Quote Character Theme Analysis Context or overarching
commentary
“Piggy, who in this Piggy The verb ‘irrelevance’ demonstrates Piggy’s perceived insignificance and When at oxford, Goulding’s
context was an value. It underscores the social dynamics and power struggle among the professors regarded him as a
irrelevance” boys on the island, illustrating how certain individuals may be marginalized social inferior as he spoke with
or dismissed based on their perceived lack of utility and the pursuit of a Wiltshire ‘twang’ and not an
immediate, instinctual goals. Piggy is ostracized in the novel due to his upper-class oxford English
asthma, lower class and physical attributes by the other boys on the island, gentleman.
emphasizing the lack of value they attribute to his logical thinking and
intellectual contributions
“The pink lips of / Personification of the conch having lips, mimicking when it speaks of order. The novel is an allegory,
the mouth” Although the conch is little, when you blow it, it's loud. Therefore, despite meaning the characters and
the boys being little they can make a BIG Impact. In literature, the color pink objects have symbolic
is used to convey playfulness and innocence, contrasting with the darker, meanings – the conch = order
more chaotic elements that emerge later in the play
“The creature was The choir The verb ‘marching’ refers to soldiers in warfare (already using militaristic “I had seen enough to realize
a party of boys, boys language) – link to Goulding’s experience in WW2. The hyperbole of the that everyone of us could be
marching creature over exaggerates the anxiety of the boys causing tension and natis”
approximately in suspense. The party of the boys can also represent a political standpoint. Showing that even though this
step” However, the choice of using the noun “creature” hints and the primal and is innocent, it will soon turn
untamed nature that will unfold as the story progresses, highlighting the into evil and foreshadows
contrast between the initial semblance of order and the eventual descent violence
into chaos
“One of the boys Simon Simon is emasculated. His introduction to the reader is embarrassing and Simon is a typical boy, but
flopped on his anonymous, with him being labeled as ‘the boy who faints’. In Victorian lacks respect from the other
face” literature, fainting was a classic feminine response to hardship, giving Simon boys due to his effeminate
feminine qualities. Furthermore, the weak verb, ‘flopped’ hints at his features including fainting far
perceived nature, not masculine like Jack or Ralph from that of Ralph or Jack who
embody typical features of the
masculine ideal of the 50’s
“Let’s have a vote” The boys The immediate and enthusiastic exclamative "Yes!" indicates an initial While leadership is an
“Yes!” eagerness among the boys to participate in the democratic process. At this essential theme to the novel,
“For chief” stage, there seems to be a willingness to engage in a fair and organized there are no perfect ways to
method of choosing a leader. The boys champion a democratic society. lead because Goulding
Whereas Jack wishes for a dictatorship, so there are already conflicting ideas. believed human beings always
There is a possible decent and conflict between the choir boy as Rodger inherently ‘mess things up’
defies Jack’s dictatorship.
, “There was his Ralph The boys value a masculine leader who has physiological strength. Not only is If you look attractive, there is
size, attractive Ralph powerful, but he also has the conch (a symbol of power). In the a physiological assumption
appearance” broader context of the novel, this description may also serve as a that you would be nice (based
commentary on the superficial nature of leadership selection. It could on Victorian Physiognomy).
highlight how, in the absence of established criteria or qualifications, Therefore attractiveness =
individuals are sometimes chosen based on external qualities rather than implicit trust and privilege.
their ability to lead effectively.
“His specs – use Piggy Goulding uses violent and intimidating verbs to emphasize piggy’s perceived When at oxford, Goulding’s
them as burning weakness. The boys don’t acknowledge piggy’s worth, value or ideas (they professors regarded him as a
glasses” simply use piggy) which evokes pity from the reader. This quote refers to social inferior as he spoke with
… “surrounded” … Piggy's glasses, which have a practical use beyond vision correction. The a Wiltshire ‘twang’ and not an
“snatched” ….” significance of Piggy's glasses extends beyond their intended purpose, upper-class oxford English
elbowed” symbolizing intelligence, resourcefulness, and civilization. LINK TO SOCIAL gentleman.
