Two separate illustrations of an animal head and a fire on a mountain

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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1. In Lord of the Flies, a conflict erupts between Ralph and Jack. Explain how their contrasting views on how life should be conducted on the island lead to their struggle for dominance. Discuss whether this conflict could have been prevented.

2. Select another novel about castaways on an island, such as Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and compare its themes with those in Golding's Lord of the Flies.

3. William Golding wrote a novel, The Inheritors, about a peaceful group of prehistoric people whose community is invaded by outsiders. Compare this novel with Lord of the Flies.

4. Many scenes in Lord of the Flies are terrifying. Discuss how the author uses language to evoke feelings of unease, fear, and terror.

5. The English schoolboys are products of a very strict lifestyle that has been maintained in Great Britain for generations. Research the nature of life in English private boarding schools during World War II, and describe how the boys' life on the island initially mirrors and then diverges from their daily school routine.

6. In Lord of the Flies, Jack becomes a tyrant who incites his followers to act on their darkest impulses. Compare this fictional situation with a real historical event. Discuss who bears the greatest responsibility for the evil in such scenarios—the dictator or the followers.

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