Name: Date: 

11/24/19 
Class:​ English 10 Honors Period: 5B 
 
MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET  
 
   

Title  Lord of the Flies  Genre 

Author William Golding  Main Genre: Allegorical Fiction 
Sub-Genre: Modernism 
Date of Publication 1954   

 
Characteristics of the Genre 
Historical Information  Allegorical Fiction: 
● The Hitler Youth - (Early 1930s and into 40s)  ● An entire work of literature that presents a 
○ This was a group of young German boys  moral lesson​. Can be infused with the Author’s 
that became popular during Hitler’s  political or moral views. (All human beings have 
reign and were raised under Nazi beliefs.  conflict within between the urge to act savagely 
(Jack is the leader of the hunters, and  and gain power or to be moral and abide by 
acts similarly to a unit leader in the Hitler  civilization’s rules) 
Youth)  ● Polarizing Relationships​ between characters, or 
● Burning of Reichstag - (1933)  oppositional views between characters or 
○ This was the burning of the German  objects. (Ralph and Jack have very different 
Parliament, causing panic throughout the  views on what they should do to survive, leading 
country. (Jack decided to burn the  to their downfalls) 
jungle, hoping to smoke Ralph out;  ● Object Personification​, an object having human 
basically, he was trying to burn their old  qualities. (The Lord of the Flies having 
leader)  conversations with characters even though it’s 
● Blitzkrieg- (1940)  just a beast’s head on a stick) 
○ The German term for “Lightning War”,   

Author’s Biography 
which included surprise attacks, fast 
● William Golding’s nationality is British, which 
advances, and a quick decisive victory.  makes sense as to why all of his characters are 
(This relates to Jack and Ralph’s fight in  from Britain themselves. 
chapter 11, where the fight is over  ● Golding was studying to be a biologist before 
quickly with Piggy dead from a surprise  becoming a writer so the imagery of settings has 
boulder, Sam and Eric captured, and  a lot of details on flora and fauna. 
● Deaths may be really abrupt in the novel (such 
Ralph forced to retreat.) 
as Piggy’s death or the boy with the scar that 
● Battle of Britain - (1940)  went missing) due to the scientific origin of 
○ As a military campaign for the second  Golding’s education. 
World War, the Royal Air Force had to  ● He served five years in the Royal Navy during 
defend the UK against multiple attacks  WW II, which may be why he chose an island 
from Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe. (The  for the boys to crash on. This also may be why 
boys in LOTF were sent away by plane  the Naval Officer who saves the boys at the end 
of the novel has very intense details about his 
to be safe from the attacks but were shot  appearance like his uniform. Also may have 
down. Also, an air battle takes place  helped shape his interest in the theme of 
barbarism and evil in humanity. 
 above the island while the boys are  ● Golding’s son, David, closely resembles Ralph’s 
there)  description and has a similar personality. Ralph 
also mentions his father is a commander in the 
Navy, which William Golding was a Lieutenant 
in the Royal Navy.  
 

Plot Summary 
 

Be brief. Bulleted events are acceptable. 

● The novel starts with a group of British schoolboys being shot down and crash landing on a deserted island, 
after being flown away to escape a war.  
● All the boys gather in an assembly and choose their leader, Ralph. Ralph then puts Jack in charge of the hunter 
group. 
● After exploring the island, they set up a signal fire using Piggy’s glasses. Though they end up setting the forest on 
fire by not paying attention to it and playing instead. One of the littluns goes missing (probably died in the fire). 
● A ship passes one day, but the hunters were too caught up in a successful first kill to maintain the signal fire. 
Piggy and Jack argue, and Ralph has to reprimand everyone. With this more boys have started to believe that 
there is a beast on the island. 
● A dead pilot from a military plane battle lands on the signal fire mountain, and the boys believe it is the beast 
and are reluctant to go back up the mountain. Jack and Ralph argue over this, and Jack leaves to start a new 
tribe, taking most of the other boys with him. 
● Jack creates the Lord of the Flies, which Simon encounters and has an epiphany. Simon figures out the beast is 
not an actual beast and instead exists inside them. He tries to tell the others but they mistake him for the beast 
and kill him.  
● Jack’s hunters attack Ralph’s group and steal Piggy’s glasses. Ralph then goes to Jack to try and reason with him, 
but Jack takes Sam and Eric captive and fights Ralph. During the fight, Roger rolls a boulder down the mountain 
which ends up killing Piggy and destroying the conch shell.  
● Ralph escapes and hides while the tribe hunts him, also destroying the Lord of the Flies in the process. Jack’s 
group burns the jungle to try and smoke him out, leading a British navy ship to investigate the island and find 
the boys.  
   

