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Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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Hello, and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Ms. Watson, and I'm delighted that you've decided to join me today to look and explore chapter 10 of "Lord of the Flies." So you'll need your copy of the novel, and it needs to be the Faber & Faber edition, main edition, March the 3rd, 1997.

So as soon as you've got your book, we'll get started.

So the outcome of today's lesson is that you will be able to explain and explore the key events in chapter 10 of "Lord of the Flies." Let's look at the keywords.

There are five keywords.

They are guilt.

That's the fact of having done something wrong.

And remorse is a feeling of sadness and being sorry for something that you have done, something wrong that you have done.

And it's really important.

You will see there is a distinction in between guilty, which is true, you did it, and remorse, which is how you might feel about it.

And denial.

Now that is an unwillingness to accept that something unpleasant or criminal is true.

Severity.

That is the quality of being very serious.

If something is severe, it is very serious.

And something that is arbitrary is unfair.

It's based on chance rather than a clear plan.

If you would like a little bit more time to familiarise yourself with the keywords, you can do that now.

Pause the video and then rejoin us when you're ready.

So there are two learning cycles in today's lesson.

We're gonna start by reading and understanding what happens in chapter 10.

And then we are going to look at how Jack gains total power.

So little bit of a recap of chapter nine.

I'd like you to discuss what happened to Simon, and how do you think the boys will feel about what happened? Think about this.

How Simon was liked by most of the boys, the really, the truly shocking nature of the act, how people feel when they have done something wrong.

This is where some of the keywords will really come in handy.

I'd like you to pause the video while you have that discussion.

And if you are working by yourself, just pause the video and make some notes.

So welcome back.

Well done.

Wasn't that an interesting discussion? Let me share with you what the Oak pupils said in response to that question.

Sam said that the boys killed Simon in a terrifying act of brutality.

It was as if they had lost their minds, as well as their humanity.

They heard Simon speak, so they knew he wasn't the beast.

They were in a frenzy, but Simon did talk and he did speak out.

And Jacob says that he predicts that they will feel guilt and remorse, but he doesn't know how they will show those feelings, and perhaps they will try to blame each other.

I'd like you to compare your ideas with theirs, and when you've done that, we'll move on.

Now what I would like you to do is to read the beginning of chapter 10.

You're going to need a copy of "Lord of the Flies" for this lesson.

And just another reminder that the edition you need is the main edition, 3rd of March 1997.

I want you to read from the beginning of page 171 to halfway down page 175.

You are going to stop at the paragraph that ends with the word "early." And as you read, I want you to think about your predictions about how the boys will feel about killing Simon.

Were your predictions close to what actually happened? So pause the video while you read, and off you go.

Let's have a check for understanding of what you have just read.

Is it true or false to say that all the boys are in denial about what has happened? True or false? It's false.

That's right.

But I'd like you to be able to justify and explain why it's false.

So is it false because, A, Ralph seems tormented by his role in the killing of Simon.

He resists Piggy's attempts to persuade him out of his guilt.

Or is it B, Piggy refuses to let Ralph use the word "murder," and Sam and Eric are keen to stress that they left the feast early.

Have a think.

Make your choice.

Now after reading this section, this is how the Oak pupils reflected on their predictions.

Sam said, "I am shocked at their lack of remorse.

They don't seem to realise the severity of what they have done.

They seem to be pretending that it didn't happen or that they weren't there." And that is true of nearly all the boys apart from Ralph.

But even Ralph doesn't put up a very strong resistance to Piggy trying to make him not talk about it.

And Jacob said, "It's because they know the severity of what they have done, that they are in denial.

It's human nature to want to seem like a good person even after committing an evil act." Now I would like you to discuss, who do you most agree with and why? In your discussion, refer to the text, take turns to speak and listen to other people's ideas.

And if you are working on your own, just make notes about who you most agree with, and why? Now I would like you to reflect on your discussion and use the following coaching questions to really think about how you took part in that discussion.

Here are the questions.

One, did you change your opinion during or after the discussion? If so, why? Two, was there any textual evidence that was particularly influential in guiding your thinking? Three, did you and your discussion partners agree in your understanding of the boys' responses to their role in the death of Simon? Four, did you personally wait your turn and listen carefully? And five, what did you find most interesting and valuable about the discussion? Pause the video while you reflect on your participation in the discussion, and then when you are ready, we'll continue with the lesson.

So we've read and understood chapter 10.

And now we are going to look at Jack and how he gains power in this chapter.

Let's have a little bit of a discussion.

What do you know about Jack? Pause the video while you record everything that you already know about Jack.

Great discussion.

Great recall.

Let's see what we know about Jack.

We know that he used to be head chorister.

We knew that he always wanted to be the leader.

And we know that he resents Ralph for winning the election to be chief.

And his hunting brings meat for the boys.

And he has formed a new group.

And he exploits the boys' fears to keep control.

So I would like another little bit of a discussion.

