Lord of the Flies post-viewing activity ideas

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2 Lord of the Flies Adapted from William Golding's novel of the same name, this is the story of a group of military school boys who become stranded on an island. To begin with, their commander is dragged from the water by a young Ralph, the natural leader of the group. After a plane accident, 30 school-age boys find themselves stranded on an island. The boys decide that the disciplined and calm Ralph will be their leader. Jack heads up a group who will hunt and butcher the local population of pigs for food. Also on the island is the mature, intelligent Piggy. Eventually Ralph and Jack become the centre of a war for leadership on the island. It is after the commander becomes feverish and delusional that he runs away and the boys develop their own society, with frightening and powerful consequences. Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide /Jan Bednarczuk, imdb.com

3 Lord of the Flies post-viewing activity ideas

4 Lord of the Flies discussion questions If Jack had been elected leader and Ralph appointed hunter, would the story have ended differently? Was Ralph wise to appoint Jack the chief hunter? Why does Jack hesitate at his first opportunity to kill a pig? Why does Jack pick on Piggy? Is bullying a problem today? Discuss. Jack and his hunters become less civilized after killing a pig. What activities in everyday life seem to make people less civilized? Which character in the story do you most admire and why? Is it natural human behavior to act this way under primitive conditions? Why did the other boys follow Jack and not Ralph? Should Ralph have joined Jack s tribe? Why or why not? What do think will happen to the tribe when they return to normality? Do you think this is how ancient society used to behave? Is Jack evil?

5 Lord of the Flies Symbolism In the film Lord of the Flies, we see many things that symbolize the good things and the bad things which exist in the world today. Have a think and try to match these symbols with what they are meant to mean in the real world. Your teacher will give you the answers afterwards. The Garden of Eden = The corrupted world of humankind Failure or breakdown of society in the world outside Civilized authority, democracy Insight, wisdom, knowledge Failure or breakdown of society on the island Hope Fear, superstition, God Blind emotion, loss of reason Seats of authority; thrones The generation of evil The next generation of evil Mankind s first sin Aggression Symbols: The killing of the pig, the beast in the cave, the conch, the plane crash, the big boys, the little boys, the signal fire, the island before, the island after, Piggy and his glasses, the dancing hunters, the death of piggy, the logs on which Ralph and Jack sit, Jack s knife

6 Symbolism (Teacher s answers) The Garden of Eden = the island before The corrupted world of humankind = the island after Failure or breakdown of society in the world outside = the plane crash Civilized authority, democracy = the conch Insight, wisdom, knowledge = Piggy and his glasses Failure or breakdown of society on the island = Piggy s death Hope = the signal fire Fear, superstition, God = the beast in the cave Blind emotion, loss of reason = the dancing hunters Seats of authority; thrones = the logs The generation of evil = the big boys The next generation of evil = the little boys Mankind s first sin = killing the pig Aggression = Jack s knife Symbols: The killing of the pig, the best in the cave, the conch, the plane crash, the big boys, the little boys, the signal fire, the island before, the island after, Piggy and his glasses, the dancing hunters, the death of piggy, the logs on which Ralph and Jack sit, Jack s knife

7 Post-viewing activities Students go into small groups to make a role-play of any part of the film. It can be the crash, going into the cave or the killing of Piggy; it s totally up to your students! For homework, have your students write a mini-essay on what they thought about the film and what the film really means. Have your students discuss or role-play and alternate ending to what they saw. Encourage them to use their imagination! The children have been rescued from the island and the truth is beginning to be uncovered. Murder has been committed! Role-play the police interviews with different characters of the film.

8 Parts of the film to show Clip One (Start to 2:03mins) - the plane crash Clip Two (5:48mins to 6:45mins) the first night on the island. They decide to start planning in the morning. Clip Three (8:38mins to 18:38mins) the children find fresh water and begin working as a team to build shelters. Piggy finds the conch and a meeting is held to decide the leader. Clip Four (26:08mins to 30:03mins) There is another assembly and some of the bigger kids want to lay down rules of the island. There is the first sign of dissent against Ralph. Clip Five (36:34mins to 41:28mins) Jack s gang become more tribal and savage. They paint their faces with blood and kill a pig. A helicopter comes but doesn t see them because the signal fire has gone out. Clip Six (50:54mins to 54:58mins) Jack s gang raid Ralph s camp and steal the only knife. In the raid, Piggy s glasses are smashed. He cannot see. Clip Seven (56:18mins to 57:30mins) one of the film s definitive moments. Jack cuts off the head of the pig and puts it on a stake outside the cave. This is The Lord of the Flies. Clip Eight (1:00:00mins to 1:05:34mins) Ralph and Piggy are invited to Jack s camp where they are given meat. They are both intimidated by a war dance and a boy is murdered. Clip Nine (1:11:08mins to 1:17:56mins) Jack s tribe steal Piggy s glasses because they need them to light fires. They go to Jack s to ask for them back, but Piggy is murdered. Clip Ten (1:21:52mins to 1:26:00 End) They chase Ralph to kill him. Ralph runs into an adult rescue party and breaks down crying....