Hi, everyone, this is Mr. Chandrapala, and I'm really looking forward to working with you today as we discuss Simon is an incredibly interesting character, and he's treated as something of an outsider within the text, reflecting what we should aspire to be like; in contrast to the barbarism and savagery that Jack and the other boys fall into, arguably.

Golding uses him as a shining example of what humanity could be if we're brave enough.

I'm so looking forward to diving into his story with you today.

Let's get into it.

So our goal for today's lesson is to be able to explain what Simon represents in the "Lord of the Flies." Our keywords include the adjective compassionate, which means to be kind and considerate of others, and the adjective insightful, which means to be intelligent and perceptive.

We see things differently from other people.

We're also gonna be considering the concept of foil characters.

These are two characters that contrast with one another to highlight specific traits and qualities.

We'll also be considering the importance of spirituality, which means being in touch not only with yourselves, but also the world around us too, in a sensitive and intuitive way.

Finally, we'll be considering the adjective ceremonious, which suggests a grand and formal occasion.

So we're gonna start off today by understanding Simon as an outsider.

Let's first begin by asking ourselves: How are we first introduced to Simon? What do we learn about him from our first introduction to him on page 16? I'm gonna ask you to pause the video, read back to his introduction on page 16 in your copies of "Lord of the Flies." And once you've done that, have that discussion.

What do you first notice about how he's introduced? Once you've done that, hit Play.

Some excellent reading, some excellent ideas there, everyone.

So we first noticed that Simon is a part of Jack's choir.

And we're told that he flopped to the ground in a faint.

Jack states that Simon always faints in a very impatient and unsympathetic way, perhaps immediately suggesting that Jack is going to reject Simon in quite a negative way here.

we learned that like Piggy, Simon has some kind of physical vulnerability that makes him susceptible to fainting spells.

How does Golding therefore characterise him as being different from the other boys? Pause the video, have that discussion, and when you're ready, hit Play.

I was thinking primarily about the fact that Simon fainting suggests that he has this physical vulnerability.

And if we think about how Piggy is treated because he is seen as being physically different, Simon gets similarly treated.

The boys are all generally really athletic and young and fit, and therefore anyone who is sort of outside of that expectation is considered weak, is considered less.

Simon venting makes him a candidate as being considered less.

So through Jack being mean to Simon, Golding establishes them both as a sympathetic character and an outsider within the group.

But Simon is an incredibly insightful and perceptive character, more so than the other boys.

But can we think of any of those examples from the text of Simon being insightful, him being able to read the situation differently or him being perceptive.

Pause the video now, listen a moment, and when ready, hit Play.

Some really lovely work there, everyone.

Let's take some feedback.

So you may remember that Simon is able to recognise things that the other boys aren't able to.

And from the very beginning, Simon initially is the only boy to recognise the island's potential to be dangerous and destructive, as he points out that perhaps that island may not be a good one.

Simon is also insightful about the beast, even before he discovers its true identity.

He believes that the boys should be fearful of something before he discerns exactly it is what they fear.

Simon also has innate kindness and compassion.

If something is innate, it comes naturally to someone.

So him having innate kindness and compassion suggests that he is naturally a very kind character.

But who and what is Simon kind to in the novel? How does this kindness make him an outsider in the group? Pause the video, have that discussion with the person next to you, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Some really lovely ideas there, everyone.

So we know that Simon is characterised as kind and considerate of the other boys, particularly the littluns.

When Ralph and Jack ostracise Piggy, Simon is the one that is kind to him, which makes Simon more of an outsider as he's undermining Ralph's example.

Simon is kind and respectful of all living things, including the natural world, but how do we think Simon feels about being an outsider? Can you contrast that with how Piggy feels about being an outsider? Pause the video now, have that discussion, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Some excellent work there, everyone.

So unlike Piggy who strives for acceptance and inclusion, Simon is a self-imposed outsider.

He enjoys spending time on his own and positions himself as being different from the other boys.

He refuses to get involved in the politics of the group; instead, choosing to help out with more humanitarian causes like feeding the littluns.

Simon also physically isolates himself from the group.

He has a tendency to seek comfort in the wilderness of the island away from the other boys.

He has a great love and respect for the island and its beauty.

We're just gonna have a quick check for understanding here.

I want you to pause the video and look at that statement.

Simon is only an outsider because of his physical vulnerabilities.

I want you to select whether that's true or false.

And when you've done so, hit Play.

Really good work there, everyone.

We know that that is false.

He's not only an outsider because of his physical vulnerabilities.

That's almost like the starting point.

