In the comment box below please post your essential question, character, four significant passages (brief description of passages and page numbers), visual motif, and four more significant passages (brief description of passages and page numbers). This a way to help each other out.
2.Golding expository letter assignment.
Imagine that you are William Golding.
From his point of view write a letter to the students of Gloucester High School
explaining how a character (or set of characters) and a visual motif contribute to the meaning of the novel*. You will write a single
letter explaining the significance of both the character and the motif.
Support your explanation of the character’s and the motif’s significance by
citing places in the novel where you, as Golding the author, use the
character to develop the novel’s meaning and specific places where
you, as Golding, use the motif to develop the novel’s meaning*. Make sure
you thoroughly and insightfully explain how the parts -- the particular uses of the character(s) & object(s)
-- contribute to the meaning of the novel as a whole*.
[*Think of "meaning of the novel," "novel's meaning," and "meaning of the novel as a whole" as shorter ways of saying "how the novel enacts a response to an essential question--or set of essential questions." What that means is that in the letter you're going to become Golding in order to explain how a character and a visual motif contribute to the development of a response to an essential question.]
Special considerations because you're writing as Golding...
Consider what Golding has said about his mankind and his novel.
When thinking about Golding’s point of view and Golding’s purpose in
constructing the novel, consider some statements Golding has made about the
novel.
“I believe that man suffers from an appalling ignorance of his own nature.”
“I believe that man suffers from an appalling ignorance of his own nature.”
“The theme (of Lord of
the Flies) is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the
defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of society must depend on
the ethical mature of the individual and not on any political system however
apparently logical or respectable.”
For more of Golding's views you'll find his Nobel Lecture at nobelprize.org.
Consider Golding's life.
The following is an excerpt from the Nobel Prize website. (Golding won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983.)
"Taught at Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury. Joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and spent six years afloat, except for seven months in New York and six months helping Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment. He saw action against battleships (at the sinking of the Bismarck), submarines and aircraft. Finished as Lieutenant in command of a rocket ship. He was present off the French coast for the D-Day invasion, and later at the island of Walcheren. After the war he returned to teaching [until 1962], and began to write again. Lord of the Flies, his first novel, was published in 1954."
Consider Golding's writing style, particularly his syntax and diction.
3. Here's a way to get started with the writing...
Thesis
Step 1.
Start with an essential question.
________________________________________________________________________
Step 2. Overall meaning of the novel
Now write a clear, bold, insightful, nuanced sentence (or two) that conveys how Lord of the Flies addresses the essential question.This response to the question will be a statement of the novel's meaning and/or of Golding's purpose. This response will be your thesis. (You can write the sentence from Golding's point of view now, or you could switch it to his point of view when you write a draft of the letter.)
Step 3. Overview of how the character contributes to the meaning
Next write a clear, bold, nuanced statement about how
Golding’s development of the character contributes to the meaning of the novel. (You can write the sentence from Golding's point of view now, or you
could switch it to his point of view when you write a draft of the
letter.)
Step 4. Overview of how the visual motif contributes to the meaning
Next write a clear, bold, nuanced statement about how
Golding’s development of the visual motif contributes to the meaning of the novel. (You can write the sentence from Golding's point of view now, or you
could switch it to his point of view when you write a draft of the
letter.)
Now you have your the main points you will need to develop and support in your letter.
Step 5.
Create a plan.Use the statements above and the evidence you have gathered for the class discussions (plus other relevant evidence) to create an informal outline (or a bulleted sequence) of the ideas and supporting evidence you will need to include in your essay in order to develop and support the main idea(s).
Step 6.
A draft will be due Friday, January 11.
You will self and peer assess the draft in class on Friday.
Step 7.
A final draft will be due Monday, January 14.
Kelly F.
ReplyDeleteA block
Essential Question: Does need for power and control take over reason, and cause humans to neglect their overall goal, which in this case is being rescued?
Jack
Passage 1: “I was going to... meeting.” (Page 31). Here in the first chapter, we see that Jack does not have enough savagery to kill the pig yet. He feels embarrassed that he didn’t kill it.
Passage 2: “I cut the pigs throat... lashings of blood.” (Page 69). Jack is starting to change, and transform into the savage person he eventually becomes. Now that his face is covered with paint, he feels comfortable enough to kill the innocent pig. We see his instinct to kill and of anger start to come out.
