Lord of the
Flies
Full Notes
, 2
Contents
Table of Contents
English Literature Paper 2 ....................................................................................................................... 3
Quotations - Characters ....................................................................................................................... 4-7
Ralph and Maurice ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Piggy and Roger................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Jack and the Choir ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Simon and the Naval Officer ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Quotations – Themes ........................................................................................................................ 8-12
Civilisation / Democracy / Logic and The Island.................................................................................................................................. 8
Savagery / Violence / Loss of Civilisation................................................................................................................................................ 9
Evil Within Us and Power .............................................................................................................................................................................10
Crowd Mentality, Morality and Innocence Vs. Experience .............................................................................................................11
Friendship / Rivalry, Nature and The ‘Old Life’ ..................................................................................................................................12
Quotations – Symbols ..................................................................................................................... 13-14
The Conch and Fire ..........................................................................................................................................................................................13
The Beast and Masks .......................................................................................................................................................................................14
Meaning of Symbols ............................................................................................................................ 15
Context ........................................................................................................................................... 16-21
Biblical References ..........................................................................................................................................................................................16
Biblical References and Life in the 1950s ..............................................................................................................................................17
World War Two and The Class System ...................................................................................................................................................18
The Atomic Age ..................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Coral Island and Freud ...................................................................................................................................................................................20
Other Texts ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Golding’s Messages .............................................................................................................................. 22
, 3
English Literature Paper 2
2 Hour 15 Minutes Total for the Entire Paper
Literature Paper 2
• Section A: Modern Text – Lord of the Flies (30 marks)
• Section B: Poetry (24 marks)
• Section C: Unseen Poetry (32 marks)
What are the Examiners Looking For?
• Balanced treatment of the passage and the whole text.
• Tight focus on the task.
• Focus on Golding as the writer of the novel. - What methods has he used to shape meaning? What has he
done deliberately?
• Implicit comments about the characters, events, and ideas.
• Subject terminology.
• Use of textual evidence.
• A formal style.
• Specific contextual comments.
What does a Top Band Response Require?
Establish the purpose(s) of the character in the text.
Select precise evidence to support this concept.
Explore how characterization progresses over the course of the text.
Planning
What should you do when you see the question?
1. Read the question.
2. Underline the key terms in the title. Note next to it what aspects of context of the play are relevant.
3. Jot down in rough what you think is the OVERALL IDEA you want to say about Golding’s message – think about this
properly.
What should you look for?
o Imagery first
o Sentence types and speech type – but ONLY IF YOU CAN MAKE A POINT
o Any contrasts between characters
o Similes & Metaphors
o Interesting words with layers of meaning
Structure of the Response
1. Thought-out, thorough introduction
2. Three main points which use analysis to support your argument
a. Context should be included in at least 2 paragraphs
b. One could be a counter argument
3. Conclusion – only if you have enough time
, 4
Quotations – Characters
Ralph
Chapter 1
o “The boy with fair hair” – C1
o “like the Home Counties” – C1
Chapter 2
o “But there isn’t a beast!” – C2
o Repetition emphasises Ralph’s certainty
o [Ralph] “ ‘You couldn’t have a beastie, a snake-thing, on an island this size … You only get them in big countries,
like Africa, or India.” – C2
o Ironic (Africa is not a country) – reminds us that they boys are still young
Chapter 7
o “He pulled distastefully at his grey shirt and wondered whether he might undertake the adventure of washing it” –
C7
o “he flung the foolish wooden stick … saw it hit the great snout.” – C7
o foolish - illustrates the futility of hunting
o “full of fright and apprehension and pride.” – C7
o Conflicting emotions emphasises confusion
o “He sunned himself in their new respect and felt that hunting was good after all” – C7
o “Ralph too was fighting to get near … The desire to squeeze and hurt was over mastering” – C7
o Metaphor - desire and over mastering imply he is no longer thinking for logically
o “Ralph, carried away … grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it” – C7
o [To Jack] “Why do you hate me?” – C7
Chapter 8
o [Jack] “He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief.” – C8
o [Jack] “He’s a coward himself” – C8
Chapter 10
o [About Simon’s Death] “That was murder.” – C10
o Blunt – contrasts with Piggy’s reaction
o “Desperately, Ralph prayed that the beast would prefer littluns. “
Chapter 11
o [to Jack] “You came sneaking up like a thief and stole Piggy’s glasses!” – C11
o Simile – reflects Jack’s cruel nature
o [to Jack] “You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” – C11
o Childlike insults; Jack compared to a beast – he has become the true beast
• “Percival Wemys Madison. The Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants, telephone, telephone, tele-” – C5
• [Percival] “I’m, I’m –” – C12
o Gradually forgotten the address (loosing morality)
Maurice
Chapter 4
• “Maurice had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand.” – C4
• “still felt the unease of wrong-doing” – C4
