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Year 9

Golding's use of symbolism in 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain the symbolism of the conch and Jack's face paint in the novel.

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New
New
Year 9

Golding's use of symbolism in 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain the symbolism of the conch and Jack's face paint in the novel.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, the conch is a symbol of democracy and civilisation on the island.
  2. Jack despises the conch because it is representative of Ralph's leadership and because it is a threat to his campaign.
  3. The destruction of the conch arguably represents the downfall of civilisation and democracy and descent into savagery.
  4. Jack's painted face could mark the emergence of the real (savage) Jack, who has surrendered to his dark impulses.
  5. The boys are appalled by Jack’s mask because it makes him unrecognisable as human in both appearance and demeanour.

Common misconception

Students think that symbols in a text have to be physical objects that represent ideas.

Symbolism is the use of images, words or nouns to represent abstract ideas or qualities - symbols do not have to be physical objects that can be picked up and held.

Keywords

  • Symbolism - the use of images, words or nouns to represent abstract ideas or qualities

  • Innate - used to describe a quality we are born with - something that is instinctive and natural

  • Bloodlust - an uncontrollable desire to hurt or kill others

  • Appalled - feeling horrified and disgusted

You could get students to create their own visual representations of the symbols in the novel to dual code them.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A copy of the Faber & Faber 1997 edition of 'Lord of the Flies' is essential for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is symbolism?
a brief statement that refers to a character or incident from another text
comparing two things in order to show the difference between them
Correct answer: the use of images, words or nouns to represent abstract ideas or qualities
Q2.
Which of the following symbols represents rationality and logic in 'Lord of the Flies'?
fire
Correct answer: Piggy's spectacles
the conch
the beach
Q3.
What is the conch used for in 'Lord of the Flies'?
hunting pigs
building shelters
Correct answer: calling meetings
Correct answer: deciding who speaks
chopping up fruit
Q4.
is a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting.
Correct Answer: Democracy
Q5.
What colours does Jack paint his face with in Chapter 4 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
Correct answer: red
Correct answer: white
green
Correct answer: black
grey
Q6.
Why was William Golding so interested in man's innate savagery?
his brother was murdered when he was a young boy
Correct answer: he had witnessed it firsthand whilst away at war
he was a psychologist and was interested in where cruelty comes from
he was a teacher and had been bullied by his students

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which character in 'Lord of the Flies' does not respect the conch?
Correct answer: Jack
Ralph
Simon
Piggy
Q2.
What might the conch represent in 'Lord of the Flies'?
evil
savagery
Correct answer: civilisation
Correct answer: democracy
inequality
Q3.
How does Jack undermine the rules of the conch in 'Lord of the Flies'?
he hides the conch
Correct answer: he argues that the rules don't apply on top of the mountain
he steals the conch
he finds another conch and uses that against Ralph
Q4.
What might the black charcoal in Jack's face paint in 'Lord of the Flies' represent?
danger
purity
Correct answer: death
Correct answer: evil
Q5.
Which of the following words is used to describe Jack with the face paint on in 'Lord of the Flies'?
"savage"
"animal"
"alien"
Correct answer: "stranger"
"beast"
Q6.
Match the key words up to their definitions.
Correct Answer:symbolism,the use of images, words or nouns to represent abstract ideas

the use of images, words or nouns to represent abstract ideas

Correct Answer:innate,used to describe a quality we are born with

used to describe a quality we are born with

Correct Answer:bloodlust,an uncontrollable desire to hurt or kill others

an uncontrollable desire to hurt or kill others

Correct Answer:civilised,feeling horrified and disgusted

feeling horrified and disgusted