Passage 3: “Give me a drink... with the spear.” (Page 150). We see that Jack now has power over many of the boys. In this particular circumstance, Jack is holding a sharpened stick, which shows that his power could have resulted from the boys’ fear. Jack is dividing the group up into two tribes, and forgetting that they all are striving for the same goal.
Passage 4: “Viciously, with full...ran.” (Page 181). Jack has completely forgotten about the overall goal of all of the boys. He is only worrying about himself, and his power. He is turning to violence to advance himself.
The Fire
Passage 1: “There’s another thing... make a fire!” (Page 38). This quote first introduces the idea of the signal fire to the reader. We learn about it’s original purpose.
Passage 2: “We can light the fire again...” (Page 69). This shows that Jack cares more about hunting than being rescued. As the fire becomes less important to everybody, they become more inhumane. Fire symbolizes rescue, and as the fire goes out, the idea of being rescued gets forgotten.
Passage 3: “The fire is the most... out?” (Page 81). This quote shows how Ralph knows what the goal is. He wants everybody to get what they want, which is to be rescued. He is trying to remind everybody of the importance of fire.
Passage 4: “We saw you smoke.” (Page 201). This shows the irony of the fire. Jack’s fire, that was intended to help with the killing of Ralph, is what got the boys rescued. The savagery/need to kill is what got them rescue. It’s ironic because It is the fire of incontrol that got them rescued, whereas the fire meant for that did not.
Arly M.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: “How may the impulse for control cause cruelty?”
Visual Motif: Painted faces
Character: Jack (I shared in class)
The places that involve my visual motif are located on pages 136, 142, 178, and 179.
The first location is on page 136 beginning with, “We’ll raid them and take...” it is where Jack decides to have everyone paint their faces before they attack Ralph and Piggy. Since, Jack wants the fire and the glasses, he orders them to paint their faces. In this case, the paint signifies power.
The second location is on page 142, “I’d like to put on war-paint and be a savage.” Ralph tells Jack and the other boys with the painted faces that the fire is more important than “war-paint”. Ralph connects the paint to war and to being a savage. Thus, it automatically means that the “war-paint” is an attempt at becoming superior to the opponent.
The third location is on page 178 beginning with, “The painted group moved round…” It is where the painted group and Jack all surround Sam and Eric. They huddle and laugh, as if all the power was in their hands and as if brutality made them stronger.
The fourth location is on page 178-179, “He pushed his hair up and gazed at the green and black mask before him, trying to remember what Jack looked like.” This quote is close to the quote I previously said, although it is as important because this is where Ralph no longer recognizes who Jack is behind his mask. Since, Jack has only been concentrated on being superior, he has lost his identity.
Yazmeen S.
ReplyDeleteHow does control effect one's focus on certain objects?
Ralph:
"He caressed the shell respectively, then stopped and looked up." Page 38 ~He is focused on the shell because it represents his power and control.
"'And they keep...shelters were finished?'" Page 50 ~He told everyone to build the shelters but they aren't listening to him. He is focused on finishing them.
'
"'I'm chief. We've got...off you're rockers?'" Page 108 ~He is also focused on the fire because he told everyone to keep it going but they keep letting it go out.
"Ralph tried indignantly...overwhelmingly good." Page 163 ~ He is so focused on the fact that they need fire but is beginning to forget why it is important.
Shelters:
"'If it rains like...because of the'" Page 51 ~They feel like they need the shelters as protection, even though in reality they won't do much to help. They find comfort in that sense of safety.
"'Going to be a ...to do about that?'" Page 151 ~Ralph tried to persuade everyone in the beginning that shelters were important but they didn't seem to agree or care. now he is trying to rub it in their faces that he has shelters and they do not.
"The four biguns... tried for comfort." Page 164 ~Although the shelters were supposed to protect them they still had to try very hard to feel comfortable in them.
"Then the shelter collapsed...out and through." Page 167 ~The only sense of comfort and protect they had was now gone. As was one of Ralph's main focuses.
Christina S.
ReplyDeleteHow do people use symbols of power in a time of crisis?
In class I explained that the character I chose is Piggy and shared the four quotations.
The Conch:
On page 16, Piggy tells Ralph that the conch can be used to call the others and have a meeting.
On page 91, Piggy snatches the conch out of Ralph's hands to tell everyone that he "didn't vote for no ghosts" and asks if they're humans, animals, or savages.
On page 125, Jack blows the conch, but Ralph takes it and begins the meeting. Jack says that he called the meeting, not Ralph, and takes the conch back.
On page 181, Roger's rock smashes the conch into "a thousand white fragments" and pushes Piggy to his death.
