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Test paper 2 written 14th November 2002 Topic: William Golding, Lord of the Flies Assignment 1. Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon. Pick out two of them. Why did you choose them? What do you know about them (outer appearance, character)? 2. What is described at the beginning of chapter three (pp 46, 47)? Then concentrate on the stylistic presentation. What impression do you get? 3. At the end of chapter 5 (p 91) Ralph and Piggy are talking about the grown up world. In what respect can this conversation be taken ironically? 4. In chapter 6 on page 100 Simon saw the picture of a human at once heroic and sick. What picture of human beings is presented here? Which side have you personally experienced more? 5. On page 148 and on page 177 Simon´s and Piggy´s death are described. Talk about the style of these two passages and possible reasons of this difference. Possible answers
given by Christoph Raida. 1. Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon. Pick out two of them. Why did you choose them? What do you know about them (outer appearance, character)? For my characterization I chose Ralph and Jack. The reason for my choice is the stark contrast between the two which plainly comes through as we see the portrayals of them. First of all, I'd like to focus on Ralph. In terms of his character I'd like to highlight a few points. The first fact that characterizes him is his leader potential due to the many positive qualities he possesses. It strikes out that he's the one with the strongest charisma. His impact is very significant upon the group as he along with Piggy, his clever friend, have realized the important need of keeping order, of having elaborate rules, laws, a right to speak, liberal thinking and personal liberty. Additionally he thinks sensibly by keeping a signal fire going for rescue (hope), he's cooperative, playful and drole. In a nutshell, he strongly espouses elements of democracy which is expressed by the assemblies he frequently calls and the conch which is a very essential factor in the course of the story. Concerning his appearance I'd like to mention that he has fair/blond hair, has a mildness in his face, is good-looking as well as a strong guy with a boxer-type of figure. Furthermore he seemingly has no devil in his eyes symbolic of innocence (which implies naivety, harmlessness, ignorance), has a very attractive appearance and is twelve years old. Yet, the first chapter also kind of foreshadows a change within him and the others by mentioning "the snake-clasp of his belt" which symbolizes evil. Even Ralph sort of wavers between good and evil and he's about to forget his true mission later on (see p.137, ll.6-15). Now, we should have a closer look at Jack. What sticks out the most when he arrives on the beach is that he's all black and wears a dark cloak covering his entire body. He has kind of a "magnetic" appearance as he "attracts" all the attention of the boys. As he's the leader of a choir (who later on become hunters), he even wears a black cap with golden badge on it accentuating his dominant and bossy character. He tries to hide his real being under the cloak and later on behind a mask or war-paint. A parallel to this is the camouflage soldiers typically mask with in a war scenario. This effects a change of character within them which makes them unpredictable and ready to kill. Next, Jack appears to be thin, tall, bony, has red hair, a freckled/crumbled face, is ugly without silliness and has light blue eyes. The most important detail is though that he has a fragile/unstable disposition, is easily frustrated, exhibits an aggressive drive, ready to turn to anger (substantial!) and is about Ralph's age. As opposed to Ralph he neglects necessities like peace, shelters, signal fire (=rescue) and deliberately prefers hunting and savagery. The choir greatly respects and admires him. He's greedy, relentless, indifferent, enjoys exercising authority and power which is indicated by his address ("Merridew") and has the ability to tell people what they want to hear which eventually causes Ralph's fall. In short, Jack is a symbol of savagery, anarchy, communism and fascism. 2. What is described at the beginning of chapter three (pp 46, 47)? Then concentrate on the stylistic presentation. What impression do you get? The third chapter starts out by depicting how Jack begins his activities as a hunter. The author expounds quite detailed how he approaches his prey (a pig) which he misses/fails to kill: Jack is presented very vividly, is even compared to a sprinter, ape-like (p.47, l.5), and his pig-hunt is described pretty thoroughly/detailed. Over and over again figurative language is employed (p.46, ll.6-9). Jack's appearance is closely connected with his hunt. By means of interesting adjectives Golding creates a suspenseful and adventurous atmosphere. The perspective of the reader could be called "being-right-in-the-scene" perspective as one can very well picture what he's doing (p.46; ll.16-19). In between the description the reader is shown wonderful natural landscapes(naturalistic style). At times Golding even comes up with almost hyperbole-like similes ("abyss of ages").It can also be rightly stated that he builds up a tension which reaches its climax with the actual attempt to kill the pig (p.47, ll.15-24). As far as I'm concerned, I stop breathing and I'm absolutely thrilled as I'm reading through this well-written passage. 