Year 9 - English
Planning a written response on human nature in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'
'Lord of the Flies'
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and explore 'The Lord of the Flies' by considering Golding's message about human nature. They first read the novel, before analysing the characters Ralph, Simon, Jack and Piggy. They then look at setting and symbolism before planning and writing an essay on human nature.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use single paragraph outlines to plan a response.
Key Notes
- Golding uses the novel to explore the true nature of human beings.
- A cohesive argument unpacks one 'big idea' - each paragraph should work with the others to prove the 'big idea'.
- Single paragraph outlines contain a topic sentence, supporting detail and a summary sentence.
- Supporting details should contain quotes, along with the writer's methods, key vocabulary and contextual information.
- A single paragraph outline should be planned for each section of your response and can take up to five minutes to plan.
Vocabulary To Learn
- cohesive: when all the ideas are united and work together to support one larger argument
- innate: instinctive and natural
- primal: describing an early stage in human development
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students often think that characters are not methods. They tend to think of methods as just 'similes' or 'metaphors'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Golding uses the novel to explore the true nature of human beings. A cohesive argument unpacks one 'big idea' - each paragraph should work with the others to prove the 'big idea'.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'cohesive'
when all the ideas are united and work together to support one larger argument.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students often think that characters are not methods. They tend to think of methods as just 'similes' or 'metaphors'. Correction: Any choice that the writer makes consciously is a method. This includes their use of characterisation. Anything the character says or does is a method.
More Lessons In This Unit
- An exploration of Chapter 1 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 10 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 11 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 2 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 3 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 4 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 5 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 7 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- An exploration of Chapter 9 of 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Considering and understanding allusions in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Considering ideas of rules and human nature in relation to 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Considering Jack's dictatorial leadership and antagonism in 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Considering the presentation of Ralph in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Exploring Golding's message about human behaviour in 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Exploring Simon's role as an outsider and as Jack's foil in 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Exploring structure, allegory and genre in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Golding's use of setting in 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Golding's use of symbolism in 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- The dehumanisation and death of Piggy in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
- Writing a response on human nature in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' Study Guide
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