Describe the Author’s  …..and provide an example to demonstrate the 

Style…………………………..  style 
● Due to William Golding’s past education in  “... a great platform of pink granite thrust up 
science, he includes many details with scenery  uncompromisingly through forest and terrace and sand 
giving the reader a good picture of what the  and lagoon to make a raised jetty four feet high. The top 
setting is like.  of this was covered with a thin layer of soil and coarse 
  grass and shaded with young palm trees. There was not 
  enough soil for them to grow to any height and when 
  they reached perhaps twenty feet they fell and dried, 
  forming a criss-cross pattern of trunks, very convenient 
  to sit on. The palms that still stood made a green roof, 
  covered on the underside with a quivering tangle of 
  reflections from the lagoon.” (Pg. 13) 
 
● A lot of the writing is very straightforward and  “The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle 
to the point, like the deaths of characters. This  crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in 
makes the pacing much quicker, and reduces the  the center, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out 
emotional effect on the readers.  against the abominable noise something about a body 
  on the hill. The beast struggled forward, broke the ring 
  and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by 
  the water. At once the crowd surged after it, poured 
  down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, 
  bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but 
  the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Pg. 219) 
   
● Golding’s writing is very allegorical, and also  “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of 
contains a lot of symbolism.  man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise 
friend called Piggy.” (Pg. 290) 
 

Memorable Quotes  
(at least 10) 
 
 Number and write each  ……..………………….……..and explain the significance of the 
quote…...  quote 
1. “We’ve got to have rules and  1. The fact that Jack says this at the beginning shows how far he fell 
obey them. After all, we’re  into savagery by the end of the book. This is also another example 
not savages.” (Jack to the  of foreshadowing that Golding uses.  
others; Pg. 58)   
  2. Ralph and Jack represent two different ideals; Civilization and 
2. “They looked at each other,  Savagery. In the beginning, they seem like true friends, until they 
baffled, in love and hate.”  realize they can’t understand each other as their true natures come 
(Contrast between Jack and  out and they have more conflicts between them. 
Ralph; Pg. 77)   
  3. This is Roger’s first sign of cruelty towards the littluns and is the 
3. “Roger gathered a handful of  beginning of his savagery. He hasn’t completely been lost yet, as he 
stones and began to throw  still has a small bit of civilization preventing him from actually 
them. Yet there was a space  hurting the children. This marks the beginning of the children 
around Henry, perhaps six  leaving humanity.  
yards in diameter, into which   
he dare not throw. Here,  4. By adding the mask, Jack is able to turn himself into another person 
invisible yet strong, was the  and commit horrible acts without feeling ashamed. This is just 
taboo of the old life. Round  another thing that helps him along his path to savagery as he is now 
the squatting child was the  liberated and able to explore further into his new principles.  
protection of parents and   
school and policemen and  5. Piggy isn’t capable of fearing the beast as the others do, as he needs 
the law.” (Roger’s actions  to see it to comprehend it. This is his way of trying to explain it, and 
towards a littlun; Pg. 86-87)  shows that he is a lot like Simon with how he understands that it’s 
  only themselves they have to fear.  
4. “The mask was a thing…   
behind which Jack hid,  6. Simon proposes this idea to the others long before the events of the 
liberated from shame and  book start to escalate. This shows Simon’s intelligence and insight 
self-consciousness.”  into what’s going on while also foreshadowing his encounter with 
(Description of Jack’s  the Lord of the Flies. 
change; Pg. 89)   
  7. This foreshadows the boys’ descent into savagery and shows that 
5. “Life… is scientific… there  Piggy knew what they were capable of long before they acted on it. 
isn’t no beast… there isn’t  This is Piggy’s attempt to make them remember home and not 
no fear… Unless we get  become barbarians. 
frightened of people.” (Piggy   
to the others; Pg. 118)  8. This is Simon’s confirmation that the beast isn’t actually a creature 
  but a part of all the boys. The beast even uses similar language that 
6. “What I mean is… maybe  the boys do, making another point that it is in all of them. 
it’s only us.” (Simon to the   
others; Pg. 126)  9. Piggy still has hope and tries to reason with the other boys, not 
  realizing that no matter what they’re not going to listen as they now 
7. “What are we? Humans? Or  have a new set of rules and beliefs they are living under. 
animals? Or savages?” (Piggy   
to the other boys; Pg. 129)  10. When Ralph is confronted by the naval officer, the events of what 
  happened on the island come to him in an emotional flood. He 
8. “There isn’t anyone to help  cries for the relief of being saved, but also because he knows they’ll 
you. Only me. And I’m the  never be the same without their innocence.  
Beast… Fancy thinking the 
 Beast was something you 
could hunt and kill… 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 the way they 
are?” (Beast to Simon; Pg. 
206) 
 
