Monday, June 20, 2011

**Spoiler Alert** Do Not Read This Post If You Haven't Finished The Book Yet

The Brit. Lit. text we will be using in the fall defines allegory as: A narrative work or drama in which almost all the characters, settings, and events are symbols representing abstract ideas and in which the overall purpose is to teach a moral lesson. In the last post I mentioned symbolism and how almost all events, actions, objects, and characters seem to represent something larger, but let’s look at the “big picture”.  If we look at the story as an allegory, we can assume that the boys’ island, as previously stated is that microcosmic society Golding has created. The actions of the boys emulate those of the adults in the world they were forced to flee in the evacuation plane.  Ralph and Jack detach forming two separate governments (some have speculated each is the Axis and Allied forces from the WWII time period) these opposing governments begin a war, similar to the adults.  There is confrontation and death in the story just like the adult world they have left  behind.  At the end, the boys are rescued by the naval officer offering a seemingly unrealistic ending to the savage reality the boys have created.  Again, at the end, there is a sense of irony when the British Naval Officer asks if the boys have been having a war, and then replies, “I should have thought that a pack of British boys – you’re all British aren’t you? – would have been able to put up a better show than that – I mean -”.  This is ironic because as a reader we find ourselves questioning who will save the adults involved in the war from themselves.  Although the ending of the book is hopeful toward the boys who have been saved, what does it say about the possibility of saving mankind from ourselves?

Friday, June 10, 2011

Symbols Symbols Everywhere, But What Do They Mean?

No doubt that as you read through Lord of the Flies, you were aware of the obvious use of symbolism Golding incorporated into the text.  But what do they mean, and how does the understanding of these symbols help to gain a greater sense of the meaning of the text as a whole?  Let's first look at some of the symbols: fire, the conch shell, the island, and Piggy's glasses.  At the start of the novel Piggy's specs are clear and he is described as wiping them off early in the story.  The clarity of Piggy's glasses is reflective of the clarity in thought of the boys.  The older boys realize the need for rules, order, and some sort of system to manage the basic needs necessary for survival on the island.  The glasses also serve a purpose in their use for creating fire.  The glasses become less clear as the story progresses, and are eventually smashed, as is the "government" the boys establish.  (For those of you who haven't read the ending, I won't tell you what happens to them at the end of the story). 

What do you think the other symbols in the story might represent? What about the boys - what qualities do each represent?  Are these reflective of roles in society?  What other objects become symbols in the story?

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Lord of the Flies

No doubt you have all started Lord of the Flies.   As you read through this book, I will be curious to read your thoughts.  What I most love about this book is that it can be read on two levels. First, it is an adventure story of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island.  Second, Golding comments on issues of human nature and society.  Each character represents the make-up of society and mankind.  The island serves as a microcosmic view of society. Think about the following:
  • What qualities do each boy represent? (Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Roger, Simon, the littleuns)
  • How does the society the boys have created emulate the society of the adult life they left? (think about why the boys were evacuated and the time period the novel was written)
  • What happens to mankind when we are left without the rules and laws of society and no one to enforce them?
That should be a good list to get you started! I welcome your questions and responses! MA