Symbolism and Theme

As you learned throughout this topic, author William Golding’s use of symbolism enriched certain themes. In this assignment, you are going to choose one example of symbolism and explain how it helps to define the theme of the novel. It may be helpful to review some of the examples of symbolism listed below:

• The Conch
• Fire
• The Beast
• Painted Faces and Long Hair
• Spears
• Piggy’s Glasses
• The Dagger

You are not limited to the listed examples. Golding uses more symbolism in the novel than what is in the short list provided on this page. If you find another example please discuss it with your instructor. Once you have selected your example, create a document that explains the use of the symbol and how it defines a certain theme. Your explanation should include the symbol, the theme you are addressing, which character(s) best represent the symbol/theme, and two different quotes (with page numbers) that relate to the explanation. The themes that were discussed in this topic are listed below for your review.

• Society fosters conditions that hold people together, and without these conditions, our ideas, values, and the basics of right and wrong are lost.
• Morals come directly from our surroundings, and if there is no civilization around us, we will lose these values.
• People will abuse power when it is not earned.
• When given a chance, people often single out another to degrade in order to improve their own security.
• You can only cover up inner savagery so long before it breaks out, given the right situation.
• It is better to examine the consequences of a decision before you make it than to discover them afterward.
• The fear of the unknown can be a powerful force, which can either provide insight or trigger hysteria.

Before you begin, access the Symbolism and Theme Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. If resources outside of this course are used to complete the assignment, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.

Once you have completed your Symbolism and Theme Explanation, please submit your work to the dropbox.