9. “Which is better- to have 
rules and agree, or to hunt 
and kill?” (Piggy to the 
others; Pg. 259) 
 
10. “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.” 
(Ralph’s thoughts, 290) 
 
 
 
 

Characters 
(all major and at least one or two significant minor characters) 
 

Name  Role in Story  Significance  Adjectives 

Ralph  Protagonist; Chief of the  Represents order and  Responsible, 
  boys  civilization. Brings all the  well-socialized, athletic 
    boys together and tries to   
    keep them united and   
    focused. He resolves the   
    problems with most of the   
    boys and acts as a   
    peacemaker.   
       
Piggy  Mentor, Confidante;  Provides glasses to make  Intelligent, talkative, 
  Ralph’s closest  the fires, and tries to keep  overweight 
  friend/lieutenant  everything peaceful.   
    Provides most of the   
    suggestions to Ralph as to   
    what they should do   
       
Jack  Antagonist; Leader of the  Represents savagery and  Opinionated, barbaric, 
  Hunter Tribe  pulls the others into  strong 
    savagery with him. Tears   
    apart the connections   
    Ralph made, causes unease   
    and distrust   
       
Roger  Foil; Jack’s closest  Is an example of how the  Cruel, sadistic, strong, 
  friend/lieutenant  children slowly descend  quiet 
    into savagery over time, as   
    his moral code breaks. Is   
    the harshest out of the   
    boys, and causes the most   
    harm   
       
Simon  Christ Figure; Neutral  Unlike Ralph and Jack,  Very kind, shy, sensitive 
  alliance with the boys  Simon represents spiritual   
    human goodness that is   
    connected with the earth.   
    He realizes the truth and   
    tries to save them before   
    his death   
       
Samneric  Round, Everyman;  Remain strong allies with  Easily excited, followers, 
  Undecided on who to  Ralph, but eventually join  twins but referred to as 
  follow  Jack when threatened.  one 
    They represent the   
    majority of the boys as   
    they follow Jack out of   
    fear and his manipulation   
       
Littluns  Emotional, Static/Flat;  They make up most of the  Easily scared, followers, 
  Most follow Jack  population of boys on the  emotional, young children 
  island and follow whoever 
they would like and do 
what they’re told. 
Represent innocence and 
purity as they are the most 
harmless of the group 
 
 

Setting   

● The Island, World War II (Around the  Significance of the Opening Scene 
In the beginning, the children scramble together to elect 
1940s/50s) 
a leader and make a democracy. They co-operate and 
○ Located somewhere in the Pacific 
make rules that they all agree to follow, and listen to 
○ It has a thick jungle with lots of foliage, 
each other. This relates to the closing scene as it’s one 
dense thickets and undergrowth, and lots 
of the other times when we really only see the characters 
of wild fruit and pigs.  
as innocent children before the events of the book take 
○ It has a lagoon area with a white beach 
place. It also sets up the power struggle between Ralph 
where most of the story centers around. 
and Jack as Ralph is elected leader and only a small 
● Smaller settings on the Island: 
majority of the boys vote for Jack.  
○ The Mountain - highest point on the   

island and is where the signal fires are  Significance of the Ending Scene 
until a dead parachutist lands on it  As Ralph breaks down as he realizes what he and the 
○ The Beach - the boys attempt to make  other boys have done, it reflects back to the readers as 
shelters here and make camp here for  we remember that they are only children, and yet they 
most of the book  have turned from young civilized people into savages, 
○ Jack’s Camp - Located on another  capable of murder.  
stretch of sand far away from the  The ending scene also gives the readers a different sense 
original camp. Where most of the ending  to the characters than how they’re represented 
of the book takes place.  throughout the novel. With Golding’s style of writing 
we never quite get that human reaction from them until 
the ending where all the horror comes to an end, and 
they can finally be safe, but not without leaving with the 
guilt of what they’ve done. This portrays Golding’s 
purpose in writing the novel as it shows how only at the 
end of the book do the boys realize what happened on 
the island and how far they fell away from civilization. 
  
