Location & Setting

Test yourself

The Island

Golding suggests that humans eventually damage or destroy everything beautiful anywhere they settle.

The Garden of Eden

The island represents the Garden of Eden – perfect until man’s arrival.
The scar made by the plane shows how the boys immediately affect the island.

Human arrival

Before humans had arrived, the island had been peaceful and good, full of light and with plenty of food.
The arrival of the boys brought scarring, fire, destruction, violence and fear.
Their true human natures irreversibly damage the island.

Savage mindset

When the boys are exploring the island, they soon begin to think of it as something which belongs to them (“their beach”).
This suggests a savage mindset, where basic instincts take hold – in this case, the instinct to claim and protect “their” territory.

Human arrogance

Golding suggests that humanity is quite arrogant.
Humans claim any land they want and believe that they have control over what happens there.
In addition, Golding is suggesting that humans eventually damage or destroy everything beautiful and wondrous anywhere they settle.

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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