Hope W.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: How do items influence people's perception of power?
Roger:
Pg 121; Roger,Ralph, and Jack go investigate the beast,noticed that roger is quite
Pg 135; during a killing dance Roger perceved as vicious
Pg 180; Roger launches the rock at piggy killing him
Pg 190; "roger sharpened stick at both ends."
Clay:
Pg 63; Jack and Roger first put on clay
Pg 68; Jack kills pig due to clay
Pg 171; "he'll be painted" makes Jack feel superior
Pg 200; Naval officer sees painted boys and realizes a war is happening
Question: How does appointed how effect how people act vs. power that is self
ReplyDeleteCharacter: Piggy
Explained in class.
Object: Places of Power
pg. 32: All the boys begin to gather on the platform for the first time.
pg. 126: The boys are once again gathered at the platform and Jack is trying to convince the rest of the boys that Ralph is not a proper chief.
pg. 159: Roger is challenged at Castle Rock because that is what Jack told the guard to do to everybody.
pg. 174: Ralph and the rest of his group head to talk to the tribe at Castle Rock.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question:
Why does one's inner and outer societies lose themselves in the attempt to gain security and control, and how does this affect others?
Character: Jack
Page 53; "'If you're hunting sometimes you catch yourself feeling as if...'" to "'Only I know how they feel. See? That's all.'"
Jack is trying to open up and explain the unfriendliness he feels (in the beginning) in the forest.
Page 135; "The boys drew back, and Jack stood up, holding out his hands." to "...rubbed the stuff over his cheeks."
Jack makes his first kill, and enjoys it.
Page 151; "The littluns began to run about, screaming... Jack leapt on to the sand. 'Do our dance! Come on! Dance!'" through the rest of the scene.
Jacks calms the chaotic tribe buy ordering them to join together in the horrific "Kill the Pig" dance.
Page 160; "The chief was sitting there... A savage raised his hand..."
This is the first place where Jack is no longer Jack, and the boys are no longer boys.
Visual Motif: Conch v. the Painted faces
Page 63; Jack planned his new face... liberated from shame and self-consciousness."
This is the first time Jack puts paint on his face, and already he is amazed and feels free rom his old self.
Page 74; "'Eat! Damn you!'... 'I painted my face--I stole up. Now you eat--all of you--and I--'... 'Jack looked round for understanding but found only respect.'"
Jack is angry when Simon gives his share of meat to Piggy.
Page 91; "And you shut up! Who are you, anyway?'" to "'We'll close in and beat and beat and beat...'"
Ralph has called a meeting because the fire went out, Piggy keeps trying to talk and add reason, but it infuriates Jack.
Page 150; "'I'm chief... I've got the conch' to '...the conch doesn't count at this end of the island--'"
Ralph and Jack are arguing again about who is chief, and over the power/importance of the conch.
Bethany G.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: If society and the impressions of outside forces are taken away, are humans’ cores good, evil, [or undecided]?
Character: Simon
Visual Motif: the beast
SIMON:
Pg. 22 – Simon is introduced at the assembly and has a fainting spell
Pg. ? – Simon finds his secret place in the jungle, away from everyone
Pg. 143-144 – the beast talks to Simon; which is ironic because Simon is one of the only ones in the group whose core seems good
Pg. 151-153 – the boys (Jack’s tribe) becomes almost manic and kills Simon as he comes through the jungle
THE BEAST:
Pg. 35-36 – the first literal mention of the “beastie”, by the littluns
Pg. 135 – the hunt of the pigs and the “raping” of the sow, shows that the beast is in them, and is starting to take over; it also shows that the beast is not tangible
Pg. 180-181 – the tribe becomes primal and animal and kills Simon and Piggy
Pg. 201-202 – the officer at the beach arrives; this part shows that one doesn’t understand the beast, unless one has experienced himself at his most primitive state
Olivia P.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: How does the significant power of the conch become obsolete over the course of the book?
Character: Ralph
Chapter 1, Page 23: Ralph is elected leader of the group, and wins the votes over Jack.
Chapter 2, Page 50: Ralph supplies the huts by building them with Simon.
Chapter 10, Page 157: Ralph runs onto the beach and finds the naval officer.
Chapter 12, Page 200: Ralph is chased onto the beach and runs into a naval officer.
Motif: Conch
Chapter 1, Page 16: Piggy finds the conch and suggests Ralph use it as a way to signal others.
Chapter 5: Jack takes the conch away from Piggy during his talking time.
