Lord of the Flies - Quick Question

[Santé]

Well I am in a grade ten English class and our assignment is to write about how the Island is a microcosm to the real world. We need to provide 3-5 examples as to why and maybe add some other minor things to back up what we mean. The only thing I can think of was there was a war on the island as well as in the real world.

I am kind of unsure of what a microcosm is exactly, so any examples as to why the island is one?

[Anza]

GAH! We just read this in my ninth grade honors class!! :D
Ok, a microcosm is like a smaller version. The island was governed by the older and the wiser, but the littluns couldn't were led astray by their illustrious leaders. Think of battling countries, and their leaders pushing the citizens astray. Also it constantly changed forms of government. At first it was very much like a democracy, in that the leader was chosen and everyone had a say in the assemblies. Then, they were done away with

[Santé]

So the constant change of goverment and forcing the littl'uns away support the fact that the island was a microcosm? Thanks! :D

I understand that a microcosm is like a smaller world within a world, but I am still shaky on how to justify how things are microcosms. Like why would forcing the littl'uns away be a supportive detail to the island being a microcosm?


Thanks for the response ! :D

[Anza]

1) they were not forced away. They were lead to do things that were not in their best interest, by leaders who weren't capable. They hunted and painted their faces instead of tending the fire. keeping the fire going was in their best interest because it could grant them rescue. When we in the world have unskilled political leaders, they can lead us astray too.

[Santé]

Oh, I get it! Thanks.

Anymore examples in mind? I think I could find a couple more now anyway now that I have a firmer grasp of its meaning.

[Anza]

Not now. I'll dwell on it and have more, tomorrow.

[Santé]

Deal . ;)

[Santé]

I also have another question . What do you think the inciting force is ?

[Orpheus]

I'm not sure what you mean by the "inciting force." Do you mean what provoked Jack and his band of choir boys to abandon reason and turn to savagery? Or are you still refering to those who chose to follow Jack; the reason that they chose to follow him? Elaborate on that.

However, as for further comparisons, it would not be out of place to trace, as Golding himself put it, the "defect of society back to the defect of human nature." This book speaks so poignantly about the capabilities of human nature and what we are truly capable of that it would be a mistake not to make that connection.

[Santé]

Thanks!


Inciting Force is the term we use in my school meaning "The incident which begins the central conflict"

[Santé]

^^^^^^

[Whifflingpin]

"Inciting Force is the term we use in my school meaning "The incident which begins the central conflict""

So what is the central conflict in "Lord of the Flies?"

[Santé]

Jack vs. Ralph

and does anyone know how their leadership skills differ besides the obvious anarchy vs. democracy?

[byquist]

Sadly, without a police force and rules, people return to cave-man behavior.

[Santé]

Thanks.

What's this quote mean: "Power lay in the brown swell of his forearms; authority sat on. his shoulder and chattered away at his ear like an ape". (150)

[Whifflingpin]

"besides the obvious anarchy vs. democracy?"

? Not anarchy. That means "no rule" whereas Jack is a ruler of sorts - tribal leader perhaps. Or maybe feudal - he was, after all, a legitimately appointed leader before they arrived on the island.

Is the central conflict between individuals, or something else?