The dehumanisation and death of Piggy in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the significance of Piggy's death in the novel.
Key learning points
- Piggy is dehumanised and ostracised by the group of boys because of his physical appearance.
- Piggy's glasses, weight, asthma and lower-class upbringing all give him vulnerabilities that the other boys exploit.
- The boys treat Piggy like an animal, but he is ironically the most human and civilised character.
- Piggy is pragmatic: he arguably represents rationality, reason and civilisation.
- Piggy's death metaphorically represents the death of civilisation and the abandonment of rationality.
Keywords
To ostracise - to intentionally not include somebody in a social group or activity
Pragmatic - dealing with things in a sensible and realistic way
Irony - using language to express the opposite of what is expected, for humour
To dehumanise - to deprive someone of human qualities
Vulnerable - able to be hurt physically or emotionally
Common misconception
Pupils often fail to recognise Ralph's role in the ostracism of Piggy.
Ralph is the first person to ostracise Piggy, by banning him from accompanying the boys on their expedition. He also calls Piggy by the name he begged Ralph not to use - Piggy. Once Jack senses Piggy's vulnerability within the group, he exploits it.
Teacher tip
This could be a good opportunity to cover some SMSC with the students about bullying and the 'bystander' issue. Ralph only begins defending Piggy when it is too late. He should have defended him from the beginning.
Equipment
A copy of the Faber & Faber 1997 edition of 'Lord of the Flies' is essential for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The name 'Piggy' in 'Lord of the Flies' is ...
Q2.What condition does Piggy have in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q3.What do we learn about Piggy's parents in Chapter 1 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.What is Piggy's main priority on the island in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q5.How does Piggy die in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q6.Piggy is a very vulnerable character in 'Lord of the Flies'. What might the word 'vulnerable' mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the first character to exclude Piggy in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q2.What characteristics make Piggy different from the other boys in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q3.Choose one word to complete the following sentence: Throughout 'Lord of the Flies', Piggy is by the other boys.
Q4.What does 'to ostracise' mean?
Q5.What might Piggy represent in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q6.Golding may have chosen the name Piggy for his character in 'Lord of the Flies' because ...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: The dehumanisation and death of Piggy in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: The dehumanisation and death of Piggy in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Lord of the Flies' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.