After the plane crashes, Ralph takes over as leader and Jack becomes in charge of food. Ralph, Jack and Simon go off to explore and decide to light a fire to attract a plane. It burns out of control and one of the boys dies. Jack is more concerned with hunting and Ralph more with shelter and finding adults. When Jack makes his first kill, he starts to turn into a savage as well as the other hunters. A fight breaks out between some of the boys and the little boys start to become afraid. One morning some of the boys wake up and see the outline of a dead man with a parachute and think that it is a beast. Ralph and Jack are now at each other's throats and the boys start picking sides. Jack and his boys become savage and make an offering to the beast of a pig's head on a spear. Simon tries to tell the group that the beast doesn't exist but they kill him. The next day Piggy gets killed by a boulder and Ralph is almost killed by spears. Ralph runs from Jack and his followers as they set the forest on fire and Ralph finds himself at the feet of a Naval officer who has come to rescue them.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
I believe that the theme of the novel is learning how to grow up. By not having any adults around, the boys must grow up (or try to grow up) very quickly. They learn the importance of rules. All of a sudden grown ups always telling them what to do doesn't seem so bad. They turn from good boys into savages in only a matter of a few days because they don't know how to grow up that quickly.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The authors tone is vey pessimistic. Everything that happens in the story always seems to lead to something bad. The author doesn't really give us much hope while reading this book.
"There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the 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?”
"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."
“What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us”
4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone. Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.
Tone: All throughout the book Golding makes you think that there is no hope for these boys and so the ending comes as a complete shock.
"What I mean is... Maybe it's only us."
Diction: Golding makes some characters mess up words so a s to remind you how young they really are.
"Sucks to your ass-mar!"
Imagery: Golding makes the beast really come alive and makes you feel as if the beast is haunting not only the characters in the story but you as well.
“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . "
Buddy Comment:
ReplyDeletea)How do the boys learn the importance of rules? (You touched on it briefly, but I would go into more detail.)
Why would the author use pessimism as the the tone of the book? Do you think it would be better/different with an optimistic tone?
You only briefly talked about "The Beast," but (in my opinion) he is a very important aspect... What was your take on how the kids responded to The Beast?
b)Both of our books (Lord of the Flies, and The Kite Runner) deal with the innocence of (a) child(ren)'s innocence being tainted, or taken away. Only difference is, the kids on the island couldn't really help themselves, when Amir made the decision to keep what he saw to himself, and ultimately that's what took the innocence.
Kite Runner and Lord of the Flies both kill off vital members of the plot that shock the narrator and the audience. (KR-Hassan LOTF-Piggy)
Kite Runner and Lord of the Flies both talk about redemption or "becoming good again." (Rahim Khan's comment, "there is a way to be good again" and most of KR plot. LOTF when Piggy dies, he is redeemed by the cleansing ocean waters.)
I have read the novel and found it filled with a lot of symbolism. Including some of the symbolism found in the novel would give others who have not read it a better understanding of the novel. You did a great job on providing specific examples that support the tone of the novel and literary elements/techniques!
ReplyDeleteIn the plot you mentioned Piggy. Who is Piggy and what role does he play? And in the theme you state dhow the boys had turned from "good" to savages. The savage part was mentioned, but in what ways were they good at first. What are some examples that show where and how they changed?
ReplyDeleteJolissa Jiles
p.4