Leon, you did a wonderful job of showing the meaning of the novel through this picture. I think it was a great choice as many symbols and themes in the novel that are hidden in the text are brought to light in this picture. What I liked about your picture choice was that this picture was abstract, but could still clearly show the main ideas and messages. I agree with your interpretation that the pair of eyes at the top of the picture has a connection with eyes of the boys. I can see how it shows the nature of savagery in the boys and their struggle as they tried to stay civilized.
You made many well thought out connections to the author's message. However, you could also add in more connections to the actual events that you have drawn your conclusion from. For example, you mentioned that ''the beast towers above then all, symbolizing that the "beast" in human nature is lurks within all...." so you could give examples of what kind of 'evil' the boys have done. This could then tie in with the actual text and events in the novel. Overall, I think you did a really good analysis of the picture. All your ideas are clearly stated and are very well thought out. Great Job!
http://lordofthefliesclassic.blogspot.ca/2013/04/picture-1.html#comment-form
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Response to Viji's Blog: Quote 1
Viji, I thought that the quote you chose really highlights the
tone of the novel. It really represented the turning point in the novel. I
think that you did a really good job on describing the events and actions
surrounding this quote. It defined what this chapter was about and the
transition in the boys. You explained what had happened and what caused the
boys to lose control, but I think you could expand on how this affected the way
things progressed. For example how had the experience changed Ralph or Robert
on an emotional level?
http://lordsoftheflies.blogspot.ca/2013/04/quote-1.html
I agree that the events are a result of trauma and stress. You
could see that even Ralph who was usually calm and in control, had become just
as swept up in the moment as Jack or any other boy. However I think that you
could elaborate on what kind of challenges they had faced that had caused them
so much stress and trauma. You said that it was because "...the constant
fear of a beast was getting to them..." but you could also explain the
relationship between the boys. How Jack had become obsessed with hunting and
Ralph disproved of this so they would constantly argue. This would
further emphasize how strong the fear and stress was really affecting them
considering even Ralph had given into the urges.
I thought the connections you made between this quote and the
Hunger Games really showed that you really understood and thought about the
meaning of this quote. Your opinions are logical and are supported by text from
the book. Overall I think that the flow was really good and I absolutely
enjoyed reading your response to the quote.
http://lordsoftheflies.blogspot.ca/2013/04/quote-1.html
Response to Neloy's Blog: Piggy's Journal
Your journal entry is well written. It really gives the reader a sense of what is happening through Piggy's point of view. It is clear what is happening and at what point this journal entry is written. You have incorporated a lot of the scenarios mentioned in the novel, which makes this entry seem more credible. I do think you could give a little more detail on Piggy's thoughts that could foreshadow what is happening in the next few chapters. This would be a good way to express your own ideas on what caused the events to happen the way they did. It would also help the reader connect with what he is feeling.
Your choice to write a journal entry on Piggy is understandable. You give reasons that "...he is the one that handles things with brains..." so you could give more examples that would explain how he has contributed in such ways. The response was good, but you could expand a bit more on how this character is vital to the development of the story. Overall it you did a great job, and I enjoyed reading your journal entry and response.
http://lordofleflies.blogspot.ca/2013/04/journal-entry-3-piggy.html
Your choice to write a journal entry on Piggy is understandable. You give reasons that "...he is the one that handles things with brains..." so you could give more examples that would explain how he has contributed in such ways. The response was good, but you could expand a bit more on how this character is vital to the development of the story. Overall it you did a great job, and I enjoyed reading your journal entry and response.
http://lordofleflies.blogspot.ca/2013/04/journal-entry-3-piggy.html
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Glossary
efflorescence: 1. a flower, the process of blooming 2. the greatest point, at the height of something
"It was clear to the bottom and the bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral.
uncommunicative: 1. not talking or giving out information 2. not responding
"He passed his tongue across dry lips and scanned the uncommunicative forest. Then again he stole forward and cast this way and that over the ground".
