Lord of the Flies was an amazing novel, despite many other children's despising it. It was beautifully crafted, well worded, and projected a perfect scenario to test human instincts. I say that for lack of a better phrase on the matter, but nontheless!
Lord of the Flies Journals/Vocabulary
Journal 1 “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalyn Carter I recently learned of this quote, recent being five minutes ago. Not on the level of hardcore philosophy. Is still has an important message. Few men may want to go to war, as few boys may enjoy going to school. Either way, depending on the situation, either person knows it’s where they need to be, even if they don’t care to admit it. Vocabulary 1 Efflorescence: The result of, or example of, growth and development. Enmity: Hatred towards another thing. Decorous: Something being proper or dignified in any manner of the word. Chorister: Someone in a choir. Bastion: Area of safety or security. Hiatus: Elongated break or rest of something. Journal 2 “There aren’t any grownups; we’ll have to look after ourselves.” – Ralph This is a basic observation by one of the main characters, Ralph. However, in this observation, lies a deeper realization that proves honorable, at least in the eyes of those more mature. Ralph, despite having pointed out that there are no adults to control the children on the island, leads the children himself and taking up the responsibility of the children. Vocabulary 2 Ebullience: High spirits, exhilaration. Recrimination: The act of countering a one’s accusation of crimination. Tumult: Massive uproar or large, violent disturbance. Tirade: Long speech or statement of bitter origin. Journal 3 “What does ‘good’ mean in the phrase, ‘This is a good island?” –Anonymous These words suggest the most the children’s on the island’s growing distrust of their situation. As the conditions of the island’s inhabitants continue to decline, the children find themselves questioning their hope and begin second guessing themselves over whether or not they will be rescued. A simple but hard hitting sentence. Vocabulary 3 Oppressive: Inhumane or unfair. Inscrutable: Incapable of being identified or described. Not easily understood. Vicissitudes: Change or alteration. Declivities: Downward slope or turn. Tacit: Unspoken expression. Journal 4 “They became accustomed to these mysteries and ignored them, just as they ignored the miraculous throbbing stars.” –William Golding The children live their days like tribe’s men, focusing mainly on survival or entertainment. In their hurry to be rescue, to return home in the arms of their parents, they begin to develop tunnel vision. In the wake of hunting a boar for food or lighting a signal fire, they begin to lose focus of holding on to one’s self, and more importantly, their comrade’s selves. Vocabulary 4 Blatant: Painfully obvious. Taboo: Something or someone being indecent for a certain group of people or things. Sinewy: Having strong sinews. Yes, I know, but Dictionary.com didn’t have much past that. Malevolently: Wishing or having the qualities of evil or misfortune. Journal 5 “He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of his life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s walking life was spent watching one’s feet.” –Ralph’s thoughts, William Golding As Ralph continues in his endeavor to survive and escape, he finds himself disheartened by the heat and oppressive conditions. It weighs him down, dragging his feet as he begins to feel like what he is doing is little but meaningless. What if the adults DID never come? What if this was all in vain? Ralph would have to continue to find his answers, despite how low he felt. Vocabulary 5 Ludicrous: Laughable absurdity. Ineffectual: Without noticeable effects. Jeer: Opposite of cheers; disheartening opinion or boos. Inarticulate: Lacking the ability to express one’s self. Journal 6 “The statistics say that something like 65% (Percent) of us will give the wrong answer because we heard someone else sat it, even if we know it’s the wrong answer. The power of suggestion is very strong.” –Real-Hypnosis.com Rather random, but appropriate this statement. The children of the island are easily swayed, and this feature helped Ralph in his endeavor to rally the children into a functioning society. Despite them knowing little about the island, little about survival and little about search and rescue past hide and seek, they trust Ralph and take him on as their leader. Vocabulary 6 Leviathan: Anything of immense size and power, usually residing in the ocean or any body of water. Clamor: Loud uproar or popular outcry. Mutinously: The property of mutiny, or betrayal. Journal 7 “All struggles are essentially power struggles. Who will rule, who will lead? Who will define, refine, confine, design? Who will dominate? All struggles are essentially power struggles, and most are no more intellectual than two rams knocking their heads together.” –Octavia E. Butler Okay, I like this woman. She is absolutely right. Any struggle against another human being, another entity, anything, is nothing more than a meticulous struggle for power, no matter the reason. At their core, it’s nothing more than two rams slamming their heads against one another. However, the unintelligence of the endeavor may be over exaggerated. While it’s for a simple goal, the method of which one does struggle against another may be convoluted, yet brilliant. Vocabulary 7 Crestfallen: Disheartened, uninspired. Impervious: Indestructible, invincible. Enterprise: Organization or group of individuals. Journal 8 If we can’t separate our civilized self from our savage self which will take over and why? The savage will most certainly take over. Its human nature to act like an animal, and what civilization that we’ve learned since birth is keeping us from killing a man for looking at us wrong. Vocabulary 8 Glowered: To look with discontent or anger. Rebuke: To express disagreement. Demure: Characterized by shyness or timidity. Fervor: Intense heat, physically or emotionally. Journal 9 “Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death.” –Andre Gide Oh, getting dark now are we? Well, so long as we are, this is completely true. The ways to end a man’s life include more than a simple loss of it. Should