Chapter 9, Page 151: The conch becomes useless and no longer serves a purpose.
Chapter 10, Page 156: Piggy encourages Ralph attempt to bring back to the conch's power, and regain control of the island.
Katie M.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: How do needs and desires come up against fear?
CHARACTER: Ralph
Pg.42 - Ralph comes up with the idea of creating some type of a signal.
Pg.45 - Ralph and Piggy question their ability to be saved.
Pg.52 - Ralph becomes scared of what the island actually withholds, and fears what he is only capable of.
Pg.79 - The resources that usually come easy are being discovered that it is hard to find, and they need to think wisely about how much they use.
VISUAL MOTIF: Fire
Pg.34 - Piggy clearly expresses how scared everyone is deep down by stating no one knows they are there.
Pg.40 - The truth surfaces about what necessities they actually have.
Pg. 70 - Fear slips into everyone's mind, after a ship went by but didn't see them because the fire went out.
Pg.81 - The importance of the fire is stated when Ralph flips out.
Essential question
ReplyDeleteHow does appearance affect the behavior of a civilization/society?
Ralph
page 109
"he pulled distastefully at his grey shirt and wondered whether he might undertake the adventure of washing it."
at this part of the book Ralph is about to kill a pig and has just got done searching for the beast. They are starting to lose sight of civilization and along with this lost sight their appearances have gotten worse and seem to go hand in hand.
Page 109 "He would like to have a bath, a proper wallow with soap. He passed his tongue experimentally over his teeth and decided a toothbrush would come in handy too."
Ralph is starting to realize how the behavior and lifestyle of a savage is affecting him through his appearance. Perhaps if appearance didn't matter in society or civilization Ralph wouldn't take such notice.
Page 172 "We'll be like we were. We'll wash--" -Ralph
At this part of the book Ralph and his followers that are left; SamnEric and Piggy, are getting ready to go to Jack's tribe so Piggy can ask for his specs back, in an orderly way, with the conch. They seem to want to restore order, like a civilization, and to do so they must wash. This could be a hint about society that appearance does matter to obtain a civil life.
Page 175 "they had tied their hair back and were more comfortable than he was"
Jack and his tribe are acting like savages with painted faces and are being very uncivilized, with their hair pulled back, because they are doing what is comfortable and not caring about appearance. Ralph wanted to do this; pull his hair back, but didn't because maybe he thought it was uncivilized to do so.
Hair
Page 7 "The boy with fair hair"
The boys are still well put together, with their appearances. At this part of the story they are still acting civilized and good appearance seems to go along with civilized behavior.
Page 103 "and looking up at him through the coarse black hair that now fell to his eyes"
At this part of the book the boys are ready to kill, and with the uncivilized behavior Golding seems to be making the point that lack of good appearance means less civilized behavior.
Page 107 "yearned beneath the fringe of his hair"
Ralph and the hunters are looking for the beast. Ralph always seems to notice his hair before doing something uncivilized, that wouldn't happen in a society he is from.
Page 109 "He would like to have a pair of scissors to cut his hair"
Ralph again is about to do something that isn't accepted in regular society and is noticing his hair and appearance, and it seems to bother him. Is it his uncivilized behavior that is truly bothering him?
Essential Question: How does the progression of fear and the eventually hiding of it contribute to the degradation of a society?
ReplyDeletePainted Faces/Masks
Pg. 64: Jack first discovers the liberating powers of the mask with Roger and Bill.
Pg. 175: Ralph notices the freedom accompanied by painting your face and the convenience of tying your hair back.
Pg. 183: Ralph observes that the painted savages aren’t actually his friends but imitations.
Pg. 201: Jack is not identified by his name but his hair and savageness.
Roger
Pg. 22: Roger is first introduced and commented on his sullen behavior.
Pg. 63: Roger is hindered from hitting Henry with a rock by past teachings.
Pg. 180: Roger kills Piggy with the rock on a lever.
Pg. 182: Described having “nameless authority” and threatening Samneric.
Anna G.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: Is intuition, hope and normalcy interlocked within human nature and human instinct?
Character: Simon
Pg 56 – “He came at last to a place where more sunshine fell.”
Simon arrives at a location that seems to be different from the scar
Pg 69 – “Piggy sniveled and Simon shushed him quickly as though he had spoken too loudly in church.”
Simon’s old instincts take over
Pg 85 – “I wanted – to go to a place – a place I know.”