Which of these six things you know about Jack shows that he has power? Pause the video while you have that discussion or make some notes.

Okay, welcome back.

It's really fascinating, isn't it, when you start thinking about it.

So these in green, he used to be head chorister.

Jack is used to being in charge and he's very good exploiting the boys' fears to keep control.

And now he has a new group.

And this hunting, this ability to bring a different kind of food and also to get the boys excited about hunting are some of the reasons why Jack has power.

Really good discussion.

Let's move on.

Now I would like you to read from the word "when" on page 175 to the end of the chapter on page 186, and it ends with the word "glasses." And as you read, I would like you to focus on these three points.

How Robert and Roger talk about Jack, Robert and Roger are in Jack's group, and they talk about him in ways that are really very revealing.

What is happening to Wilfred? Wilfred is also in Jack's group.

And what does Jack say about the killing of Simon? You're going to need to pause the video while you read that chapter.

So do that now and off you go.

Okay, welcome back.

I'd like to look at our previous ideas.

Now this is what we previously said about Jack and power, where his power comes from and how he keeps it.

And I'd like you to add some points.

How has he increased his power in the section that you just read? Make some notes if you're working by yourself or have a discussion about how he increased his power.

Pause the video and do that now.

Well done.

Brilliant.

Excellent discussion.

So you might have said something like this, that he gives orders and punishment.

He's acting completely as if he is in charge, and he's really something of a dictator by this stage.

And finally, he stole Piggy's glasses.

He can make fire, and that has always been one of the most important things on the island.

Well done.

Great discussion.

Let's move on.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following statements are true? A, Jack has inflicted an arbitrary punishment on Wilfred.

B, Jack steals Piggy's glasses.

C, Jack invites Ralph and Piggy to join his tribe.

D, Robert and Roger seem to admire Jack.

Which ones of those do you think are true? You ready for me to reveal the answers? They are A, B, and D.

Robert and Roger seem to admire Jack.

They are also frightened of him, but there's definitely admiration there.

And Jack has inflicted his completely arbitrary punishment on Wilfred.

He's had him tied up, and Robert and Roger have no idea why.

Okay.

Let's move on.

So after reading chapter 10, this is what Sam said.

"Jack is a terrifying character.

He seems to have no morals.

He is a bully.

Look at the way he treats Wilfred.

And Piggy has really poor sight, so stealing his glasses will leave him vulnerable.

Jack takes no responsibility for the death of Simon.

I don't understand why so many of the boys stay in his group." Fantastic understanding there from Sam.

He has listed all the reasons why Jack is so frightening, but he doesn't understand why the boys stay with him.

So I would like you to have a discussion about that.

I would like you to help Sam understand why Jack commands such loyalty among the boys.

Little bit of a hint.

You can think about fear, food, and fire.

If you're working by yourself, just pause the video and make some notes.

Off you go.

So welcome back.

And you might have said something like this.

On food, Jack's skill at hunting means that he is the only one capable of providing the boys with food other than fruit.

And they are desperate to eat the meat.

And Jack always makes the meal into a feast, so it's as if they have something to celebrate.

They also enjoy the hunt because it releases their savage feelings and then Jack re-enacts the hunt in the form of the dance.

Jack seems to know what will appeal to people, especially to their worst side.

Really good points there about food.

And about fear, you might have said that he exploits the boys' fear to establish control over them.

He has convinced them that he can keep them safe from the beast, and that is one of the reasons why they gravitate to him.

And then he has this arbitrary punishment of Wilfred, and it's effective.

It's really unfair what he has done to Wilfred, but the unfairness makes the boys scared that they could be next on his list for being tied up.

Giving out arbitrary punishments means the boys are in a permanent state of fear.

Really good.

And you might have said about fire that this is the only thing that was missing from Jack's power.

It's needed to cook the meat and to keep the boys warm at night, so he just takes it.

He has always hated Piggy and he doesn't care how vulnerable this will make him.

He considers the theft an achievement.

And Golding makes it really clear that the stealing of the spectacles brings the final touch to his power and makes him into a real chief.

Now if you would like a little bit of time to compare your ideas with these ideas in detail, please do that now.

Pause the video.

If there are any ideas you would like to challenge, do that now as well.

But make sure you pause the video and compare your answers with these, and then return for the end of the lesson.

Now before we say goodbye, I would like to summarise what you have been learning today.

You have been learning that Ralph, Piggy, Sam, and Eric want to deny the role that they played in Simon's murder.

Jack blames the beast for Simon's death.

He absolves himself of any responsibility.

Jack's tribe attack Ralphs as they sleep and steal Piggy's glasses.

Jack rules his camp through fear and through appealing to the violent side of the boys' characters.

And at the end of chapter 10, Jack feels that he is the true chief.

I'd like to thank you for coming to today's lesson, for your hard work, for your focus, for all your great discussions.

I wish you a brilliant rest of the day and I look forward to seeing you in another lesson on "Lord of the Flies." Bye for now.