CLASS
“The boys lay, The Boys Goulding uses a simile to show the boys are starting to descend into This could possibly link to the
panting like dogs” savagery. This uses animalistic imagery – connoting wildness, theory of regression,
uncontrollability and something that doesn’t possess human qualities. This stipulating that without
then progresses to sheer exhaustion as depicted in the quote, this may be proper societal expectations,
indicative of the toll the harsh environment and the struggles for survival are humans can devolve into
taking on the boys. It contributes to the overarching theme of the loss of primitive states
civilization and the descent into a more primitive and savage state.
“After all, were not Jack Dramatic Irony as Jack does descend into savagery. The boys (as the book In a broader context, Golding
savages. Were the progresses) forget whatever notion of ‘English’ they are. The statement may be commenting on the
English, and the reveals a false sense of superiority based on nationality. The boys, despite potential for human beings,
English are the being English, are not immune to the descent into savagery that unfolds on regardless of their cultural
best at everything” the island. This highlights the novel's broader theme that human nature, background, to succumb to
regardless of cultural background, is susceptible to darker instincts under destructive impulses when
certain conditions. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the societal structures break
precariousness of civilization and the need for self-awareness and collective down.
responsibility to maintain a semblance of order
“Them kids. The Piggy Piggy uses a lot of interrogatives to exert ‘some’ power. He is questioning The quote reflects Golding's
little uns. Who the morals and logic of the group and its leader – highlighting the boys' pessimistic view of human
took any notice of impulsive nature. By ‘using vulnerable verbs such as ‘fell’ and ‘clutched’ nature and his belief that
‘em? “Fell against shows piggy’s desperation due to the boy's action = he has a moral without a conscious effort to
the rock and conscience uphold civilized values,
clutched it” individuals are prone to
succumb to their more savage
instincts.
commentary
“Piggy, who in this Piggy The verb ‘irrelevance’ demonstrates Piggy’s perceived insignificance and When at oxford, Goulding’s
context was an value. It underscores the social dynamics and power struggle among the professors regarded him as a
irrelevance” boys on the island, illustrating how certain individuals may be marginalized social inferior as he spoke with
or dismissed based on their perceived lack of utility and the pursuit of a Wiltshire ‘twang’ and not an
immediate, instinctual goals. Piggy is ostracized in the novel due to his upper-class oxford English
asthma, lower class and physical attributes by the other boys on the island, gentleman.
emphasizing the lack of value they attribute to his logical thinking and
intellectual contributions
“The pink lips of / Personification of the conch having lips, mimicking when it speaks of order. The novel is an allegory,
the mouth” Although the conch is little, when you blow it, it's loud. Therefore, despite meaning the characters and
the boys being little they can make a BIG Impact. In literature, the color pink objects have symbolic
is used to convey playfulness and innocence, contrasting with the darker, meanings – the conch = order
more chaotic elements that emerge later in the play
“The creature was The choir The verb ‘marching’ refers to soldiers in warfare (already using militaristic “I had seen enough to realize
a party of boys, boys language) – link to Goulding’s experience in WW2. The hyperbole of the that everyone of us could be
marching creature over exaggerates the anxiety of the boys causing tension and natis”
approximately in suspense. The party of the boys can also represent a political standpoint. Showing that even though this
step” However, the choice of using the noun “creature” hints and the primal and is innocent, it will soon turn
untamed nature that will unfold as the story progresses, highlighting the into evil and foreshadows
contrast between the initial semblance of order and the eventual descent violence
into chaos
“One of the boys Simon Simon is emasculated. His introduction to the reader is embarrassing and Simon is a typical boy, but
flopped on his anonymous, with him being labeled as ‘the boy who faints’. In Victorian lacks respect from the other
face” literature, fainting was a classic feminine response to hardship, giving Simon boys due to his effeminate
feminine qualities. Furthermore, the weak verb, ‘flopped’ hints at his features including fainting far
perceived nature, not masculine like Jack or Ralph from that of Ralph or Jack who
embody typical features of the
masculine ideal of the 50’s
“Let’s have a vote” The boys The immediate and enthusiastic exclamative "Yes!" indicates an initial While leadership is an
“Yes!” eagerness among the boys to participate in the democratic process. At this essential theme to the novel,
“For chief” stage, there seems to be a willingness to engage in a fair and organized there are no perfect ways to
method of choosing a leader. The boys champion a democratic society. lead because Goulding
Whereas Jack wishes for a dictatorship, so there are already conflicting ideas. believed human beings always
There is a possible decent and conflict between the choir boy as Rodger inherently ‘mess things up’
defies Jack’s dictatorship.
