The vast majority of Lord of the Flies takes place without adults. When the boys are stranded on the island, they are left to their own devices and it is not until the novel’s end that an adult appears to rescue them. Despite the absence of actual adults, the boys are constantly referring to adults (see quotes, below) and they believe that they are attempting to construct an adult world. Write an analytic essay in which you discuss the symbolic importance of adults for the boys. Consider the possibility that the boys’ efforts to imitate the adult world are destined to fail because they are simply not developmentally—cognitively or emotionally– ready to tackle adult challenges. A good place to start on this essay would be to examine the formation and eventual dissolution of the government and tentative society in “Lord of the Flies” (here is more information on that topic) You may wish to offer a close reading of one or more passages that address the role or idea of adults directly for this essay.

Thesis Statement / Essay Topic #2: Society-Building in Lord of the Flies

When the boys find themselves stranded on a remote island, they quickly begin the project of building a rough approximation of society and attempt to create a utopia in Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A society, of course, is characterized by rules, roles, and activities that identify the group of people of which it is comprised. For this essay on Lord of the Flies, analyze the society building process using a step-by-step approach. At first, there is so much hope and excitement, but everything quickly falls apart: Why? Be sure to examine the passages around pages 45-50, where it appears that nothing is happening. These lapses of activity are just as important as the violence that will follow them. Identify the main obstacle to the boys’ society building efforts and explain whether you think there was any single moment where they could have saved their project from disaster.

Thesis Statement / Essay Topic #3: The Dynamics of Power in “Lord of the Flies”

One of the elements of society that the boys attempt to imitate early in their society-building project is that of establishing a hierarchy in which there is a designated leader whose job it is to inspire and guide his followers. While Ralph is elected as the “official” leader of the boys, Jack occupies a leadership role as well, given that it is he who is in charge of procuring food for the boys. Yet these two boys clash with one another because they perceive each as a threat to the other’s power. Write an essay in which you explain the dynamics of power in Lord of the Flies. Be sure to acknowledge and discuss the role of the “little-uns” within the hierarchy of power the boys have established. If appropriate, you may also wish to offer some observations in this essay that make connections between the power dynamics among the boys and the power dynamics that characterize the almost invisible