Flies
Full Notes
, 2
Contents
Table of Contents
English Literature Paper 2 ....................................................................................................................... 3
Quotations - Characters ....................................................................................................................... 4-7
Ralph and Maurice ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Piggy and Roger................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Jack and the Choir ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Simon and the Naval Officer ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Quotations – Themes ........................................................................................................................ 8-12
Civilisation / Democracy / Logic and The Island.................................................................................................................................. 8
Savagery / Violence / Loss of Civilisation................................................................................................................................................ 9
Evil Within Us and Power .............................................................................................................................................................................10
Crowd Mentality, Morality and Innocence Vs. Experience .............................................................................................................11
Friendship / Rivalry, Nature and The ‘Old Life’ ..................................................................................................................................12
Quotations – Symbols ..................................................................................................................... 13-14
The Conch and Fire ..........................................................................................................................................................................................13
The Beast and Masks .......................................................................................................................................................................................14
Meaning of Symbols ............................................................................................................................ 15
Context ........................................................................................................................................... 16-21
Biblical References ..........................................................................................................................................................................................16
Biblical References and Life in the 1950s ..............................................................................................................................................17
World War Two and The Class System ...................................................................................................................................................18
The Atomic Age ..................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Coral Island and Freud ...................................................................................................................................................................................20
Other Texts ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Golding’s Messages .............................................................................................................................. 22
, 3
English Literature Paper 2
2 Hour 15 Minutes Total for the Entire Paper
Literature Paper 2
• Section A: Modern Text – Lord of the Flies (30 marks)
• Section B: Poetry (24 marks)
• Section C: Unseen Poetry (32 marks)
What are the Examiners Looking For?
• Balanced treatment of the passage and the whole text.
• Tight focus on the task.
• Focus on Golding as the writer of the novel. - What methods has he used to shape meaning? What has he
done deliberately?
• Implicit comments about the characters, events, and ideas.
• Subject terminology.
• Use of textual evidence.
• A formal style.
• Specific contextual comments.
What does a Top Band Response Require?
Establish the purpose(s) of the character in the text.
Select precise evidence to support this concept.
Explore how characterization progresses over the course of the text.
Planning
What should you do when you see the question?
1. Read the question.
2. Underline the key terms in the title. Note next to it what aspects of context of the play are relevant.
3. Jot down in rough what you think is the OVERALL IDEA you want to say about Golding’s message – think about this
properly.
What should you look for?
o Imagery first
o Sentence types and speech type – but ONLY IF YOU CAN MAKE A POINT
o Any contrasts between characters
o Similes & Metaphors
o Interesting words with layers of meaning
Structure of the Response
1. Thought-out, thorough introduction
2. Three main points which use analysis to support your argument
a. Context should be included in at least 2 paragraphs
b. One could be a counter argument
3. Conclusion – only if you have enough time
, 4
Quotations – Characters
Ralph
Chapter 1
o “The boy with fair hair” – C1
o “like the Home Counties” – C1
Chapter 2
o “But there isn’t a beast!” – C2
o Repetition emphasises Ralph’s certainty
o [Ralph] “ ‘You couldn’t have a beastie, a snake-thing, on an island this size … You only get them in big countries,
like Africa, or India.” – C2
o Ironic (Africa is not a country) – reminds us that they boys are still young
Chapter 7
o “He pulled distastefully at his grey shirt and wondered whether he might undertake the adventure of washing it” –
C7
o “he flung the foolish wooden stick … saw it hit the great snout.” – C7
o foolish - illustrates the futility of hunting
o “full of fright and apprehension and pride.” – C7
o Conflicting emotions emphasises confusion
o “He sunned himself in their new respect and felt that hunting was good after all” – C7
o “Ralph too was fighting to get near … The desire to squeeze and hurt was over mastering” – C7
o Metaphor - desire and over mastering imply he is no longer thinking for logically
o “Ralph, carried away … grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it” – C7
o [To Jack] “Why do you hate me?” – C7
Chapter 8
o [Jack] “He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief.” – C8
o [Jack] “He’s a coward himself” – C8
Chapter 10
o [About Simon’s Death] “That was murder.” – C10
o Blunt – contrasts with Piggy’s reaction
o “Desperately, Ralph prayed that the beast would prefer littluns. “
Chapter 11
o [to Jack] “You came sneaking up like a thief and stole Piggy’s glasses!” – C11
o Simile – reflects Jack’s cruel nature
o [to Jack] “You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” – C11
o Childlike insults; Jack compared to a beast – he has become the true beast
• “Percival Wemys Madison. The Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants, telephone, telephone, tele-” – C5
• [Percival] “I’m, I’m –” – C12
o Gradually forgotten the address (loosing morality)
Maurice
Chapter 4
• “Maurice had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand.” – C4
• “still felt the unease of wrong-doing” – C4
