Considering the presentation of Ralph in Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Ralph changes throughout the novel and what he represents.
Key learning points
- As elected leader, Ralph represents an early desire for law, order and civility.
- Golding uses colour symbolism to characterise Ralph as possessing the qualities of an effective and charismatic leader.
- Ralph's participation in the murder of Simon illustrates human beings' capacity for savagery and brutality.
- Ralph's naivety fades away as he begins to recognise the savagery that exists in supposedly-civilised people.
- Ralph's faith in democracy is arguably his greatest strength and his greatest weakness.
Keywords
Protagonist - the main character in a text
Charismatic - charming and compelling
Naïve - showing a lack of effective judgement, often based on a lack of experience or optimism
Heinous - extremely wicked and cruel
Democracy - a system of government whereby leaders are voted in by election
Common misconception
Students have a tendency to view Ralph as a morally-virtuous character who does no wrong.
Ralph does behave immorally and wickedly in the text - he is mean to Piggy about his asthma and he participates in the murder of Simon. What separates Ralph from the others is the remorse he shows for his actions and how he learns from them.
Teacher tip
You could challenge students to think about what Golding is trying to show us about democracy - that it is fragile. They could then link this to the WWII backdrop the novel is set against.
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 serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How did Ralph gain power in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q2.What colour hair does Ralph have in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q3.Which boys side with Ralph throughout 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.Which of the following statements about William Golding is true?
Q5.In the beginning of 'Lord of the Flies', how does Ralph react to the realisation that there are no grown-ups on the island?
Q6.What are the common traits of a democratic leader?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which words does Golding use to characterise Ralph in the beginning of 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q2.The is the main character in a text.
Q3.What is Ralph's main priority as leader in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.What might Ralph represent in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q5.What decision does Ralph make in the first chapter of 'Lord of the Flies' that could be described as naive?
Q6.In what way does Ralph change in 'Lord of the Flies'?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Considering the presentation of Ralph 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: Considering the presentation of Ralph 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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.