Friday 16 March 2012

The A Team-Ukulele Cover

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Friday 20 January 2012

English Essay - Lord of the Flies

What you should know...
For this essay we had identify challenges faced by adolescents growing up and how they were portrayed in the book. We had forty-five minutes to complete it and were allowed a one sided, A4 sheet of notes. My mark? 90/100



There is an assortment of challenges to be tackled when growing up. Social order, mental and emotion survival, violence and fear, to name a few. These challenges have been vividly displayed through an assortment of language devices and techniques by William Golding in his 1954 novel, Lord of the Flies.

Social order is a challenge young people may come across as they group. The composer uses characterization to show this. '"I ought to be chief," said Jack with simple arrogance. "because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing a C sharp."' Jack uses his old school status and talents to gain a high social status upon the island. He comes across as pigheaded and self centered. The responder immediately dislikes him and thinks he is a very vain boy. Social order is a challenge as all children wish to be accepted by their peers.

Another challenge that children may deal with when growing up is mental and emotional survival. Golding conveys this through the alliteration of the 'C'. 'There was another time of comparative coolness but menaced by the coming of night.' This short period of calm is the only chance the boys have to relax completely as they are frightened by the approaching night and the darkness and fears it brings. 'Comparative coolness' refers to the boys' childish fears and nightmares. After reading this the responder feels empathy towards the boys, as they are only children. Mental and emotional survival is a challenge for children as they can have trouble dealing with or sharing their problems.

A third challenge young people could face when growing up is violence. In Lord of the Flies it is shown through the symbolism of Piggy's broken glasses and foreshadowing of his later death. 'Jack smacked Piggy's head. Piggy's glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror. | "My specs!"' The broken spectacles symbolise the later broken and battered Piggy. They also foreshadow his death, even this early in the novel. After this violent outburst the responder's current dislike for Jack is increased. They also begin to fear Jack, as they wonder how far he'll go for dominance. Violence is a challenge for Piggy in this case becaus ehe doesn't have the self confiedence to fight back and this is true for many others.

Fear is a major challenge young people face when growing up. It is displayed in the personification of the sow's head. '"Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill! [sic] You knew didn't you? I'm part of you?"' The Lord of the Flies represents everything the boys fear and the evil savagery in each of them. This fear, amongst others, causes Simon to hallucinate that the pig's head speaks, hence the personification. This speech leaves the responder questioning this fear and savagery. the responder is also frightened as they realize this fear is inside everyone. Fear is a challenge for young people as they grow up and begin to question themselves and the world around them.

There is an assortment of challenges to be tackled when growing up. Social order and the need for acceptance. Mental and emotional survival and the ability to deal with one's problems. Violence and the bravery to stand up to it. Fear and the corage to over come it. These are just a few of the challenges youths face when growing up.