But how can we explain that? Is it A: because Simon is an outsider because he betrayed Jack by refusing to join his hunting party and standing up for Piggy, and for this reason Jack ostracises him? Or is it because Simon is actually a self-imposed outsider? Through his fainting spells and physical representation of him being different, his compassion and spirituality also separate him from the other boys.

Pause the video, select A or B, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Well done, everyone.

We can say that it is B.

Whilst Jack, whilst Simon may not work in the same way as Jack and may not listen to Jack's commands in the same way, that's because he is a self-imposed outsider.

He chooses to make very different choices, and therefore that leads to that discordance between himself and other members of the party.

Simon's burial is described differently from many of the others in the novel.

I want you to reread from the word 'He' at the beginning of the last paragraph on page 167 right to the end of chapter 9.

I want you to discuss how you would describe the way in which Simon's body is taken away.

Pause the video now, read through that part of the text, and then think about how Simon's body is taken away.

Once you've done that, hit Play.

Some really interesting ideas there, everyone.

I'm so pleased with how closely a lot of you are reading, making sure to have your pens and hands annotating key parts of the text.

Well done, it's really gonna put you in a good position for later down the line.

Simon seems to be a very spiritual character who is in touch with nature from this part of the text.

The way in which his body is taken reflects this.

I want us to look at some of the words Golding uses in the description of Simon's body being washed away.

We know that smoothed, silver, light, dressed, brightness, silvered, marble, gently, constellations are all linked with this body being washed away.

But I want you to discuss, in your partners or in your wider group or if you're working by yourself, just jotting down answers for each of these questions.

How do we see Simon's spirituality reflected in his burial? And how do we see his respectful relationship with nature reflected in the burial? Why might Golding have given Simon such a dignified burial ultimately in the text? Pause the video, have a look at each of these key words: maybe focus on particular elements or consider patterns within the text.

And when you're ready, hit Play.

Lovely work there, everyone.

We're gonna take some feedback, so make sure to have a different colour pen in hand too that you can add to your notes.

So you might have said that Golding describes Simon's body being washed away ceremoniously and spiritually.

It's as if he is being buried with care and dignity in a ritualistic way rather than just being washed out to sea.

The burial is described almost as nature reclaiming one of its own, or nature looking after Simon in his death.

Arguably, this is because of his deep relationship with his natural surroundings and his great respect for all living things.

The peaceful but ceremonious burial Simon is afforded is in stark contrast to the barbaric and ritualistic death he was subjected to.

This is because perhaps Simon gets a more dignified burial to reinforce his status as an outsider.

It's to show that he was, in some way, special and distinct from the other boys because of his pure heart.

He wasn't just another one of the boys who had wrecked the island.

What colours in the description of Simon's body being carried away though suggest that the burial was almost spiritual? Pause the video.

Have that discussion.

Maybe go back to those keywords that we picked out earlier.

And when you're ready, hit Play.

Really good work.

That's some really good, close reading.

So the colour silver is woven throughout that description, isn't it? We have silver as the adjective and then silvered as the verb.

Silver has connotations of divinity, purity, nobility, as well as this kind of ethereal, otherworldly feel; that suggests or arguably reflects Simon's spirituality.

We're now going to consider Simon as a foil to Jack.

A reminder first: A foil character is one of our key concepts for today's lesson.

So if you haven't got the definition already, you really should write it down now.

Foil characters are two characters that are contrasted with one another to highlight specific traits and qualities.

But in what way are Jack and Simon opposites? Once you've gotten that definition of foil characters into your notes, have that discussion.

In what way do Jack and Simon seem to oppose each other in their nature? Once you've got that in your notes or had that discussion, hit Play.

Really good work there, everyone.

So you may have discussed the fact that whilst Jack is cruel to others, particularly Simon and the littluns, Simon remains kind to others, especially Piggy and the littluns.

So we have the fact that Simon is far more concerned and kind towards those who are figures in need of care.

Whilst Jack prioritises hunting, Simon prioritises making a shelter.

This potentially suggests Jack's more brutal, barbaric nature whilst Simon's more humanitarian or kinder nature.

Whilst Jack wants to be in charge and is really keen in installing this sort of dictatorial mode, Simon is a great team player.

He helps others.

Jack is destructive for his own gratification.

He looks to be quite selfish in his actions, whilst Simon is anything but destructive.

He only uses necessary resources because of his great respect for the natural world.

Jack ultimately has no respect or appreciation for nature, in stark contrast to Simon's respect for the natural world.

Pause the video now if you need to and take any notes that you need from this table for the differences between Jack and Simon.

And once you've done so, hit Play.

Well done, everyone.

Let's keep moving.

So Simon uses nature for his and the other boys' survival, but he never damages anything purposefully and without reason.

