Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The story takes place during an unspecified war, when a group of British schoolboys are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. With no adult supervision, the boys are left to fend for themselves and create their own society. The novel explores how the boys' behavior and morals deteriorate as they try to survive on the island. They form tribes, elect leaders, and create rules, but soon descend into chaos and savagery. The group is divided between those who want to hunt and have fun, and those who want to be rescued and maintain a sense of civility. As time passes, the boys' actions become more brutal and primal, leading to tragic consequences. The novel ends with the boys being rescued, but not before they realize the horrors they have committed and the loss of their innocence.
By William Golding · First published 1954 · Genre: Allegory, Dystopian, Adventure · 13 chapters · 77,453 words
First lines
The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead. All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat. He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry; and this cry was echoed by another.
"Hi! " it said. "Wait a minute!"
What this Textopian page supports
Lord of the Flies is listed on Textopian as a novel by William Golding, dated 1954 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: William Golding
- Date: 1954 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Allegory, Dystopian, Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 77,453 words
- Structure: 13 chapters, 3,067 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Lord of the Flies?
- How does this novel by William Golding fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Allegory first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Game by Jack London
- The Enemy Of All The World by Jack London
- A Curious Fragment by Jack London
- The Man With The Gash by Jack London
- The Unexpected by Jack London
- Goliah by Jack London
Genres
- Allegory — The novel uses symbolic characters and events to convey deeper moral and philosophical meanings.
- Dystopian — The story depicts a society that has degenerated into chaos and savagery.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around the survival and exploration of boys stranded on an uninhabited island.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological states and transformations of the characters.
Tags
Survival · Island · Adventure · Coming-of-age · Dystopian · Fiction · Classic · Literary · Psychological · Thriller · Mystery · Suspense
Contents
- The Sound of the Shell
- Fire on the Mountain
- Huts on the Beach
- Painted Faces and Long Hair
- Beast from Water
- Beast from Air
- Shadows and Tall Trees
- Gift for the Darkness
- A View to a Death
- The Shell and the Glasses
- Castle Rock
- Cry of the Hunters
- Notes on Lord of the Flies