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Lord of the Flies: The Novel Study has been designed specifically for use with Saskatchewan’s Law 30 curriculum. It can stand alone as an innovative way to introduce students to Unit One, Foundations of the Canadian Legal System. But its applications go beyond Law 30. This novel study is also of great use to teachers of English Language Arts B30, and may be of particular interest to teachers looking to implement this book in a cross-curricular unit.
Because this resource was designed to meet the objectives of Law 30, it is not a broad literary interpretation of Lord of the Flies. Instead, its consideration is primarily limited to governance and law-related education. Some suggested links between the curriculum objectives, the novel, and this resource are highlighted below. Curriculum objectives are placed in italics.
The novel study’s content should be considered as introductory—not holistic—approaches to curricular links. Thus, consistent with good teaching, PLEA recommends that teachers use Lord of the Flies: The Novel Study as one part of a diverse library of resources for Unit One of Law 30. To help accomplish this, Saskatchewan-specific law-related resources available from PLEA are also introduced below. All these resources are available at no charge.
Please note that page references are based on the 1958 Faber edition of Lord of the Flies.
Pre-reading: What is Law? and Island Simulation: The Rule of Law
The pre-reading activities are meant to begin thinking processes about The Need for Law, Rule of Law, and Functions of Law. The activities What is Law? and Island Simulation: The Rule of Law will begin students’ consideration about the scope of law in our lives. The island simulation should be completed in small groups.
A second consideration of the island simulation may be useful as a post-reading activity. By doing so, students will have a comparative base to demonstrate what they have learned over the course of the unit.
Chapter One: The Sound of the Shell
With the boys’ arrival on the island, discussion questions address ideas surrounding the Need for Law. It is worthwhile to note that the boys’ society begins as a direct democracy, while Canada is a representative democracy. The questions and readings in this resource do not belabour this point, but instead focus on broader conceptual similarities.
The activity The Conch, The Mace, and Symbols of Governance considers the Foundations of Canada’s Legal System with regard to written statutes’ roots in Westminster-style governance.
Chapter Two: Fire on the Mountain
With the boys beginning to cement how they will live together as a society, discussion questions consider the Sources of Law and Making Laws. Given the boys’ presumptions about the superiority of the English, Law as a Cultural Construct is also touched upon.
Teachers looking to introduce specific breakdowns of constitutional jurisdiction in Canada should check out Government Powers in Canada, lesson two of PLEA’s Municipalities Matter.
Piggy, the Census, and the Importance of Knowledge introduces the role of knowledge in law-making, and can be used as a launching point for discussion of Worldview and its relationship to knowledge and making laws.
Chapter Three: Huts on the Beach
With tensions building in Ralph and Jack’s relationship, discussion questions are largely focussed on Consensus and the Rule of Law.
The activity Freedom, Responsibility, and Law continues consideration of Consensus and the Rule of Law, while introducing how Order and Freedom are balanced when Making Laws.
Chapter Four: Painted Faces and Long Hair
With power struggles and power imbalances evident on the island, discussion questions can be linked to Tensions.
Teachers looking for ways to empower students should check out Democracy in Action: Speak Out!, lesson six of PLEA’s Municipalities Matter.
The activity Freedom and Human Interaction begins deeper examination of how Making Laws must be done in a manner that balances Freedom.
Chapter Five: Beast from Water
With the island descending into chaos and the boys not respecting agreed-upon rules, discussion questions probe Tensions.
Teachers wishing to further explore the boys’ lack of sanitary behaviour and its link to the Functions of Law should check out The Great Stink of London: A Case Study in The PLEA, Vol. 32, No. 2: The Bathroom Barrister.
The activity Consequences: Restitution, Retribution, and Restoration explores rule-breaking on the island, delving into the Foundations of Canada’s Legal System and its Evolution of Codified Law, and the differences between Traditional Aboriginal View of Justice and Law and the Traditional Western European View of Justice and Law.
Teachers looking for more information on the origins of our legal system should check out The PLEA, Vol. 36, No.2: Hammurabi's Code.
Chapter Six: Beast from Air
With the boys’ rush assembly after a sighting of the beast, discussion questions consider basic concepts of Governance.
The activity Constitutions and the Role of the Courts opens consideration of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Entrenchment. Given Jack’s attempts to restrict rights, The Living Law deserves attention as well.
Upholding and Enforcing Laws in the Justice System is introduced through discussion of the courts and judiciary.
Chapter Seven: Shadows and Tall Trees
With Ralph’s need to make decisions as the group pursues the beast, discussion questions return to basic concepts of Governance.
The activity Checks and Balances: Stemming Mob Rule provides a deeper consideration of Making Laws through its examination of where ultimate power lies in Canadian democracy.
Teachers looking to expand understandings of democracy should check out What is Democracy? lesson 1.1 of Our Government Our Election. As well, teachers interested in furthering understandings of creating Statute Law should check out Creating Written Laws in Saskatchewan, lesson 2.2 of Our Government Our Election.
Chapter Eight: Gift for the Darkness
With the mismanagement of the island resources and further breakdown of island governance, discussion questions touch on concepts of the Functions of Law.
The activity Rational Changeover of Government is an intensive look at specific aspects of the Functions of Law, through its examination of the framework for changeover of governments.
Teachers looking to explore the changeover of government in more depth may be interested in The Provincial Election Process, lesson 3.1 of Our Government Our Election.
Chapter Nine: A View to Death
With Jack’s breakaway society gaining form, discussion questions touch on the ideas of Law as a Cultural Construct.
Thea activity Bread and Circuses: Jack’s Offer to the Boys considers the Functions of Laws in relation to their role in facilitating the basic needs of society.
Teachers wishing to enhance understandings of why laws are created to facilitate basic needs may be interested in Public Goods and Services, lesson 1.3 of Our Government Our Election.
Chapter Ten: The Shell and the Glasses
With Jack’s new area around Castle Rock established and fortified, discussion questions can be linked to considerations of Worldview.
The activity Simon’s Death and the Purpose of Criminal Law introduces basic concepts of Criminal Law as well as Upholding and Enforcing Laws through its introduction of some of the key players of the Justice
System.
Teachers wishing to better understand criminal law should check out Teaching Youth Justice.
Chapter Eleven: Castle Rock
With Piggy’s death and the destruction of the conch, the focus of the discussion questions begin to return to The Rule of Law.
The activity Jack’s Detainments and Substantive and Procedural Law consider Jack’s new society and its disregard for Substantive Law and Procedural Law.
For more explanation on the process of arrest, check out Section Two of Teaching Youth Justice.
Chapter Twelve: Cry of the Hunters
With the final collapse of rationality and the rule of law, discussion questions largely relate to The Rule of Law.
The activity Without the Rule of Law also returns focus to The Rule of Law, in light of its breakdown on the island.
Critical Considerations
Possible areas of discussion related to governance and law that stem from the study are brought up in this section. Teachers may wish to use these as the basis for student projects, such as writing activities or presentations.