3. At the end of chapter 5 (p 91) Ralph and Piggy are talking about the grown up world. In what respect can this conversation be taken ironically? At the end of chapter 5 Piggy and Jack converse about the role of adults and what they would do. Ironically, they allege that they'd prefer to be guided by their parents which clearly contradicts their desires. You see, they want to be independent, mature, free, responsible for themselves and grown-up lads ("what's the use"; l.4). This responsibility that they assume (being on one's own) is unmistakably expressed through their sensible objectives (rescue-signal fire). Interestingly, they link negative matters of fact (e.g. setting the island on fire, darkness) and yet fail to convey the majesty of adult life which is also why things come in the end differently (island burns up, 2 casualties: Piggy + Simon) and they practise the things they try to shun. They want to initiate everything on their own (rescue through fire). (Teacher´s comment: There is much more irony than that) 4. In chapter 6 on page 100 Simon saw the picture of a human at once heroic and sick. What picture of human beings is presented here? Which side have you personally experienced more? Simon conveys us a picture of human beings, sick and heroic at the same time. What is meant by this statement is that humans have two motivations within themselves. On the one hand they can display bravery, noble qualities, do something heroic like rescuing somebody by putting at stake one's own life or saving lives, interceding for the cause of justice (Mother Teresa, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela), or just be helpful, applying one's talents (see Einstein-intelligent people) or by improving our society by brilliant inventions or medical discoveries, (space exploration: space station, moon). The easiest way though to be a hero is filling the position of a parent by simply raising, educating and guarding one's kids properly. The flip side which complements this "picture" is the sickness of modern folks visible in waging wars, showing the potentiality of destroying others yourself, environmental destruction, selfish interests(=egoism), terrorism, rape, crime and despotism. The bottom line of Golding's passage is to clarify that there is one major issue that everything hinges upon: sin, man's essential illness (p.86)! Overall, everything can be used in two ways, namely either constructively or destructively (see atom-atom bomb versus scientific progress; power- exaltation of a people versus despotism). I myself have to admit that I like the heroic side better but the evil dominates and therefore I make mistakes and screw up at times (Simon/Christ- solution of the problem). 5. On page 148 and on page 177 Simon´s and Piggy´s death are described. Talk about the style of these two passages and possible reasons of this difference. The deaths of Simon and Piggy are pretty much fraught with stylistic gems. At first, Simon will be the subject of my analysis. The author doesn't expand/dwell that much on the literal aspect of Simon's death. He says: "the advancing tide covers Simon's corpse. What's most intriguing though is the poetic, flowery(full of images), elevated/sublime(very high standard), figurative, elaborate(well, carefully, thoroughly worked out), ornamental style which Golding employs. (The atmosphere is calm, quiet, clear) Additionally, a lot of figurative language is built in throughout this passage: "a streak of phosphorescence" (l 5), "moon-bodied creatures" (l 12), "pebble covered with a coat of pearls and the tide which smoothed everything with a layer of silver", "Simon's hair is dressed with brightness", "his cheeks are silvered", "his shoulder became sculptured marble", "creatures busying themselves around his head (Simon-halo=saint)", "inquisitive bright creatures". What stands out the most is that Golding uses luminous, shiny, precious material for his depictions. That has to do with Simon's "Christ function", he's transfigured into a saint and his sins are washed away by Jesus ("stains of blood"). (l.22) The wet plop represents the breath of life departing from man (p.108- three times: you'll get where you came from"). In contrast to Simon Piggy's death is described fairly plainly. Golding resorts to a functional, sober, matter-of-fact, cruel, brutal, barbarous, objective, realistic style. This is also the reason why any figurative elements are omitted. This way the reader gets a vision of where evil and brutality within man can lead to: Roger heaves the stone/rock which hits piggy "who falls forty feet deep and lands on a red, square rock in the sea. Simultaneously, his head opens and stuff comes out (signifying his brain). His arms and legs twitch like a pig's, a simile, showing the horrible face of what evil can cause, is capable of doing. Unlike Simon, Piggy is basically more of a rationalist and scientist. Piggy's death kind of marks the attempt/beginning of eradicating the hope of rescue; civilized, open, liberal, democratic thinking which Piggy emphasized on page 173 ("which is better...?"). Further facts that substantiate this are the apparently pointless attempt to kill Ralph at the end of the book and the explosion of the conch into countless fragments (democracy and liberty cease to exist). In a nutshell, Jack and his gang are launching an attack on democracy! Justice which Piggy advocated are supplanted by Jack's terror regime. The deeper message Golding obviously is trying to get across to the reader is that the only hope we have lies in Christ(Simon), transcendental hope, which solves the problem of sin and brings salvation whereas science and rationalism will vanish just as plain as Piggy perished. Science can't solve the problem of sin!
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