2. Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a tropical island after their plane is shot down during a war.

3. As the boys splinter into factions, some behave peacefully and work together to maintain order and achieve common goals, while others rebel and seek only anarchy and violence

4. The jungle brings out the best and worst in the characters. Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society, the boys on the island in Lord of the Flies descend into savagery.

5. Ralph is the athletic, charismatic protagonist of Lord of the Flies. Elected the leader of the boys at the beginning of the novel, Ralph sets about building huts and thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. Most of the rest of the other boys initially are concerned with playing, having fun, and avoiding work.

6. However, as time goes on, a new leader, Jack, arises. Jack, as it turns out, is cruel and shows the worst characteristics of humankind. Jack desires power above all other things. The more savage Jack becomes, the more he is able to control the rest of the group.

7. An excerpt from Lord of the Flies...

8. MATURE THEME BOOK Recommended for Grade 6/7 Contains mature themes: if you are interested, please have a discussion with both your parent and your teacher about whether this it a suitable book for you. Higher reading level: many readers will find the book very challenging to read.