Module 7: Survival
Imagine living in a world or society where there are no adults, no rules, and no authority figures. What would life be like? Would it be complete chaos? Who would decide what was right and what was wrong? Who would enforce those decisions?
An issue that has been debated greatly in society is the idea of nature versus nurture. In other words, why do people end up with certain personalities and behavior attributes? Is violent behavior something people learn or something with which they are born?
During your study of William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, you will explore some of these issues as you read about a group of young boys who end up stranded on a deserted island. You will uncover some basic questions about human behavior that you might not have previously considered.
Getting Started
Imagine suddenly living in a society with no rules. Would you be able to survive with no laws? What rules are unnecessary? What rules should be kept? Create a two-column chart to address some of the rules that affect you on a daily basis. On the left side of the chart, list those rules that you think are unnecessary and why, and on the right side of the chart, list those rules that you think should be kept and why. Try to write a minimum of three rules in each column.
Key Vocabulary
To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.
| allusion | enmity | multitudinous |
| archetype | essayed | mutinously |
| antagonism | exposition | myopia |
| antiphonal | festooned | obscure |
| assent | foreshadowing | officious |
| assimilation | furrowing | pall |
| baffled | furtive | parody |
| bastion | gesticulate | pax |
| blatant | grimaced | pinnacle |
| brandishing | impalpable | preposterous |
| cause | impenetrable | protruded |
| cessation | impervious | purged |
| contemptuously | inarticulate | recrimination |
| convulsion | incantation | situation irony |
| cordon | incompetence | stark |
| covert | incredulous | susurration |
| creepers | indignant | symbolism |
| crepitation | indirect characterization | tacitly |
| cynicism | inscrutable | theme |
| declivities | interminable | tremulously |
| demure | jeeringly | truculently |
| derision | lament | tumult |
| diddle | leeward | typhoon |
| diffidently | leviathan | ululation |
| direct characterization | ludicrous | verbal irony |
| discursive | malevolent | vicissitude |
| dramatic irony | martyred | virtuous |
| ebullience | menace | windward |
| effect | mirage | |
| empathy | mortification |