Setting Essay

Question 1

paragraph one

Answer 1

golding creates a microcosm for his characters allowing us to study their behaviour without any influence from adults or the outside world . the setting also allows us to explore our values and the influence of civilisation in contrast to the darkness inside mankind. we’re introduced to this contrast in the first chapter where piggy presents ralph with the conch suggesting “we can use this to call the others have a meeting”. it’s significant that piggy presents this as his characters symbolises logic, clear thinking and civilisation. we are then I trounced to jack and we are immediately shown his leadership qualities as he’s leading the boys to the conch.we realise he’s an ominous character as he’s dressed in all black … his hair etc skeleton

Question 2

paragraph two

Answer 2

the contrast between the island at the start and the end of the book allows us to see the books main theme of degeneration.the island is immediately affected by the boys as they create a “long scar” because their plane “shamed into the jungle”. this shows how destructive the boys are and the degeneration continues throughout the book.at first the island is seen as idyllic and with the introduction of rules it stays this way however a power struggle between jack and ralph results in half the island being burnt and the fire being out of control “and tree exploded in the fire like a bomb”. the fire spreads destroying half the island. the islands destruction highlight the boys descent as they disobey the rules and follow jack showing the islands degeneration symbolises the boys degeneration.

Question 3

paragraph 3

Answer 3

golding makes setting central to our appreciation of the text by describing the death of simon where the boys brutally attack him. “there were no words..” the boys kill Simon brutally using their bare hands showing they’ve degenerated so much that they’re almost animalistic. this key incident disturbs the perception of the island as it’s no longer a peaceful place

Question 4

paragraph 4

Answer 4

pathetic fallacy in the build up to Simons death it begins to get more cloudy “the build up of clouds continued” showing the weather embodies the savagery and chaos of the boys
thunder storm when simon is killed showing intensity

Question 5

paragraph 5

Answer 5

the book ends with the destruction of the island when it’s set on fire in an attempt to hunt ralph
“but the island was scorched up like dead wood”.showing the once idyllic island was destroyed and all the beauty had been taken away. this referenced the killings of simon and piggy as they’re were the only logical characters who were killed by Jack just like the island
the destruction shows the boys completely turned savage and rejected the rules summing up golding key message