Lord of the Flies (Cameron McLellan)

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Lord of the Flies (Cameron McLellan) by Mind Map: Lord of the Flies (Cameron McLellan)

1. Motifs/Themes

1.1. Biblical ideas, specifically the crucifixion of Jesus and martyrdom as a whole.

1.1.1. War by atomic means/war as a whole, referenced several time throughout the story, notably by Piggy in the beginning in regard's to the fate of Ralph's parents and by the fate of the deceased man in the parachute.

1.1.1.1. Deprecation of morals and societal traditions. Mentioned further in the irony section.

2. Rhetorical Devices

2.1. Personification, in a large part of Simon's hallucination, personifying the lord of the flies (The pig on the pike) as something within each and every person.

2.1.1. Foreshadowing, especially given Jack's bloodlust on page 63, with lines such as "Look we've killed a pig-we stole up on them-we got in a circle-". This is eerily similar to the later bloodlust and madness he experiences.

2.1.1.1. Irony, mostly near the end as their rescue is due to a fire, but one that goes rapidly out of control, unlike Ralph's method of controlled smoke signals, further adding to the deprecation of rules /morals throughout the story.

3. Summaries

3.1. The group of boys become marooned upon the island, ranging from near teenagers to "little-uns". Ralph gains leadership by way of the conch.

3.1.1. Ralph and Jack descend into conflict, over leadership among other things. Jack begins to show a fervor for killing with the sow's death.

3.1.1.1. Simon dies, following his interaction with the metaphorical lord of the flies. He is killed brutally, leaving Piggy, Simon, and several others as a last bastion of morals.

3.1.1.1.1. Piggy tragically dies, floating out to see as Ralph's "world" breaks down due to Jack's action. Following his death, and the fire the nearly consumes the island; they are rescued by a man who is astonished at the rate at which they turned to savagery

4. Characters

4.1. Piggy, a heavyset and likely foreign boy with asthma, setting him off as different from the British schoolboys he is marooned with. His intelligence only further alienates him.

4.1.1. Ralph, a titular "hero" of the book, cemented by his leadership, use of the conch, and attempts to maintain order on an island devoid of it.

4.1.1.1. Jack, a cruel boy possessing several skills such as hunting and proficiency with spears or knives. Later attempts to usurp leadership from Ralph, and succeeds.

4.1.1.1.1. Simon, a boy of peculiar nature matched only by his frailty. Shortly after discovering the "lord of the flies" (a hallucination) he perishes terribly. Acts as a symbol for martyrdom.