Friday, June 29, 2012
Gilligan's Island Theme Song
Ha! I wonder if you are old enough to know about Gilligan's Island, the television series! Fortunately, I was unable to figure out how to have this song play repeatedly on the blog. Any other songs or videos that can make fun of LOTF (or seriously re-inforce it) can be suggested in the comment section.
The Garden of Eden
Ever read the Bible ? Some of it? How about watching a Hollywood version of a biblical story? Ever go to church and pay attention to the prayers, stories, and sermons? Knowledge of the Bible is vital to the interpretation and understanding of literary works (at least those from Western civilization). Can I get some feedback from previous IB'ers on the importance of biblical knowledge for the IB program? What about other cultures/religions?
The Lord of the Flies begins with children surviving a plane crash on a desserted island. The island is tropical, with a thick and lush jungle presenting plenty of "fruit" for these characters to pluck. There are importsant connections to be made between these two texts, and our author, Sir Golding, definitely desires that we recognize them. The story of the Garden of Eden can be found not only in the Bible, but online as well.
Here are the actual words, if my quick study proves accurate:
http://www.dltk-bible.com/genesis/chapter2-kjv.htm
One can always check out wikipedia, but it doesn't satisfy me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden
In our book, the children arrive on the island in the same state of innocence as Adam and Eve in the Bible. (It should be noted, however, that LOTF does not include any female characters. Interesting. Any thoughts from you, my dear readers?) This state of innocence, at least child-like innocence, is first emphasized when Ralph exclaims: "No grownups!" (p. 8). While Piggy continually attempts to introduce authority into the situation by constantly referring to his auntie, the lure of the state of nature and innocence hooks the rest of the young boys.
The word "fruit" is repeated throughout the first chapter. The repetition of this word keeps nudging me towards the concept of the Garden of Eden. Within the Garden of Eden grew the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. G-d forbade Adam and Eve from eating the fruit from this famous and dangerous tree. Yet, they did, committing the first act of evil, also known as disobedience to G-d, by a human being. Because of this transgression, Eve and Adam were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Can we see something similar with the LOTF? I don't know. What do you think?
Anyway, here are the three mentions of the word "fruit" in the first chapter. Please alert me if any were missed. Thanks.
On page 10, Piggy's excuse for not keeping up with Ralph: "I'm sorry I been such a time. Them fruit - "
On page 17, a description of one of the boys who arrive after the first sounding of the conch by Ralph: "his face covered with a sticky mess of fruit."
On page 18, three small children appear from the jungle, "where they had been gorging fruit."
Next we shall examine possible themes for LOTF. Any suggestions? (Anything from Animal Farm?) Put them into the comment section.
The Lord of the Flies begins with children surviving a plane crash on a desserted island. The island is tropical, with a thick and lush jungle presenting plenty of "fruit" for these characters to pluck. There are importsant connections to be made between these two texts, and our author, Sir Golding, definitely desires that we recognize them. The story of the Garden of Eden can be found not only in the Bible, but online as well.
Here are the actual words, if my quick study proves accurate:
http://www.dltk-bible.com/genesis/chapter2-kjv.htm
One can always check out wikipedia, but it doesn't satisfy me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden
In our book, the children arrive on the island in the same state of innocence as Adam and Eve in the Bible. (It should be noted, however, that LOTF does not include any female characters. Interesting. Any thoughts from you, my dear readers?) This state of innocence, at least child-like innocence, is first emphasized when Ralph exclaims: "No grownups!" (p. 8). While Piggy continually attempts to introduce authority into the situation by constantly referring to his auntie, the lure of the state of nature and innocence hooks the rest of the young boys.
The word "fruit" is repeated throughout the first chapter. The repetition of this word keeps nudging me towards the concept of the Garden of Eden. Within the Garden of Eden grew the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. G-d forbade Adam and Eve from eating the fruit from this famous and dangerous tree. Yet, they did, committing the first act of evil, also known as disobedience to G-d, by a human being. Because of this transgression, Eve and Adam were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Can we see something similar with the LOTF? I don't know. What do you think?
Anyway, here are the three mentions of the word "fruit" in the first chapter. Please alert me if any were missed. Thanks.
On page 10, Piggy's excuse for not keeping up with Ralph: "I'm sorry I been such a time. Them fruit - "
On page 17, a description of one of the boys who arrive after the first sounding of the conch by Ralph: "his face covered with a sticky mess of fruit."
On page 18, three small children appear from the jungle, "where they had been gorging fruit."
Next we shall examine possible themes for LOTF. Any suggestions? (Anything from Animal Farm?) Put them into the comment section.
Detective Work
Read as if you were a detective! Read slowly! Linger over provocative details, the details that stir a reaction of any sort, then ask yourself why were you so stirred. That is how I read, when I read academically. I would not read a newspaper article in such a manner. There are as many ways to read (and interpret) as there genres for writing. When reading a literary classic, especially if it is an assignment for school, read academically - that is, as a detective! Observe and collect. Seek patterns and repetitions. Question these images and ideas. I do. I write in the margins of every literary work I undertake to understand it best. I wrote "not nice" several times throughout the LOTF whenever Piggy was somehow treated unfairly. I circled almost every appearance of the word "fruit" in the beginning of the novel. I underlined most recurrences of the words "mirror" and "reflection." You should do the same.
Can you make external links to other books or historical events? No such thing as a poor initial attempt to grasp the central meaning of a book when using this approach. Ah, is there a repetition of this connection? As I say continually throughout the school year in my class room: "A good author emphasizes something by repeating it." Repetition can occur as a single word within a sentence or sentences ("Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!" This anaphora, spoken by Governor George Wallace during the civil rights movement of the 1960's, emphasizes his committment to Jim Crow Laws); it can occur as an idea or image re-represented with different words (synonyms) throughout a literary text (think of how equality is expressed within Animal Farm); and it can also occur as a theme, such as the motif of eyes in Elie Wiesel's Night. So grab your magnifying glass, put on your hat and trenchcoat, and enlist your friend Watson because we are going to investigate Sir William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies!"
Can you make external links to other books or historical events? No such thing as a poor initial attempt to grasp the central meaning of a book when using this approach. Ah, is there a repetition of this connection? As I say continually throughout the school year in my class room: "A good author emphasizes something by repeating it." Repetition can occur as a single word within a sentence or sentences ("Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!" This anaphora, spoken by Governor George Wallace during the civil rights movement of the 1960's, emphasizes his committment to Jim Crow Laws); it can occur as an idea or image re-represented with different words (synonyms) throughout a literary text (think of how equality is expressed within Animal Farm); and it can also occur as a theme, such as the motif of eyes in Elie Wiesel's Night. So grab your magnifying glass, put on your hat and trenchcoat, and enlist your friend Watson because we are going to investigate Sir William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies!"
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