He seems to need a sense of security
Pg 103 – “Simon, walking in front of Ralph, felt a flicker of incredulity.”
Here, disbelief comes through
Pg 128 – “I thought that there might be something to do, something we-…”
He is the type of character to want commonality
Pg 135 – “The butterflies still danced, preoccupied in the center of the clearing.”
The butterflies could represent hope that still lives within Simon
Pg 137 – “The half shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life.”
Pg 154 – “Softly, surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea.”
Cara O.
ReplyDeleteEssential Question: What circumstances or outside forces bring out the instinctual cruelty, and cause one to forget the ability to reason?
Character:
pg 8 Before we know Piggy's name, he is already a voice of reason.
pg 71 Disrespect twards Piggy is related to the natural rebellion people have towards rules/order.
pg 148 One moment where Piggy advises something he wouldn't normally.
pg 156 Another moment where Piggy acts as a child and not an reasoning adult.
pg 181 Piggy's death.
Visual Motif:
pg 16 The conch is identified as a symbol of communication, assembly, and power.
pg 82.. Conch is even respected by Jack, who is cray.
pg 102 Elimination of conch in Jack's world, seen as something that enables Ralph's power.
pg 168 Jack ignores the conch and all that it represents.
pg 181 Destruction of conch.
Zach S.
ReplyDeleteHow does the progression of a character/motif represent twists in the plot?
Simon:
pg. 25 Simon strokes Ralph's arm showing tenderness and them having fun.
pg. 50 Simon looking out of the shelter
pg. 117 Simon volunteers to pass the message along to Piggy and leaves the group
pg. 154 description of Simon's dead body
Rocks:
pg. 27 description of the pink granite cliff
pg. 62 Roger throwing rocks at Henry
pg. 105 the cliff is described as red now
pg. 181 rock hitting Piggy
Diana D.
ReplyDeleteWhat is human nature once society is stripped away?
Jack
p19 “Their bodies, from throat to ankle, were hidden by black cloaks which bore a long silver cross on the left breast… The boy who controlled them was dressed in the same way though his cap badge was golden.”
Enter Catholic schoolboy choir stage beach.
p63-64 “Jack planned his new face… He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger… …the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.”
Jack decides to indulge his creative side and starts painting his face.
p160 “The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The tribe lay in a semicircle before him. The newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background. Roger squatted with the rest.”
Jack gets to proudly rule over his subjects after having Wilfred beaten up. Probably going through pig withdrawal.
201 “A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at his waist, started forward, then changed his mind and stood still.”
Jack decides not to brag to the horrified naval officer of his leadership skills.
Pigs
p31 “They found a piglet caught in a curtain of creepers, throwing itself at the elastic traces in all the madness of extreme terror. Its voice was thin, needle-sharp and insistent…”
Jack gets to see his first pig in pain. Love at first sight, I’m sure of it.
p69 “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
The first time we actually see the choir sing. Too bad it’s about the pig they just slaughtered.
p135 “…The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy and fulfilled upon her…”
The hunt *coughcough* gang rape *coughcough* of the sow.
p144 “…Simon found he was looking into a vast mouth. There was blackness within, a blackness that spread… Simon was inside the mouth. He fell down and lost consciousness.”
Simon gets “eaten” by the Lord of the Flies.
p185 “The skull regarded Ralph like one who knows all the answers and won’t tell. A sick fear and rage swept him...”
Ralph gets the pleasure of meeting the Lord of the Flies in all his conch-resembling glory.
Kirsten S.
ReplyDeleteA Block
Question: How does fear control lack in responsibility?
Character: Ralph
Visual Motif: Fire
Ralph
pg. 22-23: Here Ralph is chosen as chief, given the bulk of responsibility on the island. Though with this responsibility comes some tension between Jack and himself.
pg. 78: Ralph is dealing with being chief, trying to be the best one while struggling with it. “Only, decided Ralph as he faced the chief's seat, I can't think. Not like Piggy.”
pg. 173: Ralph has forgotten briefly what is initial goal was as chief, smoke for a signal to potential boats passing by. Fear of a beast, of Jack and the hunters, and the loss of all hope are getting to him and in the way of what he is supposed to do to help everyone get rescued.
pg. 202: When “Ralph wept for the end of innocence...”. This quote answers the question, for it goes through everything that happened, and what Ralph doesn't have to worry about anymore.
