Lord of the Flies (Grades 9–1) York Notes

Golding used his experience as a schoolteacher to inform 'Lord of the Flies'. Its central theme of human nature comes out of his wartime experiences.

Many people assumed that only the ‘enemy’ committed atrocities in the Second World War, but Golding came back from the war believing anyone is capable of evil.

The novel shows strict social divisions. Piggy is the cleverest, but is ignored owing to his status. Jack assumes being choir leader should make him chief.

R. M. Ballantyne’s 1858 novel shows how shipwrecked boys Ralph, Jack and Peterkin create a perfect society. Golding’s novel is sometimes seen as a parody of this.

The island represents the Garden of Eden – perfect until man’s arrival. The scar made by the plane shows how the boys immediately affect the island.