 

Symbols 
(at least 2 with what they symbolize) 
1. The Lord of the Flies/Beast 
● Represents Savagery, madness, and a loss of one’s humanity  
● Ralph creates the Lord of the Flies as a gift for the beast by jamming a stick in the rocks and spearing a 
Pig’s head on top. He created it out of his and his tribe’s actions as savages, by hunting wild prey and 
presenting it to the “beast.” 
● Simon descends into madness, the overwhelming situation causing his brain to make him think that the 
sow’s head is personified, having a conversation with him and appearing to be making faces at him. Simon 
also gives the Lord of the Flies its name, as he and it become overrun by flies.  
● The Beast represents the evil in each of the boys and is shown as Simon tries to tell them the truth, but is 
murdered by the others out of fear and the primal instinct to fight when in danger.  
2. The Conch 
● Represents order, community, civilization, and free speech.  
● Similar to how some officials in Britain used a sort of trumpet to issue instructions. 
● At the beginning of the novel, the conch holds a lot of power as it’s the boys’ way of communicating and 
keeping an organized democracy.  
● Though at the end when more and more of the boys don’t believe in the conch’s power anymore, their 
democracy falls apart, being totally gone once the conch is smashed.  
3. Piggy’s Glasses 
● Represents reason and intelligence, as they are an extension of Piggy. 
● They are used to light the fires and represent creation and innovation with this purpose. They are the only 
way that the boys know how to use to make fire, and are fought over for this specific use.  
● Jack’s group steals the glasses in Chapter 11, representing the end of the children’s reason and intelligence, 
as the glasses are now used for selfish acts like cooking food and creating fire for destructive purposes 
instead of trying to signal to be bought back to safety. 
 
Other Small Symbols: 
● Jack’s knife - used to kill the pig and represents safety, superiority, and power. 
● Signal fire - brings everyone together and represents their remaining connection to humanity and their hope 
of returning home (like a barometer). 
● The island - represents a paradise for the boys without any adults, but lowly turns into a sort of hell. 
● War paint - symbolizes the boys’ changes from civilized into savages as they become new people and have 
self-conscience.  
  

Possible Themes and Other Topics for Discussion 

● Savagery vs. Civilization  
○ This theme is represented through the struggle for power between Ralph and Jack. This conflict is 
what the whole novel is based on, and is explored through the actions of young English boys. Some 
of the characters lean more towards savagery or civilization or are on the middle ground as apparent 
through the writing. Though how Golding writes it is that civilization is forced upon us and not 
natural, so when we’re left to make our own choices, we revert back to savagery.  
● Loss of Innocence 
○ When the boys first arrive on the island, they haven’t done anything wrong before, from what the 
readers are told. But as soon as the island takes hold, they become savages, becoming capable of 
murdering other kids. Throughout the novel, readers can see the slow progression from innocence 
and obedience to primal evil.  
● Fear of the Unknown 
○ One of the largest factors that contributes to the boys failing to work together is the threat of a 
“beast.” All of the boys become wary and afraid, even though they haven’t ever seen the beast. 
Eventually, Simon reveals that the beast is not an actual creature, but something that is within all of 
them. 
● Nature of Evil 
○ One of Golding’s main themes shown throughout the novel is that there is the capacity for evil in 
everyone, no matter who they are. Even though the characters are just boys, they still revert back to 
their primal instincts when there is no one to force them to obey the rules of civilization. Jack shows 
the most evil out of them, but that doesn’t mean Ralph nor Piggy have any evil as they all 
participated in the murder of Simon. Even the youngest children (littluns) show evil as they act 
cruelly to each other and even the island.  
● Quest for Power 
○ The election of Ralph as the leader is quick in the beginning, and the boys feel like they made the 
right choice until the conflict between Ralph and Jack starts. Once the two boys crossed each 
other’s lines, (Jack not keeping the signal fire lit, Ralph refusing to hunt the beast), Jack makes his 
own tribe, electing himself as the leader. Almost all the boys join Jack, as they feel he is the better 
choice. But the struggle still doesn’t end as Ralph tries to negotiate, leading to Jack trying to kill him 
so that he is the only one with power.  
● Power and Corruption 
○ Like the explanation for Quest for Power, once Jack assumes leadership it seems to go to his head 
as he turns the boys in his tribe into barbarians, relying on savagery to survive. They don’t think 
about many of their decisions, only seeing and acting. Such as when Simon returns, he’s so beaten 
and sickly that they immediately think it’s the beast and murder him without a second thought.