Fire
pg. 81: Here the fire is compared to being alive. Without fire, everyone dies. It shows the importance of it being a signal to others passing by, not just for cooking food or keeping warm.
pg. 95-96: Sam and Eric see a figure fall from the sky in a parachute, which they believe to be the beast. Then they realize the fire has gone out.
pg. 161: The savages have just formed a group and are planning to have a feast. They realize they have no fire, Jack is a little embarrassed at himself, but they are going to steal fire from the others instead.
pg. 201: The naval officer reached the island to rescue the kids because he saw the smoke. The smoke which wasn't lit with the intent to signal for help, but to kill Ralph, the one person who tried to keep the fire going the entire book.
How does the ability to reason affect the foundation of a society?
ReplyDeleteGlasses
“Piggy took off his glasses and blinked at the assembly while he wiped them on his shirt…”, pg 33- the longer the boys are on the island the further they move from civilization. It is as though there visions are clouded. But for piggy, every time he wipes his glasses he sees things better and from a different view in comparison to the rest of the boys.
“His specs- use them as burning glasses!”- pg 40- the specs at this point become a necessity to the society. It allows the boys to be somewhat connected to civilization. They didn’t have to go without fire and they used it as a way to prepare their food.
‘piggy took off his glasses, deeply troubles. “I dunno, Ralph. We just got to go on, that’s all. That what grownups would do”. Pg- Piggy doesn’t want to bother reasoning with the rest of the boys anymore because they are not listening and that is why he is leaving. The rest of the boys have gone far beyond the civilization boundary
“I can’t see no more and I got to get my glasses back…”, pg 170- the glasses gave piggy the bility to reason, without them he is out of his place. He is lost without them. It is interesting too that without the glasses he dies, the glasses kept him alive. After piggy dies the society goes into chaos, showing that the glasses and the one possessing them were important in keeping the siciey in check.
Piggy
“We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting…” pg 15 it is interesting, that piggy’s idea of using the conch is used once a government is established on the island. The conch brings order.
“what are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? Going off- hunting pigs- letting fires out- and now!..” pg 91- piggy sees something that the rest of the boys don’t see. He is the one with reason and intellectuality but the rest of the boys don’t want to listen to him, especially Jack.
“Grownups know things… they ain’t afraid of the dark. They’d meet and have tea and discuss… they wouldn’t set fire on the island. Or lose..” pg 94- Once again piggy is trying to get the boys to realize something. In this scene, he wants them to realize that they have to act like adults, because they are the only ones on the islands and they have to take care of themselves.
“The first thing we ought to have made iwas shelters down there by the beach.. but the first time Ralph says “fire” you goes howling and screaming up this here mountain,. Like a pack of kids!” pg 44- piggy is the voice of reason and he represents an adult but because he is a kid like the rest they don’t respect him therefore they don’t listen to him. it is interesting how he compared the boys to a pack of kids, but really they are literally a pack of kids, but this shows that piggy has chosen to grow up and is frustrated that the others won’t do the same.
How does Power accelerate people from turning from the norms of society, to their instincts of human nature?
ReplyDeleteCharacter-Jack
Motif-places of power
Jack
1. pages 19-21 when Jack first shows up. the reader sees that he is someone who has inserted himself as leader. He has the rest of the chorus carry him in and they are all in discomfort but he does not allow the rest of them to take off their heavy coats until he says so. This is also where he wishes to be called Merridew his last name meaning he wants to be treated like an adult.
2. page 31 when Jack first tries to kill a pig but is unable. This starts him on his cycle of trying over and over to kill a pig. This part shows that he hasn't become a savage yet and that he still feels connected to civilization. Jack feels because of this event that he needs to prove himself.
3. Pages 125 to 127 where Jack forces Ralph out of power and that he is in charge. He says that Ralph isn't being a good leader and that he should be leader. Jack tries for power again, this time getting it. This is because he used fear to get it.
4. 160 is where Jack calls a meeting to get Piggie's glasses. People think that they may have killed the beast when they killed Simon but Jack forces that out of his head because if there is no beast he has no power. Jack has face paint on again showing that he is no longer civilized, and that he is more of a savage.
Places of Power
1. On page 12 is where we see the lagoon for the first time. The lagoon is where all the meetings take place in. This is where all the decisions are made and is where the beast first comes up. When people start to act less civilized and get more afraid Ralph can almost sense a darkness creeping in from the edge of the pool. Showing that civilized places can have fear and human nature creep in and over run them.
2. Page 27 is where we see the mountain top first where we have the fire. The mountain is where hope lies because it is where the fire is and the fire is their way out of the mountain. This is also where they first see the beast and is where as if the beast is acting like the fire that went out of control the fear ran down the mountain.
