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Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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Discussion Topic

The genre of Lord of the Flies

Summary:

Lord of the Flies is a novel that falls under the genre of allegorical fiction. It combines elements of adventure, psychological drama, and social commentary, exploring themes of human nature, societal breakdown, and the loss of innocence through the story of boys stranded on a deserted island.

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What genre is Lord of the Flies considered?

The technical literary term for a type of book is "genre." The term "genre" involves various types of conventions, including style and subject matter, for example—so, scholars tend to talk about how literary works participate in several genres. While some works, such as popular romances or hard science fiction, may adhere strictly to one set of generic conventions, Lord of the Flies has elements of several genres.

First, it is a novel. This means that it is a long fictional work written in prose (rather than verse). The characters are described using exposition and also engage in dialogue—they are not represented purely by actors speaking in dialogue, as in a drama.

Next, Lord of the Flies is sometimes considered a young adult novel, as it is a story about a group of schoolchildren which is often assigned as reading in schools and oriented toward a young adult...

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audience, although its complexity and artistry make it rewarding adult reading as well.

Since it was published in 1954 but set in World War II, the book can also be considered a historical novel.

Finally, one can argue that it is an allegory, in which the island and the children are not the "real" subject of the novel but are instead symbols for forces in the greater, real world.

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Lord of the Flies is considered to be a fictional allegory.  An allegory is a work of literature that functions entirely as a symbol for some other idea.  The characters, setting, and other details in the work are all symbols that function together to develop another idea. 

Critics have suggested that Lord of the Flies may be read as an allegory in political, social, religious, and psychological terms.  From the political perspective, the novel represents the conflicts between countries and militaries during the second world war.  On a social level, the novel represents societal and governmental hierachies and the power struggles that are inherent in such hierarchies.  From a religious perspective, the novel may be an allegory for the Garden of Eden.  Finally, from a psychological perspective, the novel represents the overall human struggle with inherent evil and desire.

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