This document discusses how William Golding presents the theme of degeneration in his novel "Lord of the Flies". It explores how Golding uses foreshadowing at the start to suggest Ralph has already begun to degenerate from civilization. It also examines the changing character of Jack and the gradual degeneration of the assemblies as ways Golding shows the boys' decline. Finally, it discusses how Golding parallels early and late events and descriptions to illustrate the degeneration over the course of the novel.

1. 'Things are breaking up. I
don't understand why'

6. Explore the ways in which
Golding presents the theme
of degeneration in Lord of
the Flies

11. How?

12. Foreshadowing at the start of the novel: Has Ralph already
degenerated?
The character of Jack
The assemblies
The death of Simon
Symbolism
Description of island/weather
The ending: They are not ‘recued at all’

14. From the very opening pages of the
novel, it is clear that Golding is
suggesting that the character of Ralph
has already degenerated towards
savagery and away from the customs
and conventions of civilisation.

15. The changing character of Jack is vital
to our understanding of degeneration
in the novel.

16. The slow, gradual and dramatic
degeneration of the assemblies is
crucial to our understanding of the
text and Golding’s methods.

18. Ralph waved the
conch. “Shut up!
Wait! Listen!”

19. Jack seized the
conch.

20. Piggy cradled the
conch.

21. "Piggy and Ralph, under the
threat of the sky, found
themselves eager to take place
in this demented but partly
secure society. They were glad
to touch the brown backs of the
fence that hemmed in the terror
and made it governable."

22. "Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves
eagerto take place in this demented but partly secure society.
They were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in the terror and
made it governable."

23. "Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves
eager to take place in this
dementedbut partly secure society. They were glad to touch the brown backs
of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made it governable."

24. "Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the
sky, found themselves eager to take place in this
demented but partly securesociety. They were glad to touch the brown backs
of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made
it governable."

25. Structural Awareness
• This book is 225 pages long.
• You need to show that you are aware of how
Golding parallels events to show the changes
in the boys.
• How is he using mirrored events and
descriptions to illustrate degeneration?

26. “And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking
at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.”
He held the conch before his face and glanced round
the mouth.
“Then I’ll give him the conch.”
“Conch?”
“That’s what this shell’s called. I’ll give the conch to
the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”
[…]
Jack was on his feet.
“We’ll have rules!” he cried excitedly. “Lots of rules!
Then when anyone breaks ‘em - ”
p. 31-2 – Jack’s initial reaction to the
idea of rules.

27. p.99 – Beast from Water
“The rules!” shouted Ralph, “you’re breaking the
rules!”
“Who cares?”
Ralph summoned his wits.
“Because the rules are the only thing we’ve got!”
But Jack was shouting against him.
“Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt! If
there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and
beat and beat and beat -!”
He gave a wild whoop and leapt down to the pale
sand.

28. “We’ll have rules!” he cried
excitedly. “Lots of rules!
Then when anyone breaks
‘em - ”
“Bollocks to the rules! “

30. What is GOLDING
doing?

31. Topic sentences

32. Unpack the quote

33. Focus on individual
words

34. Look for
alternative
meanings

35. “The shell was
interesting and
pretty and a
worthy plaything.”

36. What are you
writing towards?