3. On page 57 the reader sees Simon's place for the first time. This is where Simon has his vision similar how Muhammad had his vision in a cave when he became a profit, and like other religions where the profit was in a certain place when they realize that they are profits.
4. on page 107 is where you see castle rock for the first time the place where Piggie dies and where Jack makes his fort. Jack the first time says that this would be a nice fort a place where they can be safe and have fun still being a kid, but then it becomes his castle and is where he leads everyone from the norms of society.
What effect does fear have on a society and the individual?
ReplyDeleteOn page 100, Samneric try to describe the beast, "There were eyes-" "-teeth-" "-claws-" "Followed us" "slinking behind trees."
This is important mostly because we all know that a man caught in a parachute can't be following them through the woods. It was too dark for them to make out any details of claws or teeth or eyes, as they only saw the parachute filling and deflating. As a related note, page 103 is the first time they are referred to as "Samneric", after they tell the others of what they experienced.
On page 158, they give Ralph an excuse for not being present at Jack's dance. "So did we-" "-we left early-" "We were tired". Here they're denying they're participation in Simon's murder by covering up their actions with lies that they're telling themselves, just like with the beast's appearance. They are trying to hide the beast within them.
Page 178 is probably one of my favorite quotes, but I can't seem to figure out why exactly Samneric were chosen and what it means for their character(s?). "Samneric cried out of the heart of civilization."
Ralph comes to ask the twins what Jack's tribe is going to do, and, startled, they say in response to Ralph, "We thought it was-" -We didn't know it was-" They can't bring themselves to say the word 'beast'. This happens many times, where they think something might have been the beast, but they don't say it outright. There is this mental strain of having to put up with this unknown force and it's all they can think about.
Clothing
Page 1, "The fair boy stopped and jerked his stockings with an automatic gesture that made the jungle seem for a moment like the Home Countries."
Ralph's movement is described as "automatic". It's something he does without thinking, something that civilization has taught him.
Page 19, "...dressed in strangely eccentric clothing... Square black cap... throat to ankle, were hidden by black cloaks, which bore a long silver cross... hambone frill." Here Jack's choir is described to be wearing hot clothes that do not suit the weather, but they still refuse to take them off. They are dressed all in black.
Page 76, "The wind pressed his grey shirt against his chest... the folds were stiff like cardboard, and unpleasant; noticed too how the frayed edges of his shorts were making an uncomfortable, pink area on the front of his thighs."
The things he's conditioned to and knows have become uncomfortable and foreign to him. His clothes are now uncomfortable and making it difficult to walk with the marks on his thighs.
Page 183, "...not Bill. This was a savage whose image refused to blend with that ancient picture of a boy in shorts and shirt."
Here, Bill is described as a savage, and Ralph can't see something so animal-like wearing clothes. Clothes mark people who are civil, but Bill is definitely not.
Jordan W.
ReplyDeleteHow does fear contribute to, or promote a loss of innocence?
In class I explained that I chose the littluns and my 4 quotations.
Simon's Place:
P. 56
Simon is going into his hiding spot for the first time in the book. The place is described as having more sunshine, and flowers and butterflies, giving it a sort of innocent nature. Simon uses it as a hideout, a place for him to go and be in peace.
P. 85
Ralph asks the group if anyone went out at night due to a littlun seeing something in the trees. Simon admits to having gone to his place, and this is the first time in the book that there is any sort if darkness associated with the peaceful place.
P. 135
The hunters are killing the sow in Simon's place; tainting it. The place is no longer the innocent place that it started out as due to the loss of innocence in the boys. A fear of the unknown drove them to killing.
P. 143
The beast, or pig's head, or Lord of the Flies is talking to Simon, making him scared. The place had always been a getaway from all of the frightening aspects of the rest of the island. It's sort of like no place is safe for anyone anymore, as the most peaceful part of the island is ruined due to the brute savages.
Kevin R.
ReplyDeleteLittluns
What does the different ways that characters treat the “littluns” say about the use of power in a society?
Pg.52 – Jack and Simon build huts on the beach for concern of the littluns growing fears.
Pg.60 – Some of the littluns build sandcastles on the beach that are soon destroyed by Roger and Maurice.
Pg.101 – The boys are about to leave camp to hunt the beast Ralph is concerned about who will watch the littluns while Jack finds this unimportant.
Pg. 115 – After the boys pretend hunt Jack suggests they use a littlun one next time.
