Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Question 1

Evil - How does Golding show this? (1/3)

Answer 1

Increasing violence
How — “play” violence becomes increasingly menacing
Evidence — “poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast..”
Analysis — List of strong verbs used to highlight fierceness of attack on Simon, mob mentality

Question 2

Evil - How does Golding show this? (2/3)

Answer 2

The Beast
How — the real Beast is the evil that lives inside the boys
Evidence — “The beast followed us-“ “Nearly touched me-“
Analysis — Samneric try to outdo each other, exaggerating to convince themselves of their story

Question 3

Evil - How does Golding show this? (3/3)

Answer 3

The Lord of the Flies
How — Simon hallucinates that the head is talking to him
Evidence — “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”
Analysis — Simon realised that the evil the boys have been looking for actually lives within them

Question 4

Power - How does Golding show this? (1/2)

Answer 4

Democracy
How — Ralph holds meetings, sets rules and establishes law and order
Evidence — “Hands up like at school”
Analysis — The conch is a powerful symbol of democratic power

Question 5

Power - How does Golding show this? (2/2)

Answer 5

Dictatorship
How — Jack is convinced that he should be leader, uses physical and verbal violence to get what he wants
Evidence — “The chief was sitting there..”
Analysis — His savage face paint and the spear are his symbols of power

Question 6

The Island - How does Golding show this? (1/3)

Answer 6

The sea
How — as the novel progresses, the sea becomes more threatening
Evidence — “seemed like the breathing of some stupendous creature..”
Analysis — The movement of the water compared to “” reminds reader of the Beast

Question 7

The Island - How does Holding show this? (2/3)

Answer 7

The forest
How — While the forest is the source of food, it is also a forbidding place (Eden ref.)
Evidence — “a deep grumbling noise, as though the forest itself were angry with him..”
Analysis — The forest seems almost to be alive as it makes a deep menacing sound

Question 8

The Island - How does Golding show this? (3/3)

Answer 8

The weather
How — the weather mirrors the chaos amongst the boys
Evidence — “the air had seemed to vibrate with heat; but now it threatened.”
Analysis — The effects of the heat are unpleasant and negative