Lord of the Flies: The Novel Study

1. Traditional Aboriginal laws and worldviews embrace stewardship of natural resources and restorative models of justice. Examine the traditional Aboriginal view of justice and law. If the boys had applied it to their island society, how would the outcome of Lord of the Flies have changed?

2. William Golding said that “the moral [of Lord of the Flies] is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable”* Consider worldviews of various political systems. How does each system depend on the “ethical nature of the individual” to properly function?

3. Throughout Lord of the Flies, the beast is propped up as an external threat to the boys’ safety. Consider how the boys—especially Jack—use the fear of the beast as a method of social control on the island. How does this portrayal compare to external threats often discussed in contemporary society, such as threats of terrorism, crime, and economic
uncertainty.

4. Much of the failure of the island could be linked to the boys’ failure to embrace responsible citizenship. If citizenship involves both rights and responsibilities, what lessons about rights and responsibilities does Lord of the Flies provide for broader society?

5. The boys are rescued by the British Navy, who are engaged in war on a global scale. Does this suggest that society as a whole is any better or more mature than the boys on the island? What parallels can you see between the boys’ behaviour and the behaviour of nations as a whole? What lessons from the events on the island can be applied to world governance and international law?

6. When the rescuing officer asks Ralph “Who’s boss here?”, he replies “I am” (p. 222). Consider the concepts of political legitimacy. Was Ralph still the rightful leader of the island at the close of the book? If not, when did he lose his legitimate claim to leadership?

7. Ralph never resorted to force to attempt to curtail Jack’s dominance. If there are values to be defended, can force be justified? Compare the idea of pacifism and the idea of force. What attributes does each position have?

8. There are several instances in Lord of the Flies when the boys failed to fulfill their duties, such as when facing the difficulties building the huts, and when the meetings fell into chaos. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of discipline and incentives. Should Ralph have found
ways to discipline boys who failed to uphold the rules? Should he have found incentives for boys who followed the rules? Should he have developed a system that incorporated both?

9. Lord of the Flies only gives a limited portrayal of society. For example, the story takes place on an isolated tropical island. The characters are a heterogenous group of young boys. There is a seemingly unending supply of the basic necessities of life such as food and water. How do these factors limit the lessons that can be learned from Lord of the Flies? With such a limited portrayal of society, can any broader lessons be taken from the book?

10. Who is the Lord of the Flies?

* Quoted in E. L. Epstein, “Significant Motives of Lord of the Flies.” Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to Lord of the Flies, p. 107.