Piggy’s specs
How do Piggy’s specs show the affect that science/technology and knowledge have on a society?
Pg.40 – The boys use Piggy’s specs to capture sunlight and make a fire.
Pg.71 – Piggy calls out Jack for his mistake then Jack beats up Piggy cracking one of his lenses on his specs.
Pg.168 – Jack and his tribe go to the beach to beat up Ralph and his remaining tribe to steal Piggy’s glasses to make a fire.
Pg.180 – Piggy tries to reason with Jack and his tribe in attempt to get his specs back.
Ivy G.
ReplyDeleteA Block
Essential Question: What destroys the honorable aspects of unity or converts the honorable into disgraceful attributes of unity?
The character/s motif is: Samneric
-The two places in which Sam and Eric are addressed as two different people and where they blend into one being represents the change in unity, consistency and familiarity; p.63 “They’re twins.. Sam and Eric” and p.158 “Samneric”
-The rupture/corruption in unity that changes it from honorable to dishonorable, one defies the other; p.187 “Eric was silent but Sam tried to do his duty”
-Familiarity and companionability in honorable traits of unity; p.97 “You remember Waxy?... boy you are driving me slowly insane”
-Chapter X; p.158 “We left early, too” (the excuse in the murder of Simon)
The visual motif is: The Ocean
-p.77 “lost himself in deep waters”
-p.98 “leaves were roaring like the sea”
-p.105 “whispering down, down…forest” The ocean connects through personification with the island; even though the ocean is one unit, the separate sides of the island have different expressions of the water. Even the lagoon p. 105 “protected them from the Pacific”
-p.181 “the sea white and pink… the body of Piggy was gone.” Piggy’s death in the ocean; can’t swim even if he was conscious. Ocean also takes out the beast and Simon
James K.
ReplyDeleteA Block (Sorry Completely Forgot About This)
Question: What changes do the boys go though that makes them capable of killing?
The Character: Jack
-"I was going to" said Jack. He was ahead of them and they could not see his face. "I was choosing a place. Next time--! p.31
-"We have rules" he cried excitedly p.33
-"The head is a gift for the beast." p.129
-"Rodger with a sense of dleriment, leaned all his wight on the lever." p.18
Motif: Pigs
-The fat boy glanced over his shoulder, then leaned toward Ralph. He wispered. "They used to call me Piggy" Piggy is depicted and his very name reflects that as a pig. p.11
-"I was going to" said Jack. He was ahead of them and they could not see his face. "I was choosing a place. Next time--! p.31
-"The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy" p.135 Mother pig getting killed in Simon's special place.
-Ralph staring at the lord of the flies. p.185
Kacie Q.
ReplyDeleteA Block
I was absent for a few days and didn't get a chance to check the blog. Sorry it's late.
Character:
Piggy
-"You try, Ralph. You call the others." p. 16
-"I got the conch," said Piggy in a hurt voice. "I got a right to speak." p. 44
-Piggy saw the smile and misinterpreted it as friendliness. There had grown up tacitly among the biguns the opinion that Piggy was an outsider, not only by accent, which did not matter, but by fat, and ass-mar, and specs, and a certain disinclination for manual labor. Now, finding that something he had said made Ralph smile, he rejoiced and pressed his advantage. p. 65
- "Grownups know things," said Piggy. "They ain't afraid of the dark. They'd meet and have tea and discuss. Then things 'ud be all right--" p. 94
Motif: Glasses
-Ralph moved the lenses back and forth, this way and that, till a glossy white image of the declining sun lay on a piece of rotten wood. Almost at once a thin trickle of smoke rose and made him cough. Jack knelt too and blew gently, so that the smoke drifted away, thickening, and a tiny flame appeared. The flame, nearly invisible at first in that bright sunlight, enveloped a small twig, grew, was enriched with color and reached up to a branch which exploded with a sharp crack. The flame flapped higher and the boys broke into a cheer. (p. 41)
-Piggy handed Ralph his glasses and waited to receive back his sight. p. 162
-From [Jack's] left hand dangled Piggy's broken glasses." p. 168
-"I'm going to him with this conch in my hands. I'm going to hold it out. Look, I'm goin' to say, you're stronger than I am and you haven't got asthma. You can see, I'm goin' to say, and with both eyes. But I don't ask for my glasses, not as a favor. I don't ask you to be a sport, I'll say, not because you're strong, but because what's right's right. Give me my glasses, I'm going to say--you got to!" (p.171)