise friend called Piggy” Like Roger at start Ralph recognises end of civilisation to savagery

Question 2

Character (Roger)?

Answer 2

• “ ‘Perhaps we will never be rescued’ “ installs fear and doubt, leading to savage urges as survival instinct “There were no words, no movement but the tearing of teeth and claws” savage death and gruesome
• “Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and was in ruins” Roger being evil and foreshadows Piggy’s death
• “Below him Ralph was a shock of hair and Piggy a bag of fat” du humanises them before killing Piggy so he feels no remorse linking to the idea of pure evil
• “ high overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the level” going crazy with the sense of abandonment Roger gives in to his savagery to gain attention of some sort?
• “Sharpened a stick at both ends” seen as a sadistic killer and true evil on the island as he has an intent on harming Roger so much so he’s sharpening both ends
• “You couldn’t stop me coming if I wanted”

Question 3

Key event - Piggy’s death

Answer 3

• “Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and was in ruins”
• “High above - Roger with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever”
• “ ‘ I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can speak when he’s holding it ’ “ —> “thousand white fragments”
• “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart and the fall through the air of wise, true friend called Piggy”
• “It was an accident, that’s what it was”