they choose, you could be wiped off the planet, become faceless, broke, and caught in a burn notice situation. Vocabulary 9 Corpulent: Large, bulky body. Sauntered: Leisurely stroll. Journal 10 “I know. They didn’t come for the conch.” –Ralph. What did they come for? What does what they failed to take and what they took symbolize? They did not come for the conch, but for something much more valuable to them and everyone; Piggy’s glasses, the specs, and the fire. Without these specs, Piggy was not only blind, but they were without a way towards freedom. They had no way to create a signal fire, without the shining ray they could create with the specs. Stealing these gives Jack and his crew power against Ralph and the others, leaving our antagonist’s group in the dark. Vocabulary 10 Compelled: To force or drive someone towards something. Journal 11 “Which is better…” –Piggy and Ralph In this section, the context of which they are talking about is would they rather live their lives as civilized children, or to act like savages; to hunt and survive, or to keep their sanity. While in these hostile conditions, the urge to let their true natures may continue rising, day after day, but it is important to retain one’s civility and not to stray too far into that of savagery. Keywords here are “too far” as they DO need to survive, one way or another. Vocabulary 11 Luminous: Brightly or mildly lit. Myopia: Narrow sightedness. Sniveling: To have the condition of crying, whining. Quavered: To shake, usually by voice. Parried: To away, by means of evasion. Talisman: Special object of specific meaning. Journal 12 “He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance.”‖ -William Golding Finally at the end of the book, we are giving a dramatic ending to what was an excellent and perfectly written story. Piggy is dead, Jack is gone, and countless more have deceased amongst the others in their best efforts to keep sane. The surviving children are found by a British officer, who asks them whether or not they know if more kids are alive. Ralph and the other children answer no, and they are taken to a nearby cruiser and drifted back home… or so is suggested. Vocabulary 12 Acrid: Sharp or bitter smell. Cordon: Line of police, sentinels, guardians, etc. Elephantine: Huge. Epaulettes: Ornamental shoulder piece normally worn by police. Ralph Age (Approximate): 11 Appearance: A young, fair haired British boy. Title: The Fair Haired Boy Basic Beliefs: Believes in order and civility to survive until they are rescued. How do others perceive this character? : As a leader and as a role model, the other children look up to this character. How does this character perceive himself? : Ralph believes that he should be the leader, that others should listen to him if they want to survive with their sanity intact. Jack Age (Approximate): 12-13 Appearance: Freckle faced, red haired, taller boy. Title: Jack Merridew Basic Beliefs: Believes in surviving, without the adults. Just him and his savage tribe of children. How do others perceive this character? : Most other children see him as a scary image in the night, ready to kill them for his next meal (But this is not until later on in the story). Meanwhile, his followers do what he says to no end, seeing Jack as their own Ralph. How does this character perceive himself? : As the one true survivalist. He is the “god” of the story, the messiah, and he knows this. Piggy Age (Approximate): 10-11 Appearance: A portly, glasses wearing young boy. Title: Fatty Basic Beliefs: Believes in civility, just as Ralph does. Prefers to stay within a group, in unity. How do others perceive this character? : Other children see Piggy as useless, a waste of space that is only alive because Ralph wills it so. He is important for his specs; he is the keeper of the fire, the keeper of the glasses (The ones he wears), of which are used to create signal fires. How does this character perceive himself? : He believes in the other children; that he is the nerd of the group, the outcast, and he hates it. He milks the idea that he is the fire keeper and their only means of escape. Simon Age (Approximate): 9-10 Appearance: Not stated. Title: Choir Boy Basic Beliefs: He is a member of the choir Jack is known to command. As far as I can see, he doesn’t seem to care much about the others, so long as he is a member of the crowd. In this case, this crowd is Jack’s. How do others perceive this character? : Shy and timid, they don’t see much of this character past the choir. He IS included within the first search group, and many other expeditions, within the book, so he is an integral, silent voice through the story. How does this character perceive himself? : It is unspoken how he sees himself in society, as he is so timid and is afraid to do so. Roger Age (Approximate): 8-9 Appearance: Not stated. Title: Choir Boy Basic Beliefs: Another member of Jack’s choir, he is a quiet boy with an awkward disposition. It’s not openly stated what his beliefs are, but it’s suggested that he simply follows Jack and his allies. How do others perceive this character? : Another follower of Jack. He is a choir boy, and has not been known to do much besides follow orders. How does this character perceive himself? : Not openly stated. Sam n’ Eric (Sam and Eric) Age (Approximate): 9-10 Appearance: Two twins of similar origin, looking indistinguishable from each other. I was unable to catch what either look like, but I picture them as a pair of blonde boys. Title: The Twins Basic Beliefs: A pair of twins, not directly affiliated to anyone, but easily influenced by others. They do as they’re told, though they are not directly referred to at all. How do others perceive this character? : This pair is one…or two of a kind. As stated, neither is directly referred to at all, and they are always asked to do things in unison. Others may think of them as the lookalikes, the twins, and the exact copies of one another. How does this character perceive himself? : Not directly stated. Here, we have several cover pages designed by dedicated fans of the novel, all from The Fox is Black, and their contest to create original cover pages for this novel. Kjell-Roger Ringstad Joshua Retterer Lee Jackson
This is the back of the snippet of the front cover at the top of this page. |