WILLIAM WILLIAM GOLDING AND GOLDING AND

LORD OF THE LORD OF THE FLIESFLIES

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND NOTESNOTES

WILLIAM WILLIAM GOLDING AND GOLDING AND

LORD OF THE LORD OF THE FLIESFLIES

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND NOTESNOTES

I. William Golding BasicsI. William Golding Basics

A. Full Name: William A. Full Name: William Gerald GoldingGerald Golding

B. Born: September B. Born: September 19, 191119, 1911

C. Born in Cornwall, C. Born in Cornwall, EnglandEngland

D. Father Alec worked as a D. Father Alec worked as a science teacher; He had science teacher; He had strong political and strong political and scientific notionsscientific notions

E. Mother Mildred worked E. Mother Mildred worked on the suffragist on the suffragist movementmovement

F. Died: June 19, 1993 of F. Died: June 19, 1993 of heart failureheart failure

I. William Golding Basics I. William Golding Basics ContinuedContinued

II. Golding’s EducationII. Golding’s EducationA. Went to the grammar school his father A. Went to the grammar school his father

taught attaught atB. Began study at Oxford (Brasenose B. Began study at Oxford (Brasenose

College) in 1930College) in 1930C. Original field of study was in the C. Original field of study was in the

natural sciences natural sciences D. In 1932, he changed his field of study D. In 1932, he changed his field of study

to English Literature.to English Literature.E. Later in 1937, Golding returns to E. Later in 1937, Golding returns to

Oxford for a Diploma in EducationOxford for a Diploma in Education

III. Influences on Golding’s III. Influences on Golding’s WorkWork

A. TeachingA. Teaching1. taught English and 1. taught English and

philosophy at a philosophy at a number of grammar number of grammar schoolsschools

2. where he met his 2. where he met his wife Ann wife Ann

3. studied how young 3. studied how young children interacted children interacted with one anotherwith one another

B. World War IIB. World War II

1. Joined the Royal Navy 1. Joined the Royal Navy

2. Helped sink 2. Helped sink Germany’s Germany’s BismarckBismarck

3. Was part of D-Day in 3. Was part of D-Day in FranceFrance

4. Changed his view of man – 4. Changed his view of man – came to believe that came to believe that everyone had an evil sideeveryone had an evil side

C. Literary InfluencesC. Literary Influences

1. Classical literature1. Classical literature

2. Mythology2. Mythology

3. Christian symbolism3. Christian symbolism

IV. IV. Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies BackgroundBackground

A. Started from an idea he had A. Started from an idea he had while reading while reading The Coral IslandThe Coral Island to his kidsto his kids

1. Golding believed that 1. Golding believed that this idyllic setting/plot was this idyllic setting/plot was anything but realisticanything but realistic

B. Began working on it in 1952B. Began working on it in 1952

C. Originally called “Strangers C. Originally called “Strangers from Within”from Within”

D. In 1953, he begins sending D. In 1953, he begins sending it to publishers, where it was it to publishers, where it was turned down by more than turned down by more than 20 of them20 of them

1. sensitive subject 1. sensitive subject mattermatter

2. no one wanted 2. no one wanted something so pessimistic something so pessimistic to be publishedto be published

E. Finally accepted after E. Finally accepted after changes to the text, and it changes to the text, and it was published in 1954 as was published in 1954 as The The Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

V. Other Life EventsV. Other Life Events

A. 1962 – resigned A. 1962 – resigned from teaching and from teaching and focused on writing focused on writing full timefull time

B. 1963 – Brook’s film B. 1963 – Brook’s film Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies was was shown at Cannesshown at Cannes

C. 1983 – Awarded the C. 1983 – Awarded the Nobel Prize for Nobel Prize for LiteratureLiterature

D. 1988 – knighted D. 1988 – knighted