Although this word is quite common, the way it is used in Lord of the Flies is different. Usually uncommunicative is used to describe a person or an animal but here, it is used to describe the island. It makes the statement even more powerful.
contrite: 1. an expression of regret or remorse. 2. the felling of guilt and sorrow from a sin
"Simon's contrite face appeared in the hole"
mimicry: 1. to mimic or imitate someone else for entertaining purposes 2. resemblance to one another
"Jack's voice sounded in butter mimicry".
swathe: this word can also be spelt as swath 1. to wrap or enclose something 2. covering something in layers of material
"Ralph was already clambering over the first smashed swathes of the scar".
"It was clear to the bottom and the bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral.
uncommunicative: 1. not talking or giving out information 2. not responding
"He passed his tongue across dry lips and scanned the uncommunicative forest. Then again he stole forward and cast this way and that over the ground".
Although this word is quite common, the way it is used in Lord of the Flies is different. Usually uncommunicative is used to describe a person or an animal but here, it is used to describe the island. It makes the statement even more powerful.
contrite: 1. an expression of regret or remorse. 2. the felling of guilt and sorrow from a sin
"Simon's contrite face appeared in the hole"
mimicry: 1. to mimic or imitate someone else for entertaining purposes 2. resemblance to one another
"Jack's voice sounded in butter mimicry".
swathe: this word can also be spelt as swath 1. to wrap or enclose something 2. covering something in layers of material
"Ralph was already clambering over the first smashed swathes of the scar".
Sam's Journal
We have been on this for so long, I don't even know what day it is anymore. I really miss mum and dad, but at least I have Eric. The other boys cry at night, I can hear them crying and screaming at night. They used to be cries for mum but now I think they are from nightmares.
Ralph and Piggy keep telling us that the 'beastie' is not real but I am not really sure. The 'littluns' really think so and I am beginning to wonder so myself. I used to feel safe around Ralph but nowadays, I am not sure even Ralph is really sure of himself. At the beginning, Ralph would always say there is no beast but now it is really just Piggy. Not that people really listen to him, so he doesn't really count. Jack seems to think he can kill the beast. He says he knows where it is hiding, but no one really knows what the beast looks like. No one really listens to use and sometimes this is frustration. Jack always talks about hunting and Ralph keeps insisting on keeping the fire. Then there is Piggy, he just wines, it actually does get annoying after a while. The rest of the 'bigguns' don't really know what to do. The choir hunts, and the 'littluns' just play, but what about the rest of us?
I thought it would be more fun on the island. More time to play and have fun, now that there are no adults to tell us what to do. I think it ma be worse here. There is nothing to do, no books, no games. At first we played on the beach and in the water. That was kept us entertained for awhile but now, we are all just tired and dirty.
Eric and I are tending the fire right now.We are suppose to take shifts as one of us sleeps while the other stays awake. It was Eric's turn to stay awake, but somehow, he still ended up as the one asleep. It is eerily quiet at night. I wonder whats is happening everywhere else on the island. I can hear the wind howling and sometimes I think I hear other noises, but I have no idea what they are. I really hope we get rescued soon. The fire is a good idea, but what if something happens and we are stuck on this island forever?
When Jack began to gain power, this feeling of safeness is weakened. Sam and Eric did end up joining Jack's tribe even after Jack tortured them. It shows how most people will "cheer for the winning team". As soon as they no longer felt safe with Ralph, their support weakened.
Ralph and Piggy keep telling us that the 'beastie' is not real but I am not really sure. The 'littluns' really think so and I am beginning to wonder so myself. I used to feel safe around Ralph but nowadays, I am not sure even Ralph is really sure of himself. At the beginning, Ralph would always say there is no beast but now it is really just Piggy. Not that people really listen to him, so he doesn't really count. Jack seems to think he can kill the beast. He says he knows where it is hiding, but no one really knows what the beast looks like. No one really listens to use and sometimes this is frustration. Jack always talks about hunting and Ralph keeps insisting on keeping the fire. Then there is Piggy, he just wines, it actually does get annoying after a while. The rest of the 'bigguns' don't really know what to do. The choir hunts, and the 'littluns' just play, but what about the rest of us?