, “There was his Ralph The boys value a masculine leader who has physiological strength. Not only is If you look attractive, there is
size, attractive Ralph powerful, but he also has the conch (a symbol of power). In the a physiological assumption
appearance” broader context of the novel, this description may also serve as a that you would be nice (based
commentary on the superficial nature of leadership selection. It could on Victorian Physiognomy).
highlight how, in the absence of established criteria or qualifications, Therefore attractiveness =
individuals are sometimes chosen based on external qualities rather than implicit trust and privilege.
their ability to lead effectively.
“His specs – use Piggy Goulding uses violent and intimidating verbs to emphasize piggy’s perceived When at oxford, Goulding’s
them as burning weakness. The boys don’t acknowledge piggy’s worth, value or ideas (they professors regarded him as a
glasses” simply use piggy) which evokes pity from the reader. This quote refers to social inferior as he spoke with
… “surrounded” … Piggy's glasses, which have a practical use beyond vision correction. The a Wiltshire ‘twang’ and not an
“snatched” ….” significance of Piggy's glasses extends beyond their intended purpose, upper-class oxford English
elbowed” symbolizing intelligence, resourcefulness, and civilization. LINK TO SOCIAL gentleman.
CLASS
“The boys lay, The Boys Goulding uses a simile to show the boys are starting to descend into This could possibly link to the
panting like dogs” savagery. This uses animalistic imagery – connoting wildness, theory of regression,
uncontrollability and something that doesn’t possess human qualities. This stipulating that without
then progresses to sheer exhaustion as depicted in the quote, this may be proper societal expectations,
indicative of the toll the harsh environment and the struggles for survival are humans can devolve into
taking on the boys. It contributes to the overarching theme of the loss of primitive states
civilization and the descent into a more primitive and savage state.
“After all, were not Jack Dramatic Irony as Jack does descend into savagery. The boys (as the book In a broader context, Golding
savages. Were the progresses) forget whatever notion of ‘English’ they are. The statement may be commenting on the
English, and the reveals a false sense of superiority based on nationality. The boys, despite potential for human beings,
English are the being English, are not immune to the descent into savagery that unfolds on regardless of their cultural
best at everything” the island. This highlights the novel's broader theme that human nature, background, to succumb to
regardless of cultural background, is susceptible to darker instincts under destructive impulses when
certain conditions. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the societal structures break
precariousness of civilization and the need for self-awareness and collective down.
responsibility to maintain a semblance of order
“Them kids. The Piggy Piggy uses a lot of interrogatives to exert ‘some’ power. He is questioning The quote reflects Golding's
little uns. Who the morals and logic of the group and its leader – highlighting the boys' pessimistic view of human
took any notice of impulsive nature. By ‘using vulnerable verbs such as ‘fell’ and ‘clutched’ nature and his belief that
‘em? “Fell against shows piggy’s desperation due to the boy's action = he has a moral without a conscious effort to
the rock and conscience uphold civilized values,
clutched it” individuals are prone to
succumb to their more savage
instincts.
