LOTF Lit Test

Character Terms

• Protagonist – Main character who drives the story.
  Example: Ralph (represents order, leadership, civilization).

• Antagonist – Opposes the protagonist.
  Example: Jack (represents savagery, desire for power).

• Flat character – One-dimensional, doesn’t change much.
  Example: Roger (cruelty and violence, no depth beyond that).

• Round character – Complex, realistic character.
  Example: Ralph (struggles with leadership, fear, hope).

• Dynamic character – Changes throughout the story.
  Example: Ralph (from confident leader to hopeless boy).

• Static character – Does not change.
  Example: Piggy (always logical, rational, clings to rules).

• Direct characterization – The author tells us traits.
  Example: Golding says Piggy is "fat and asthmatic."

• Indirect characterization – Author shows traits through actions/dialogue.
  Example: Jack’s obsession with hunting shows his violent nature.

• Character foils – Characters who contrast each other to highlight traits.
  Example: Ralph vs. Jack (civilization vs. savagery).

General Literary Terms

• Situational Irony – Opposite of what’s expected happens.
  Example: The boys set a fire to kill Ralph, but it gets them rescued.

• Verbal Irony – Saying the opposite of what is meant.
  Example: Piggy sarcastically says, “Like kids!” when the boys act immature.

• Dramatic Irony – Reader knows something the characters don’t.
  Example: The “beast” is just a dead parachutist, but the boys don’t know.

• Allegory – A story with multiple levels of meaning.
  Example: Lord of the Flies is an allegory of civilization breaking down.

• Setting – Time and place.
  Example: Uninhabited tropical island during WWII.

• Historical Context – The events/culture influencing the story.
  Example: Written after WWII, reflecting human violence and Cold War fears.

• Point of View – Perspective of narration.
  Example: Third-person omniscient narrator.

• Imagery – Descriptive language appealing to senses.
  Example: Vivid descriptions of the jungle and fire.

• Diction – Word choice.
  Example: Golding’s use of harsh words (“beast,” “savage”) reinforces fear.

• Foreshadowing – Hints at future events.
  Example: Fear of the “beast” foreshadows Simon’s death.

• Internal Conflict – Character struggles within themselves.
  Example: Ralph struggles between leadership and fear.

• External Conflict – Struggles with outside forces.

  • Man vs. Man: Ralph vs. Jack.

  • Man vs. Society: Ralph vs. tribe’s savagery.

  • Man vs. Nature: Boys struggle to survive.

  • Man vs. Fate: Simon doomed despite his wisdom.

• Theme – Central message.
  Examples: Civilization vs. savagery, loss of innocence, inherent evil in humans.

Plot Terminology

• Exposition – Introduces setting/characters.
  Example: Boys crash on the island, meet each other.

• Inciting Incident – Sparks the conflict.
  Example: Ralph is elected leader, causing rivalry with Jack.

• Rising Action – Events building tension.
  Example: Fear of the beast grows, Jack forms rival tribe.

• Climax – Turning point of highest tension.
  Example: Simon is mistaken for the beast and killed.

• Falling Action – Consequences of climax.
  Example: Piggy’s death, Ralph hunted.

• Resolution – Conflict ends.
  Example: Naval officer rescues the boys.

Allegory vs. Symbol

• Allegory = whole story represents something larger (civilization breaking down, human evil).

• Symbol = one object/person represents an idea.

Symbols in Lord of the Flies

• Conch – Order, democracy, authority (shatters with Piggy’s death).

• Ralph – Civilization, leadership, rationality.

• Jack – Savagery, dictatorship, primal instincts.

• Simon – Spirituality, goodness, Christ-like figure.

• Piggy – Logic, science, intellect.

• The Beast

  • Physical: Dead parachutist.

  • True beast: Fear and evil inside humans.

• The Pig’s Head (Lord of the Flies) – Manifestation of evil, Satan figure.

• Face Paint – Loss of identity, freedom to act savagely.

• The Fire – Hope, rescue, civilization (also destruction at the end).

• Rescue Ship – Civilization watching, but blind to savagery until the end.