Lord of the Flies (Grades 9–1) York Notes

The beast is called ‘Lord of the Flies’, a translation of Beelzebub – a biblical name for the devil. Other symbols include: conch, glasses, fire, island.

Piggy’s speech, e.g. ‘we was’, reveals his social status as lower than the other boys’, while Jack’s shows his aggression, telling Piggy, ‘You shut up!’ (Chapter 2, p. 46)

The island’s beauty and danger are shown right from the start through detailed description and imagery, e.g. ‘The shore was fledged with palm trees.’ (Chapter 1, p. 4)

Piggy’s real name is never revealed. ‘The littluns’ and ‘Samneric’ show individual identities are lost. Only two boys’ surnames are given.

Golding uses animal imagery throughout, e.g. to describe the fire (Chapter 2, p. 44). As the boys become more savage, they are compared to animals.