Blog #11, Alan George, Blogger 7-10

Aim: How does the symbolism depicted in the Lord of the Flies contribute to Golding's comment on the human condition?

Do Now: For this week, I am asking each teammate to make a statement about last night's reading (Chapter 9 from Lord of the Flies) to to your group mates. Each of you will get to speak for at least one minute while others diligently listen to your contribution. You may respond, ass new information, add insight, clarify, or question. 

Make one member the "timing-leader", to ensure each person gets to speak uninterrupted for one minute. Assign 1-2 members from your team that will share the whole team's thoughts with the class. 

Points made from the discussion of the Do Now:
 - Summary of what happened in Chapter 9:

•  Simon found the body of the dead parachutist during the daylight, once he woke up from his conversation with the "beast" (Deluded by his own thought, Simon had a conversation with a pig's head on a stick; symbolizing the "beast" in this case.)
• The rest of the boys with Jack planned to ambush the "beast". 
• Simon went out to tell the others he found the dead parachutist, but the rest of the boys mistook him for the "beast". (Simon went to see the other boys during nighttime, confusing the boys of Simon for being the "beast".)
• The rest of the boys chanted with no thought or reason, and attacked Simon with their bare hands in the "heat of the moment". (Simon's corpse was left at the beach he was attacked in and swept away by the sea.)
• A storm erupted onto the island, making the rest of the boys unaware of who they killed and looked for shelter. (The dead parachutist was also swept away by the storm.) (Now, no physical evidence of the beast is left there on the island.)

- Analysis of Chapter 9 from the Do Now:

• A storm is usually a sign of destruction and foreshadows how the worst in a situation has yet to come. 
• Jack can still use the conception of the Beast if he wants too, since there is no more physical evidence on the island for the "beast". (The "beast" shifts from a fear of a physical creature or thing, into a fear for survival in a mental level.)
• WWII similarities are seen in this chapter: Jack's followers mindlessly follow Jack's orders; just as Hitler's followers mindlessly followed Hitler. The mob mentality of savagery over reason grows on the island; just as right after the war, people in Europe and Japan now lived in a "no man's land", and political instability became common.
• Jack and the rest acted upon instinct than reason. (Shift from reason into savagery.)

Do Later: Identify each object, and what it means to the general, American public. 

American Flag: Symbol of great pride, patriotism, and nationality to an American. The flag is also a symbol of freedom, prosperity, liberty, and the foundations of our county.

Ying-Yang: Symbol of balance of good and evil in the world. Shows duality and coexistence of good and evil together, just as seen from the image of the angel and demon found in Blog #9.)

"Swastika": Initially, a symbol of fear and horror. A recollection of fear and grueling memories from WWII. However, the symbol above is a reverse of the actual swastika symbol, and is seen in many Indian and East Asian cultures as being a symbol of peace and prosperity

   - Symbols can shift, change, and evolve in meaning across time. (Greatest example: Swastika from being a symbol of peace and propserity, into a symbol of terror and dread from the events of Nazi Germany and WWII.)

Symbolism: The conscious and artful use of symbols, objects, actions, or characters meant to be taken both literally and as a representative of some higher, more complex and abstract significance that lies beyond ordinary meaning. 

FOIL Note-taking: 

    F - Focused 

    O - On-point

    I - Important information

    L - List Examples