A symbol is something that represents particular themes

and ideas.There are a number of symbols in Lord of the Flies, the first

being:

What does the conch represent?

Who first notices it?

Who thinks of a practical use for it?

Why is this significant? ...

The The conchconch

What does the conch represent?

Rules, order, democracy

Who first notices it?

Ralph

Who thinks of a practical use for it?

Piggy

Why is this significant?

Because they are the two characters who understand the importance of the conch and what it stands for. They fight to retain its use by the group.

Chaos, anarchy, threat, death.

How does Golding use language to convey the threat inherent in the fire started by the children?

By using animal imagery

The signal fire is also symbolic and represents hope.Who are most insistent the fire be kept alight? Who doesn’t care if it goes out?What is the significance of this?

Fire is also symbolic. What do you think it symbolises?

What symbolises clear-sightedness and logical thinking?

Piggy’s glasses

Why is Piggy the only character to wear glasses?

Because he stubbornly refuses to yield to superstition. He has an adult, objective viewpoint that makes him unpopular with ‘them kids’

What is symbolic about the smashing of one of the lenses in Chapter 4?The group are losing sight of their initial objective, which was . .

rescue

Physical appearanceHow do the boys appear on our first encounters with

them?

Fair and attractive. He sheds his clothes rapidly. We sense that, given the opportunity, Ralph would be at one with the island. He is clearly delighted to be there.

Ralph

Overweight and wears glasses, the stereotype of the bully’s victim. Piggy stubbornly clings to his clothing, keeping his windcheater zipped up despite the heat. He is uncomfortable with the situation and clings to the formalities of home.

Interestingly, Piggy is the only one whose hair doesn’t grow.

Piggy

Roger

Roger is described as ‘the dark boy’. He is furtive, secretive.

When we observe his behaviour on the beach, we are told that his hair has grown ‘low on his forehead’, symbolising his retreat from order and rules and the emergence of his primitive, savage nature. Now that he is free from adult rule, he can allow this previously secret side to reveal itself.

Physical appearance

Black and darkness are associated with Jack’s description. He is at the head of a ‘creature’ – his black-clad choir. At first he continues to wear his uniform, his golden cap badge immediately symbolises his leadership. Unlike Ralph, he initially seems at odds with the environment.

Just before his first kill he discovers masks. These symbolise his complete retreat from the rules and order of civilisation.

Jack

The beastThe beast is a symbol that is present throughout the novel, but its form shifts and changes.

The choir, snakes, beast in the sea, the beast from the air, the pig, the tribe.

What is the significance of each of these?

the choir crossing the beach

snakes

beast in the sea

beast from the air

the pig

Simon

the tribeAs the fear of the beast grows, this fear is exploited by those

who wish to gain power. It symbolises human nature, in Golding’s eyes – beastly.

the capacity for cruelty which exists in us all

pursuit of knowledge/temptation

fear of the unknown

hopes disappointed

provision for the future

death of innocence

the worst of human nature