Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Lord of the Flies
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies (1954) (edit title/settings)

by William Golding (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

A classic tale of a group of English school boys who are left stranded on an unpopulated island, and who must confront not only the defects of their society but the defects of their own natures.

Summary edit see section history

A group of private school boys are crossing the ocean on a plane (possible evacuation from England during WWII), and the plane crashes. None of the adults on the plane survive. Ralph befriends Piggy. The boys find a conch shell; when Ralph blows in it, other survivors (ranging from about... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

A group of private school boys are crossing the ocean on a plane (possible evacuation from England during WWII), and the plane crashes. None of the adults on the plane survive. Ralph befriends Piggy. The boys find a conch shell; when Ralph blows in it, other survivors (ranging from about 6-12 years of age) follow the source of the sound and gather. The children vote for Ralph as the leader and Ralph deems Jack (head of the choir group) as the head hunter.

Jack's power as hunter manifests within him, and the more violent or fearful children join Jack's clan. Ralph prefers democratic rule but is overpowered by Jack's violence. Jack's first priority is food and the kill while Ralph wants to maintain smoke signals for possible rescue. When Jack steals Piggy's glasses (fire-starter), Ralph realizes his own chance of survival is severely diminished.

Eventually, Jack gains the most power on the island; he and his hunters make Ralph his prey. The boys set the island on fire trying to capture him. When they are rescued by a Naval Officer who sees the island on fire, the boys become children once more but must live with the consequences of their power struggles.

Characters edit see section history

  • Ralph: A 12 year old boy chosen by the other boys as a leader because of his conch shell.
  • Jack Merridew: Jack, a choir boy.
  • Simon: An older boy who is a friend of Ralph.
  • Piggy: A chubby, intelligent, older boy who follows Ralph around. Wears glasses and gets picked on by the other boys. Gets harshly bullied but is very smart.
  • Roger: A close ally of Jack. Also mean to Piggy.
  • Sam and Eric (Samneric): A pair of twins closely allied with Ralph.
  • Maurice: One of the older choir boys who hunts with Jack
  • Robert: One of the older choir boys who hunts with jack
  • Percival Wemys Madison: One of the 'littluns.'
  • Henry: One of the littluns.
  • Bill: A follower of Jack. Supports the bullying of Piggy.
  • Johnny: One of the 'littluns.' One of the smallest boys on the island. Around 6 years old.
  • The boy with the Birth Mark: One of the little 'uns.
  • Samneric: is the name that is given to the twins because they do everything as one so instead or calling them Sam and Eric they call them Samneric
  • Sam: Twin of Eric
Show all 15 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “Maybe there is a beast...maybe it's only us.”
    Simon
  • “Sucks to your ass-mar.”
    Ralph
  • “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.”
  • “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.”
  • “Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Bash him in!”
  • “Life...is scientific....I know there isn't no beast...but I know there isn't no fear, either....Unless we get frightened of people.”
    Piggy
  • “A stick sharpened at both ends. . .”
    Ralph
  • “I painted my face--I stole up. Now you eat--all of you--and I--”
    Jack Merridew
  • “This head is for the beast. It's a gift.”
    Jack Merridew
  • “You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?”
    Lord of the Flies
  • “"Because rules are all we've got."”
    Ralph
  • “This belongs to us.”
    Ralph
  • “"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!””
    Lord of the Flies
  • “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.'"”
    Jack Merridew
  • “Have you got any matches”
    Lord of the Flies
Show all 15 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

On an Island in the Pacific Ocean
  • Island: main setting of the story; deserted island where children run wild after plane crash
  • Castle Rock: Where Jack makes his new tribe after he splits off from Ralph.
  • The Scar: The Scar is the crash site of the boy's plane. The impact has left a jagged "scar" in the landscape.
  • The Beach
  • The Lagoon

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. The Sound of the Shell
2. Fire on the Mountain
3. Huts on the Beach
4. Painted faces and Long Hair
5. Beast from Water
6. Beast from Air
7. Shadows and Tall Trees
8. Gift for the Darkness
9. A View to a Death
10. The Shell and the Glasses
11. Castle Rock
12. Cry of the Hunters

