Lord of the Flies Flashcards
1
Q
Biblical Allegory or Anti-Religious critique?:
- Comparison of the boys on the island with Adam and Eve. Simon is Christ.
- The island represents Eden in early chapters.
- They believe of a beast - not realising it’s themselves.
- Boys kill and delve into greater sin.
A
- ‘The Beast’
- ‘Snake thing.’
- ‘queer’
- ‘paradise’
- ‘land of love’
- ‘head is for the beast.’
- ‘exotic tropical island.’
2
Q
Civilisation vs. Savagery:
- Human impulse towards savagery and rules of civilisation which are designed to contain it.
- Ralph resembles civilisation + Jack resembles savagery.
- Savagery is perhaps an inescapable fact of human existance.
- Conch shell - democracy and order Beast - evil and savagery
A
- ‘maybe there is a beast … maybe it’s only us.’
- ‘What are we? Humans? Or animals? or savage?’
- We’ve got to have rules’
- ‘to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?’
- ‘Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.’
- ‘Jack and Ralph looked at each other with a shy liking.’
- ‘Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them.’
3
Q
Individualism vs. Community:
- Many of the boys’ failures come form their lack of teamwork.
- Jack’s tribe represents individualism vs. Ralph’s represents Community.
- The boys’ movement to Jack’s tribe shows their increasing individualism.
A
- ‘have fun’
- ‘They’re off bathing’
- ‘Who will join my tribe?’
- ‘We got to find the others’
- ‘contribution to the good of scoiety’
4
Q
The Nature of Evil:
- Innate within the human spirit?
- beast- embodiment of evil similar to Satan - this interpretation is ironically the motivation for the boys’ cruel behaviour.
- evil’s universality among humans - most ethical characters come to recognise capacity for evil.
A
- ‘The desire to squeeze and hunt was over - mastering’
- ‘And I’m the beast’
- ‘I’m part of you’
- ‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence’
- ‘the darkness of man’s heart’
5
Q
Man vs. Nature:
- The boys’ relationship with nature falls into 3 catagories:
- Subjugation of Nature. (i.e. Jack)
- Harmony with Nature (i.e. Simon)
- Subservience to nature(i.e. Ralph)
- Lord of the Flies introduces the question of man’s ideal relationship with the natural world.
- The boys interaction with nature reflect their distinct personalities + ideologies.
A
- ‘I’d like to catch a pig’
- ‘Brilliant world of hunting’
- ‘Maybe it’s only us’
- ‘Butterflies’
- ‘Hunting was good’
6
Q
Dehumanisation of War:
- Jack and the others casual act of killing another being represents how they no longer think about war as wrong.
- There is a constant war, even if it ebbs and flows, between Jack and Ralph.
A
- ‘Hunting was good’
- ‘Don’t argue.’
- ‘I’m chief.’
7
Q
Ralph:
- The elected leader.
- He’s brave even if he doesn’t feel it.
- Determined, Brave, Fair, Honest.
- Can be misled, unlike Simon.
- Can’t always think straight.
- Emotions change from adventurous to terrified.
A
- ‘A boxer’
- ‘I’m chief. I’ll go’ - Determination
- ‘prepared for battle.’ -Brave
- ‘The choir belongs to you.’ -Fair
- ‘We wouldn’t fight a tiger. We’d hide.’
- ‘Maze of thoughts’
- ‘shy-liking’
- ‘wearisomeness’
8
Q
Piggy:
- He is an outsider. Appearance. Bullying.
- He cares about behaviour. He tells Jack to give his glasses back.
- Acts like an adult.
- He is kind to the littluns.
- He is loyal and supportive.
- He is logical. Suggestions of a sundial. Important insights about people.
A
- ‘intelligence … was traceable to Piggy’
- ‘The first thing we ought to have made was shelters.’
- The true, wise friend’
- ‘I tell you, I got the conch!’
- ‘Crowd of kids’
- Jack could hurt people.
- ‘frightened of people’ - His views on being scared
- Simon’s murder expresses to him the boy’s savagery.
9
Q
Jack:
- Wants power.
- Prefers fun to responsibility.
- Bullies others
- Naturally violent and aggressive. Smacks Piggy. Rules as a dictator.
- Strong sense of pride.
- Obsessed with hunting.
A
- ‘ugly without silliness’
- ‘I ought to be chief’ -Arrogant
- ‘I cut the pig’s throat’ -Violent
- ‘What d’you mean by not joining my tribe’ -Controlling
- ‘Fatty’
- ‘The chief has spoken’
- ‘Madness’
- ‘compulsion … to kill’
- ‘I’d like to put on war paint and be savage’
10
Q
Simon:
- Christian allegory = Jesus:
- Percieves future.
- Hands out food.
- No harm.
- Kind, perceptive and solitary.
- Gives Piggy meat.
- Supports Jack.
- Simon’s death means they can’t return to civilised ways. Boys kill first for food then laugh as they do it, then finally murder.
A
- ‘Maybe it’s only us’
- ‘Skinny, vivid’
- ‘batty’ by Ralph
- ‘butterflies’
- Secret place full of ‘candle buds’
11
Q
Chapter 1 name
A
The Sound of the Shell
12
Q
Chapter 2 name
A
Fire on the Mountain
13
Q
Chapter 3 name
A
Huts on the Beach
14
Q
Chapter 4 name
A
Painted Faces and Long Hair
15
Q
Chapter 5 name
A
Beast from Water
16
Q
Chapter 6 name
A
Beast from Air