I thought it would be more fun on the island. More time to play and have fun, now that there are no adults to tell us what to do. I think it ma be worse here. There is nothing to do, no books, no games. At first we played on the beach and in the water. That was kept us entertained for awhile but now, we are all just tired and dirty.
Eric and I are tending the fire right now.We are suppose to take shifts as one of us sleeps while the other stays awake. It was Eric's turn to stay awake, but somehow, he still ended up as the one asleep. It is eerily quiet at night. I wonder whats is happening everywhere else on the island. I can hear the wind howling and sometimes I think I hear other noises, but I have no idea what they are. I really hope we get rescued soon. The fire is a good idea, but what if something happens and we are stuck on this island forever?
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Sam and his twin brother Eric are often known as Samneric, like one person, because they do everything together. They were part of the older boys known as the 'bigguns' and they usually were the ones that were suppose to keep watch of the fire. If the fire went out, then it was their responsibility. Sam always seeks comfort in Eric and vice versa. They seem to need the moral support and the reason they supported Ralph was because they felt safe. Ralph was so sure that they would be rescued and he convinced the other boys so too. This provided them with a sense of security.When Jack began to gain power, this feeling of safeness is weakened. Sam and Eric did end up joining Jack's tribe even after Jack tortured them. It shows how most people will "cheer for the winning team". As soon as they no longer felt safe with Ralph, their support weakened.
Pictures
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
When there is a visual, many details that that are usually overlooked can be seen. Readers also tend to be more attracted to media which have pictures and colours rather than something with a lot of text. Having a visual along with text can really help the reader understand the text and make connections between the picture and text. Text can sometimes be very rigid while a picture leaves room for the viewer to interpret the meaning themselves.
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Piggy's spectacles represent wisdom, and knowledge.The spectacles were used to start the first fire on the mountain. Then when Piggy suggested they bring the fire down to the beach, the spectacles were used once again. The fire is really important because it is their only hope of getting rescued and without fire, they can't cook the pig and they wouldn't have light and warmth in the dark. Without glasses, Piggy can't see either so when Jack stole their fire and the spectacles, he left Piggy handicapped and left Ralph and the others helpless too. They couldn't start a fire without the spectacles. The only way the camp would be able to survive was for Ralph to go to Jack and ask for them and this gave Jack something to hold over Ralph. It gave Jack even more leverage than before. This is part of the reason why Ralph eventually lost all his power.
Jack had tried another time to forcefully take the spectacles from Piggy. The last time, Jack had shattered one of the lenses. This shows that without laws and people to enforce these laws, a society will not be able to prevail. In the end, brute force will triumph logic and knowledge.
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This picture belongs to abc media.
This picture, is clearly a picture of the plane crash that resulted in the boys being stranded on this island. There was nothing any of the passengers on the plane could have done anything to prevent it. They were in the middle of the results and to the rest of the world, they were just simple casualties that contributed to a greater cause. They were not soldiers, simply innocent school boys, but they still had to suffer form decisions made by their superiors. In a sense, this plane was their death ship which carried them to an ultimate end. Everything the boys had to go through was because of the war. If there had been no war, the boys could have been all safely at home with parents tucking them into bed every night.
It was also another way for Golding to deliver his message that there was evil in everyone. The boys had based their miniature society on the society they were raised in. As Piggy said, "We did everything just the way grownups would have Why didn't they worked. The answer is actually in their faces. The society run by grownups had resulted in a nuclear war, so by trying to copy everything the grownups did, they were ultimately setting themselves up for failure. It was never bound to work even if the circumstances had been better.
