Propose and Significance of the study

William Golding was honored with Nobel Literature Prize for his allegorical novel Lord of the Flies in 1983. And Nobel Prize in Literature awarded him ”for his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today.” These words indicate the unique artistic features applied in this novel, that is perspicuous narration style and various mythological quality.

Lord of the Flies was created during World War II and was classified as desert island literature. On the whole, desert island literature refers to all the literary works in which a remote and uncivilized island functions as the background of the story. Some most famous such as William Shakespeare#8217;s The Tempest(1610), Defoe#8217;s Robinson Crusoe(1719), R.M. Ballantyne#8217;s The Coral Island(1858) and R.L.Stevenson#8217;s Treasure Island(1883), occupies one stream of the desert island literature. They are usually known as traditional desert island literature. These works mainly attach importance on optimistic aspect of rational and civilization and praise kindness of humankind highly while Lord of the Flies reveals darkness and savagery in humanity. Another significance of Lord of the Flies is several artistic features applied in it. What distinguish Golding#8217;s novel from traditional desert island literature are William Golding#8217;s army life and his ten years#8217; teaching career. Golding has experienced World War I and joined British Royal Navy during World War II, this makes him realize the tragedy of war and human beings and began to doubt whether human nature is kind, breaking continuation of the traditional Victoria#8217;s blind confidence towards human nature. On the other hand, his close contact with teenagers urges him to expose human#8217;s darkness nature.

In a word, it is of great significance for us to peruse this book and study on writing techniques. This can not only benefit our ability in appreciating literary works and our writing skills, but also deepen our understanding in the theme of human#8217;s development and arouse our contemplation on human society.

Literature review

A mass of critics and scholars were attracted to be involved in digging into Lord of the Flies. There published papers mainly are on plots, characters and themes of the novel. In addition, one of the reasons that the novel has drawn so much attention is Golding#8217;s superb writing techniques applied in it. Application of absurdity, symbolism, irony and perspicuous and blunt narrative style are the most often studied.

Wu(2012) and Song(2006) made their reviews on the novel from the perspective of absurdity. They both figured out absurdity in setting and plots. It is known to us all that setting of the book is under an unspecified nuclear war. They pointed out that absurdity in setting shows Golding#8217;s concern over irrational world and human destiny, deepening meanings hidden behind the novel. When they wrote on absurdity in plots, Wu(2012) came up with some typical plots in the novel, such as setting signal fires, first sharp conflict between Ralph and Jack, Simon#8217;s dialogue with Lord of the Flies. In addition,Wu(2012) also held the view that behaviors and psychology changes of the two main characters (Ralph and Roger) are reflections of absurdity.

However, Wu(2012) pointed out that object images , including conch shell, signal fires, Piggy#8217;s glasses and painted faces, to be absurd. Moreover, Wu(2012) analyzed human images, including choir members and naval officer, they are reflecting absurdity. Wu(2012) held the view that both irony and absurdity were embodying by these two images.

Song(2006) also put forward a new concept in the novel combined with absurdity, that is ”defamiliarization”. Plots concerning Simon#8217;s death and Piggy#8217;s death, especially Jack#8217;s choir members#8217; behaviors and their hunting for Ralph at the end of the story, present us readers a totally different child image from real life. This is totally unfamiliar to us, for ordinary children are not like that. Ordinary children is a kind of children like Ralph who would organize conch meetings, setting signal fires and building shacks when they were isolated in a deserted island. From references gathered, I can find out that there is few paper concentrated on analysis of defamiliarization. More details are needed on the basis of Song#8217;s point of view.

The art of irony in Lord of the Flies is effective and vivid. Most of the scholars analyzed it from aspects of characters, plots and theme. Irony also arises from the contrasts between the characters#8217; words spoken early and words spoken later, between their actions completed early and actions completed later, and between scenes at the beginning and at the end of the story(Zhang,2012). Liu(2008) and Zhang(2012) enumerated details in the novel about three main characters, Ralph, Jack and Piggy.