Lord of the Flies PPT.PPT

The Lord of the Flies “The skull regarded Ralph as one who knows all the answers and won’t tell” (p. 185) Ralph comes face to face with the sow’s head, the symbol for the beast and evil. Notice how Golding describes the skull – it gleams as white as the conch. Golding wants us to associate the two important symbols in our minds as Ralph focuses on the skull. Here we have reason and order vs. irrational evil the conch vs. the sow’s head Ralph vs. Jack. CH 12 (p. 183-202) The Duality of Fire “The fools! The fools! The fire must be almost at the fruit trees – what would they eat tomorrow?” (p. 198) It should be noted that the single repeated wish Ralph had expressed when he was in power was to keep a signal fire going to attract ships. Ironically, it is eventually the uncontrollable fire started by the hunters to kill Ralph that attracts help. CH 12 (p. 183-202) Deus Ex Machina A deus ex machina (Latin for god out of the machine”) is a plot device whereby a seemingly impossible problem is suddenly and abruptly solved with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object. It refers to the conventions of Greek tragedy, where a crane (meckane) was used to lower actors playing gods onto the stage. Modern examples: Toy Story 3 “The Pit and the Pendulum” The Naval Officer – Deus Ex Machina “Fun and games” (p. 200) The officer is a military man and part of the savage business of war. He doesn’t believe that two boys have been killed, and he refers to the Victorian adventure story Coral Island and commends the boys for a “jolly good show” This is the adult Ralph and Piggy were waiting for, and this “grownup” officer is absurdly blind to reality. More… CH 12 (p. 183-202) The Naval Officer (cont.) Right now Golding’s message comes in loud and clear. The officer saved the boys, especially Ralph, from a horrific manhunt. He saved them from the evil in themselves. But the officer is a military officer on a warship. Who will save t