Essay Topics for Lord of the Flies

English 10 – Mrs. Grice

Choose one of the following and answer the prompt with at least a five-
paragraph, MLA formatted, typed, double-spaced essay. Include at least
one quote from the book in each body paragraph, properly cited according
to MLA guidelines.

1. Defend and/or criticize Ralph’s actions as leader. What were his motivations? Did
he contribute to the tragedy in any way? Could he have acted to prevent any of the
deaths? What would you have done differently in his situation?

2. Describe the religious imagery in Lord of the Flies: the forces of good and evil, a
fall from grace, a savior, and eventual redemption. How does Golding’s depiction of
the island compare to the Garden of Eden?

3. Some readers of Lord of the Flies have argued that each and every one of the
boys’ actions is nothing more than an attempt to survive in difficult conditions. Think
about the mounting of the sow’s head, Simon’s ascent up the mountain, and the
murder of Piggy in particular, as well as any other key scenes that stand out for you.
Is it fair to say that the boys’ actions were merely the result of the human survival
instinct? Why or why not? If so, can you use these examples to draw some general
conclusions about the human instinct to survive?

4. Support the argument that Simon is a “Christ Figure.” Do you agree or disagree
with the idea that Simon is a Christ Figure? Discuss the development of this
character from the frail, shy, fainting kid to the well-developed character that faces
the Lord of the Flies and the beast, eventually being sacrificed as a result.

5. The conch is an all-important symbol in the novel. It is almost a character in its

own right. Trace the development of this symbol. How does Golding develop this
shell into this symbol? Discuss what it means, and the effect it has on the group of
boys, from the first assembly to its eventual destruction. You may want to include in
your discussion its relation to characters like Ralph, Piggy, or even Jack.

6. Discuss the development of one of the major characters (Ralph, Piggy, Simon,
Jack). How do they change from beginning to end? Is the change a “good” change,
or a “bad” one? Be sure to support you response with specific examples from the
text, as well as information you learned from class discussions (Simon as Christ
Figure, or Piggy as representative of knowledge, etc.)

7. Another topic that you feel strongly about – you have to prove a thesis using a
supported argument, and your topic must be approved by me before you begin.

Tentative timeline for completing essay:

_____Feb 1-2____________ – Handout of topics – brainstorm and plan
essay
for homework
_____Feb 3____________ Quote integration mini-lesson, find quotes for
essay
_____Feb 4_____ – find quotes for essay, begin rough draft
____Feb _____________ – MLA recap mini-lesson
____Feb 11_____________ Rough Draft due, peer revision
____Feb 15___________ – FINAL essay due when class begins
____Feb 5____________ – Lord of the Flies test