Lord of the Flies Lecture Notes

Key Themes and Chapters

1. The Sound of the Shell

• Introduction to Ralph and Piggy.
• Plane crash leaves boys stranded on a deserted island.
• Discovery of the conch shell, symbolizing order.

2. Fire on the Mountain

• The boys establish rules and elect Ralph as chief.
• Importance of the signal fire on the mountain for rescue.
• First signs of division, Jack and his focus on hunting.

3. Huts on the Beach

• Efforts to build shelters by Ralph and Simon.
• Jack increasingly obsessed with hunting.
• Rising fear of the "beast" among the littluns.

4. Painted Faces and Long Hair

• Jack's transformation with face paint, symbolizing savagery.
• Ralph's continued focus on rescue and the signal fire.
• The first successful pig hunt, increasing Jack's influence.

5. Beast from Water

• Littluns' fears about the "beast" from the sea.
• Ralph's struggles to maintain order and focus.
• Piggy's rational attempts to dismiss the beast as imaginary.

6. Beast from Air

• The "beast" is revealed to be a dead parachutist.
• Samneric's fear sparks panic among the boys.
• Jack challenges Ralph's leadership.

7. Shadows and Tall Trees

• Ralph, Jack, and others search for the beast.
• Tension between Ralph and Jack grows.
• The boys' fear intensifies with darkness and unknowns.

8. Gift for the Darkness

• Simon's encounter with the "Lord of the Flies."
• Jack forms his own tribe, further dividing the boys.
• Sacrifice to the beast signifies a descent into savagery.

9. A View to a Death

• Simon discovers the truth about the "beast".
• In a frenzied dance, Simon is killed by the boys.
• The storm and its aftermath symbolize chaos.

10. The Shell and the Glasses

• Piggy's glasses are stolen, symbolizing the loss of insight.
• Ralph's group dwindles as Jack's tribe gains power.
• The conch's influence wanes.

11. Castle Rock

• Piggy's death and the shattering of the conch.
• Jack's complete takeover of the island.
• Ralph becomes an outcast.

12. Cry of the Hunters

• Ralph's desperate escape from Jack's tribe.
• Arrival of the naval officer and rescue.
• The boys' return to civilization, marked by trauma.

Important Symbols

• Conch Shell: Order, civilization, and authority.
• Piggy's Glasses: Insight and rationality.
• Signal Fire: Hope for rescue and connection to civilization.
• The Beast: The inner savagery within humans.
• The "Lord of the Flies": The manifestation of evil and chaos.

Characters

• Ralph: The leader focused on rescue and order.
• Piggy: Intellect and reason, often marginalized.
• Jack: Represents savagery and desire for power.
• Simon: Spiritual and insightful, discovers the truth about the beast.
• Roger: Represents brutality and bloodlust.
• Samneric (Sam and Eric): Represent the loss of individuality.

Quotes

• "We want to be rescued; and of course we shall be rescued."
• "The thing is - fear can't hurt you any more than a dream."

Conclusion

• Lord of the Flies explores themes of civilization vs. savagery, the loss of innocence, and the inherent evil within humans.
• The novel ends with a stark reminder of the darkness that resides within us all.