1. ‘Lord of the Flies’
by William
Golding:
Chapter 1
Lesson Objectives:
•To recognise the
context of the novel
•to explore characters
•to identify the key
features of language and
explain their effect on
the reader

2. Look at the images carefully.
These all relate to the novel.
How?
Think for 1 minute then discuss
with the person next to you.

3. Title Translation
“ Beelzebub” a Hebrew word for
LUCIFER
However, the literal translation of “Beelzebub”
into English is LORD OF THE FLIES

4. Who was William Golding?
 Born 19th September 1911,
died 19th June 1993
 ‘Lord of the Flies’ is his
most famous novel
 He studied Natural Sciences
and English Literature at
Oxford University
 He was in the Royal Navy in
WW2 and took part in the
sinking of the German
battleship the Bismarck
 After the war he was a teacher
before his writing career took
off.

5. As a child, Golding had
witnessed WWI, which
was referred to as “the
war to end all wars”
HOWEVER,
22 years later Britain was
again involved in
ANOTHER WAR
to end all wars, which
caused more devastation
than was imaginable

6. On Writing Lord of the Flies
“It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write
after the war when everyone was thanking God they
weren’t Nazis. I’d seen enough to realize that every
single one of us could be Nazis.”
--William Golding

7. ‘Lord of the Flies’
 ‘Lordof the Flies’ has been published in many
different editions.
 Look at the cover you have been given and think
about:
 What aspect of the story do you think is
emphasises?
 Does it give you any clues about where and when (in
history) it is set?
 Does it tell you anything about the characters?

9. Chapter 1:
The Sound of the Shell
 This is an important chapter as we …
 Meet the boys
 Get an idea about the island
 The boys pick a leader

10. Ralph & Piggy
 Using chapter 1, find as many quotes as you can to
describe Ralph and Piggy.
 Record your quotes side by side to highlight the
differences between them.
 Ralph:  Piggy:
 “fair hair”  “knees were plump”
 “bright excited eyes”  “shorter than the fair
boy and very fat”

11. Ralph & Piggy: language
 Piggy’s working class status in comparison to
Ralph’s middle class status is made clear from the
start of the chapter.
 This is done through his incorrect use of English
grammar, for example:
I jus’ don’t talk
“all them other kids” proper like all
them other boys
“We was attacked” do!”
“When we was coming down I looked”
“It wasn’t half dangerous with all
them tree trunks falling”
“Can’t catch me breath”

12. Exam style Question:
 What does Piggy's use of language
suggest about:
 His status at home
 His status on the island
 His status amongst the other boys?
 Supportyour ideas with references to
the text and explain your ideas fully.

13. ‘Lord of the Flies’
by William
Golding:
Chapter 1
Lesson Objectives:
• to identify key
descriptions of
setting and consider
their impact on the
reader
•to explore
symbolism

14. The Island
 What are your first impressions of the island?
 How do the boys react to the island?
 Find quotes to support your ideas.
Utopia? Dystopia?
An ideal and perfect place
or state where everyone An imaginary place where
lives in harmony and everything is as bad as it
everything is for the best. possibly can be.
Wh
y
int hav
thi roduc e I
st e
erm d
?

15. ol of order
s mb at pages 11-13 (in
a y Look
o nch is this edition )
The c
 Writedown the words
and phrases used to
Whoeve describe it by:
r has the  Piggy
conch,
Ral speaRalph ks
ph 
is the  The writer
firs
t to
 Who blows it first? ma
ke
 How does it make him a s ou
feel? nd
with
 How does it affect the t he
c on
other boys? ch

16. The arrival of the
choir
 Lookagain at the
description of the arrival
of Jack and the choir,
page 15 (“Within the
diamond haze of the  Answer this
beach …”) question as a mini-
 What essay, using the
impression
PEE paragraph
does the reader structure to
get of Jack from support your
this section of ideas.
the novel?  Time limit: 5
minutes

17. What might happen?
 Jack says he will be the leader, but the other
boys choose Ralph.
 What might this lead to?
 Explain this scene as an example of
foreshadowing in the novel, in your book.

18. Chapter 1 revision
1. How is Ralph described?
2. How is Jack described? Consider how this can be
symbolic.
3. How is Piggy described?
4. How do they contrast?
5. What role does the conch play?
6. How is Simon introduced?
7. Why is Jack reluctant to kill the pig – the deeper
reason?
8. *What is the effect of the dash, as used in
specific instances in this chapter? (Cite at least
one ex.)

19. Homework:
 Complete the Chapter 1 questions.
 Due: next lesson