Allegory

An allegory is a type of story where the lessons the author wants to teach readers are taught by using characters to represent key human and societal characteristics.

Allegory

Each character represents an aspect of human society.
- The story is an allegory.
An allegory a type of story where the lessons the author wants to teach readers are taught by using characters to represent key human and societal characteristics.

Ralph

Ralph represents civilisation and order.
However, he also shows that evil exists within everyone.
- He loses his sense of civility and becomes more savage at the feast when Simon is killed.
Golding uses him to show that all humans have evil and savagery buried within them, trying to get out.

Piggy

Piggy represents intelligence, the positive influence of civilisation, science, logic, and maturity.
He wears glasses, teaches Ralph how to blow on the conch shell, and makes logical, sensible decisions.
When he is killed, it symbolises the complete destruction of civility and common sense on the island.

Jack

Jack represents wildness and violence.
He illustrates the dangers of allowing a dictator to take control, and warns against following anyone who enjoys causing harm to others.
Jack shows how the natural savage nature of humanity can easily escape and grow, with horrific consequences.

Roger

Roger is symbolic of pure evil in the world.
He is only ever shown to cause distress, pain and (ultimately) death in the novel.
He enjoys causing fear and is happy to follow Jack once Jack’s savage nature takes hold.

Simon

Simon represents goodness, morality and innocence.
He sees through the fear of the “beast” and understands the true nature of humanity.
Ultimately, his death shows how fragile the good side of humanity is.

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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