The Title

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The Title: Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies was written in the early 1950s and was published in 1954.

The Devil

The title, Lord of the Flies, refers to the Devil.
It comes from the Hebrew word, Beelzebub (pronounced, Bee-el-zee-bub).

Beelzebub

Beelzebub was one of the seven princes of Hell.
He was thought to be able to fly, hence he was known as “Lord of the Flyers” or “Lord of the Flies”.

Exploring evil

Golding explores the idea of evil and the Devil in many ways, including the idea of the beast and the way the boys descend into savagery.

Issues in society

Golding uses Lord of the Flies to highlight the issues within society.
The island is a microcosm (a smaller example of the whole world) of the wider world, highlighting inequality and unfairness for select groups of people.

Civilisation vs evil

Golding used the novel to show the struggle between civilisation and evil.
Throughout the novel, the boys struggle against the evil within them, as well as the evil things each of them do.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1The Title

1.1.2Historical Context

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

2Story Analysis

2.1Chapter 1

2.1.1The Sound of the Shell

2.1.2The Sound of the Shell 2

2.2Chapter 2

2.2.1Fire on the Mountain

2.3Chapter 3

2.3.1Huts on the Beach

2.4Chapter 4

2.4.1Painted Faces & Long Hair

2.5Chapter 5

2.5.1Beast from the Water

2.5.2Beast from the Water 2

2.6Chapter 6

2.6.1Beast From the Air

2.7Chapter 7

2.7.1Shadows & Tall Trees

2.8Chapter 8

2.8.1Gift for the Darkness

2.8.2Gift for the Darkness 2

2.8.3Gift for the Darkness 3

2.9Chapter 9

2.9.1A View to a Death

2.10Chapter 10

2.10.1The Shell & the Glasses

2.11Chapter 11

2.11.1Castle Rock

2.12Chapter 12

2.12.1Cry of the Hunters

3Key Characters

3.1Profiles

3.1.1Ralph

3.1.2Piggy

3.1.3Jack

3.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Jack

3.1.5Simon

3.1.6Roger

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Ralph, Piggy & Jack

3.1.8End of Topic Test - Simon & Roger

3.1.9Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Key Concepts

4.1Themes

4.1.1Human Nature

4.1.2Location & Setting

4.1.3Democracy & Dictatorship

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Allegory

5.1.2Foreshadowing

5.1.3Pathetic Fallacy

5.1.4Naming

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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