Glossary edit see section history

  • Ass-mar: The slang/derogatory term Ralph uses for Piggy's Asthma.
  • Littluns: The younger children on the islands. Approximately 7 years and younger.
  • Beastie: A mythological creature that the boys think exist in the island. It represents the savagery coming out in the boys the longer that they are stranded on the island.
  • one for his knob: A blow to the head
  • Biggun: Slang used to describe the older boys on the island.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Dystopia: "Lord of the Flies" is characterized by being written just after the Second World War. It presents a pessimistic portrayal of the evil power over people.
  • Psychology: The novel depicts mental processes in the minds of youngsters, stranded on a desert island.
  • Ralph: Represents civilization on the island
  • Jack Merridew: Represents savagery on the island
  • The Choirboys: Represent savagery and blind obedience. They are comparable to the young Nazis.
  • Conch shell: Demonstrates Ralph's form of government / power. A symbol of order as well as a tool to maintain it. The conch establishes unity (calls them to a meeting), and upholds civility (taking turns). In an early chapter, Jack dirties the conch shell with his sooty hands, a symbol that foreshadows events later in the book.
  • Spear: Demonstrates Jack's form of government / power.
  • Piggy: Represents adult rationality on an island populated with young boys.
  • Good vs. Evil: Shows the potentional for evil in us all and the struggle we have to give into it.
  • Piggy's glasses: A symbol of Piggy's clear, rational view of events on the island (views the bigger picture). When they are broken, this represents civilization and reason breaking down.
  • Fire: Symbolizes societal connection, rescue or could symbolize the opposite (savagery and destruction). The fire can also symbolize knowledge or enlightenment. The boys neglect towards the fire shows they have no desire to stay civil and knowledgeabl
  • Face-paint: A mask that the children wear to hide their innocence (or childhood). Feel guilt-free.
  • Religious allegory: Good and evil are present throughout the book in the Garden of Eden (island). "Lord of the Flies" is a translation of the name Beelzebub, which is used synonymously with Satan. There are also many groups of three - biblical
  • Butterflies: The Greek word for butterfly is psyche (represents the soul). Simon makes the connection about the truth of the human nature. When he confronts the beast, this suggests a triumph of the dark side of human (savagery) born out of fear.
  • Character Symbols: Ralph: Common Sense, Piggy: Knowledge, Simon: Religion & Spirituality, Sam and Eric (Samneric): Weakness of Human Nature. Jack: Violence, Roger: Evil, Lord of the Flies: Man’s Inherent Evil. If looking at the characters through a Freudian lens than Jack is the id, Ralph is the ego, and Piggy is the superego.
Show all 15 Themes entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 38 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 36 of 194 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2010). (authoritative list)
This is book 38 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 41 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2010). (authoritative list)
This book is in The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. (community list)
This is book 68 of 100 in ALA's Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 1990-1999. (authoritative list)
This is book 73 of 145 in Whitcoulls Top 100 (2011). (authoritative list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in 100 Fantabulous Book Challenge. (community list)
This book is in Best Books of All Time. (community list)
This is book 802 of 986 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)
This is book 8 of 213 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 53 of 199 in Newman and Jones 200 Best Horror Novels. (community list)
This book is in Faber Firsts. (community list)
This is book 49 of 95 in Telegraph Top 100 Books, 2008. (authoritative list)
This is book 13 of 97 in Waterstone's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This book is in TIME Magazine Top 100 English-Language Novels. (community list)
This is book 70 of 200 in BBC 'Big Read' Top 200 Novels, 2003. (authoritative list)
This is book 508 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This is book 25 of 98 in Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: Reader's List. (authoritative list)
This is book 41 of 93 in Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Board's List. (authoritative list)
This is book 21 of 95 in The Art of Manliness' Essential Man’s Library. (authoritative list)
This is book 62 of 93 in Newsweek's Top 100 Books: The Meta-List. (authoritative list)
This is book 70 of 82 in BBC "Big Read" Top 100 Novels. (authoritative list)
This book is in Random Synapses: 100 Book Reading Challenge (2011). (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. William Golding (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Inger Hagerup (Translator)
  2. Nicolai Cleve Broch (Narrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: 1954
ISBN: 0-571-05686-5
Page Count: 248

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PR6013.O35
  • Dewey: 823.914

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

On the Banned Book List, presumably for violence and disturbing scenes/elements. Includes some killing, also needs a lot of thought.Age apropraite for 12 and up.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

  • GCSE Bitesize: A Great site if you just want to get into more depth about the book, ot just want to have a refresher. The videos are excellent and are great to watch just to remind yourslef if you havent read the book in a while.
  • Wikipedia
  • Secondary Soluions: Common Core and NCTE/IRA Standards-Aligned Literature Guide for teaching Lord of the Flies

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Of Mice and Men
  • The Old Man and the Sea
  • The Call of the Wild
  • Animal Farm
  • The Red Badge of Courage
  • Gone
  • Battle Royale

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Understanding Lord of the Flies

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Coral Island

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history

   
  • Shattering Glass

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Language Police
  • Black Swan Green
  • Free for All
  • With or Without You

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • Treasure Island
  • The Coral Island
  • Swallows and Amazons

We’re hiding the errata section. If you would like to add content to it, you must first make it visible.

Balkarn

You were just viewing this book on Balkarn’s shelf.
(see review)

 

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close