This lesson plan helps students analyze the major themes, symbols and motifs in *Lord of the Flies* by William Golding using a visual storyboard organizer.
Subject: English Language Arts · Grade: 9–11 · Time: 45–60 minutes
Major themes
| Theme | Description | Key scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Civilization vs. savagery | The conflict between order and chaos | The conch, Jack's tribe |
| Loss of innocence | Boys descend into brutality | Simon's death, Piggy's death |
| Evil | The inherent evil in human nature | The beast, the Lord of the Flies |
| Leadership | Ralph vs. Jack, democratic vs. authoritarian | The assemblies, Jack's hunters |
Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The conch | Democracy, order, civilization |
| Piggy's glasses | Intelligence, science, rationality |
| The beast | The evil within human beings |
| The Lord of the Flies | Satan, the devil, evil |
| The signal fire | Hope, connection to civilization |
Motifs
- Face paint: Loss of identity, descent into savagery
- Hunting: Primal instincts, violence
- Fire: Destruction and hope
Activity: Storyboard the symbols
- Open Storyboard Creator with a 6-panel layout
- Choose 3 symbols from above
- For each symbol, create 2 panels showing it in the novel and explaining its meaning
- Add captions with chapter numbers
- Export PDF or share a live link