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The lord of the flies is what this whole novel was about. It was about the inner savageness and evil of men. The boys should have been afraid of the beast, and they were, for the most part of the novel. It was only when Jack set his mind to kill the beast, did the mood change. He was no longer afraid of the beast, he was only more eager to kill it than before. This change prompted a series of events, that eventually corrupted their society. For example, by trying to hunt the beast, they accidentally killed Robert
I chose this picture because it represented the boys' decline to savagery. The sow on a stick was meant as a peace offering to the beast. It seemed as if the boys no longer wanted to kill the beast, and instead they were going to worship it. It also made the hunters think they were invincible of sorts and that the beast could not hurt them. They never once thought that by thinking that way, they were in fact, turning into the beast itself.
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The island was first seen as something pure. It represented the innocence in the boys. The beauty of this island had blinded the boys at first sight and they were all en captivated by it. It was the perfect place to have an adventure without parents, or so it seemed. When stories of the beast were introduced, the description of the island turned sinister as well. Only Simon was able to still enjoy the nature of the island. He was constantly roaming the island and visiting a place where he could relax and enjoy the serene nature. Then after he was killed, no one was level head enough to figure out that there was no beast. The island soon became more and more scarred. The forest fire destroyed half the island, and was described as "an animal unleashed by the boys eating and growing."
The burning fire was an metaphor of the island turning into Hell. The burning of the forest could have symbolized the final loss of innocence in the boys. I think it was a vital part to the novel and really helped prove Golding's message. In the novel, this was the moment when the reader realized that they could not be helped even if theses boys were to return to civilization.The evil had finally consumed them just like how the island had been consumed by fire.
Piggy's Journal
The island is a mess! None of the boys want to do any work. Jack just wants to hunt all day and the 'littlus' just want to play. Alas, there are still so many things we have to do. We have to build shelters, keep the fire going and keep our selves well organised. How else are we going to get rescued? There is no time to run off and play in the forests as Jack so often wishes to do.
I thought that on this island, I would have a fresh start. Nobody knew who I was so I might actually be able to make friends. I was wrong, everything is still the same as before. I thought I could trust Ralph when I told him that people used to call me Piggy but he was just like everyone else. He told everyone and now once again, I am an outsider. I know that I am overweight and with my asthma and poor eyesight, I don't have what it takes to be a hunter but they don't even let me go with them to explore and instead make me some kind of babysitter. Then they have the nerve to say that the disorganization is my fault. Ralph tries to help sometimes, but he is constantly arguing with Jack. Them two never stop really, it seems like they always have something to disagree over.
There is so much we could do on this island. We don't need adults to survive, but if only the others listened to me. I think Ralph hears what I have to say but it really is only half-hearted and just stares at me after. The other day I said we should find a way to keep track of time and the days and Ralph completely rejected the idea. I read somewhere that it was important to keep track of time as then you have something to hold onto. That is why I am writing things down. It keeps me occupied too and it will help me remember, If you can forget how long you have been on the island, how long is it before you forget everything?
There is so much we could do on this island. We don't need adults to survive, but if only the others listened to me. I think Ralph hears what I have to say but it really is only half-hearted and just stares at me after. The other day I said we should find a way to keep track of time and the days and Ralph completely rejected the idea. I read somewhere that it was important to keep track of time as then you have something to hold onto. That is why I am writing things down. It keeps me occupied too and it will help me remember, If you can forget how long you have been on the island, how long is it before you forget everything?
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This journal entry is of Piggy is from the beginning of the novel. Before the climax of the story. I chose Piggy because he is exactly what and adult in the eyes of a child is. He has rules and ideas that are so foreign to the rest of the children. Most of the time, we see Piggy as an adult figure but all the same, he is still as a child. He has these great ideas, but he can't get the others to listen. This causes him frustration and he expresses this by whining or complaining. Of course the other boys only find this annoying.
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