But who in the novel damages nature purposefully and without a valid reason? Pause the video now and have that discussion in pairs, and once you're ready, hit Play.

So arguably, Jack frequently damages and violates nature.

He displays the pig's head in a vulgar and undignified manner, and he even sets five to the entire island in chapter 12.

This is again in stark contrast to Simon who explores nature as a way of connecting with himself.

He shows his spiritual relationship with his surroundings.

But why does Golding create Simon as a foil character? What qualities of Jack's is he wanting to highlight and emphasise through using this contrast between Jack and Simon? Pause the video now, have that discussion about the two characters in the novel, and once you've done that, hit Play.

Some lovely ideas there, everyone.

So Izzy was having a look at this question and said, "Well, Jack represents savagery and dictatorship.

He represents the innate evil and brutality that exists within mankind.

Jack's ruthlessness and barbarism are arguably what Golding wants to highlight through creating a gentle and compassionate foil character in Simon." But if Simon is Jack's foil, then what might Simon represent? We know that Jack is linked to savagery and dictatorship, but what is Simon meant to represent in the text? Pause the video, have that discussion, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Some really lovely ideas there again, everyone.

So arguably, Simon represents the innate good that exists within man.

Simon never succumbs to the savagery that the other children resort to.

He arguably is a victim because of his own innate goodness.

He never falls to that level, and therefore maybe was never cut out to survive on the island in this barbaric, savage world.

Let's just quickly have a check for understanding here.

Ralph is also a foil to Jack, as well as Simon.

Do you think that's true or false? Pause the video.

Have a discussion amongst your partner, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Well done, everyone.

We can say that this is false, but can we justify it.

Is it because A: Arguably, Ralph is not a true foil to Jack because the two actually share many similar qualities that separate them from Jack, and that's what separates Jack and Ralph in their intentions.

Or is it because Ralph is not a foil to Jack, but he is a foil to Simon, as the two have very opposite characteristics and traits.

Pause the video, select A or B, and when you're ready, hit Play.

Well done, everyone.

It is A.

Ralph is not a true foil to Jack because there's actually a lot of similarities between them.

They both want to help others, arguably, which is why Ralph ends up siding more with Piggy over time.

He does look to instal democratic leadership.

He understands the value of others.

And that's ultimately what separates Jack and Ralph in terms of their leadership style.

Whilst Jack is more of a dictator, Ralph is far more confident in forming or wanting to form a democratic leadership structure.

So we're just gonna put all of our learning together now.

I want you to discuss the following three questions, either as a group, in your pairs, or working through them individually as questions and noting them down.

So the first question I need you to consider is why do you think Golding writes Simon into the novel? Why is he included in the first place? Then I need you to explain why is his character important.

And what does Simon serve as a reminder of? Izzy suggests: "To help you think about why Golding wouldn't have just made all the boys evil savages." Once you've had that discussion and you have made your notes for each of those three questions, bearing in mind what Izzy has just mentioned to us, hit Play.

What I love seeing about that was the fact that so many of you were referring back to your previous notes and looking at your copies of the text for further guidance.

Let's take some feedback.

So some ideas that we could have looked at is the fact that Simon is arguably a significant character in the novel because he shows us that there is innate good in mankind.

He maintains his purity and innocence throughout the novel, and acts as a caregiver to the younger boys.

He's an important character because he shows us that, in a world of evil, we can still act in a compassionate and civilised manner; and that our behaviour is still fundamentally a choice.

Unlike the other boys, he doesn't fall into the barbarism.

And Golding is using him as an example of what we should aim to look like, what we should aim to do in these times of struggle.

Pause the video now.

Take any notes that you need.

And when you're ready, hit Play.

It's so wonderful seeing so many of you add to your notes and making sure that you've got that as part of your development.

It's really going to help you when you come back to revising this later.

So let's take our summary on the role of Simon in the "Lord of the Flies" as we wrap up today's lesson.

So arguably, Simon is characterised as a self-imposed outsider.

He's thoughtful and insightful and spiritual, and has a deep appreciation and respect for all living things.

His ceremonious burial is arguably symbolic of his close relationship to nature, shown through the fact that he is linked with the colour silver that suggests that he has this otherworldly-like nature.

Simon is arguably used as a foil character to Jack: the two are opposites.

Jack looking to be savage and selfish, whilst Simon is more interested in helping others and in having a close relationship with the natural world.

He's quite selfless.

Simon's character therefore reminds us that there is innate good in mankind, as well as evil, and we don't have to choose savagery.

I've been so glad that you've chosen to spend this hour with me, and I've really appreciated the time that we have worked together on this.

Simon is such an interesting character to look at the novel through, and I hope you have enjoyed this lesson.

Have a wonderful rest of your day.