Teaching Lord of the Flies

The classic dystopian novel by Golding on human nature, I think should be read independently. I made provided vocabulary and review options for the student to use at their will. This book is typically taught in 9th-grade literature classes, but the homeschool 7th-grade student is an advanced reader and currently studying ancient American civilizations and will study the political spectrum next week.

Week 1: Introduction, review allegory + Who is Beelzebub?
Read Chapters 1-2
(Quizlet: Vocabulary Chapters 1-4, Read Chapters 1-2, Chapter 1 Review, Chapter 2 Review )
Week 2: Read Chapters 3-7

(Chapter 3 Review, Chapter 4 Review, Chapter 5 Vocabulary/ Review, Chapter 6: Vocab/ Review, Chapter 7 Vocab./Review, Chapter 8 Vocab./Review)

Week 3: Read Chapters 8-12
(Ch. 9: Vocabulary/Review, Chapter 10: Vocabulary/Review, Chapter 11-12: Vocabulary/Review

Symbols: 
The Beast, Ralph, Jack, Piggy, The Conch, The Signal Fire, Piggy's Specs, The Lord of the Flies

Themes: Light vs. Darkness, Savagery vs. Civilization in Human Nature, Democracy vs. Totalitarianism, Bullying, Betrayal, The Loss of Innocense, Leadership, 


REVIEW/ TEST
Biblical Allegory or Anti-Religious Critique?

Writing: Answer in a paragraph.

1.   What is the importance of the setting in the novel? 
2. What is the meaning of the title?
3. Chapter One, from ‘Within the diamond haze of the beach something dark was fumbling along.’ (page 15) to ‘Oh, Piggy!’ (page 17). How does Golding suggest that relationships may break down at this early point in the novel?
4. The children stranded on the island are all boys, and female characters are rarely discussed. How does this matter for the novel?
5. By Chapter Three, the boys are divided into two groups: the older boys and the younger boys or "littluns." What role do the littluns have to play? (Think about the book's central theme of Savagery vs. Civilization)
6. What is the significance of the conch shell?
7. What is the significance of Piggy's glasses?
8. Jack gains power over many of the boys by exploiting their fear of the mythical beast. How does Jack manipulate the myth of the beast to legitimize his authority?

Essay Questions: 

Choose one of the following and answer the prompt with at least a five-paragraph, MLA formatted, typed, double-spaced essay.  Include at least one quote from the book in each body paragraph, properly cited according to MLA guidelines.
You should make an outline next after you have decided on a topic. It will help you plan out your paper. It is a great way to find the best order to present your supporting details.

1. How does Golding vividly portray Ralph’s growing understanding of human nature in the novel?
2. How does Golding make Simon such a moral character?
3. Discuss the significance of the names of, for instance, Sam and Eric, Piggy, and Simon. What does the character's name say about him and his significance? Use external sources as necessary.
4. Describe the religious imagery in Lord of the Flies: the forces of good and evil, a fall from grace, a savior, and eventual redemption. How does Golding’s depiction of the island compare to the Garden of Eden?
5. Defend and/or criticize Ralph’s actions as leader. What were his motivations? Did he contribute to the tragedy in any way? Could he have acted to prevent any of the deaths? What would you have done differently in his situation?
6. Support the argument that Simon is a “Christ Figure.”  Do you agree or disagree with the idea that Simon is a Christ Figure?  Discuss the development of this character from the frail, shy, fainting kid to the well-developed character that faces the Lord of the Flies and the beast, eventually being sacrificed as a result.
7. The conch is an all-important symbol in the novel.  It is almost a character in its own right.  Trace the development of this symbol.  How does Golding develop this shell into this symbol?  Discuss what it means, and the effect it has on the group of boys, from the first assembly to its eventual destruction. You may want to include in your discussion its relation to characters like Ralph, Piggy, or even Jack. 

 Use direct quotes from the novel to prove what you are talking about. It is really a great idea to jot down exact samples after you have an idea of what you will be writing your paper on. The introduction should give some background information on what the piece was about so that the reader can understand the rest of the paper even if they had never read it before. The conclusion will restate the thesis from the introduction and hit on the main reasons once more. It should wrap the paper up and never discuss new topics.

RESOURCES:
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/lord-of-the-flies.cfm
https://www.homework-online.com/lord-of-the-flies/themes.html
https://essaybasics.com/blog/10-possible-questions-on-lord-of-the-flies/
https://www.gradesaver.com/lord-of-the-flies/study-guide/essay-questions