Examples of irony in lord of the flies. What are examples of irony in Lord of the Flies? 2023-01-05

Examples of irony in lord of the flies Rating: 7,1/10 1473 reviews

Irony is a literary device that involves a contrast or discrepancy between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs. In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, irony is used to convey the theme that the inherent evil in human nature can lead to the breakdown of society.

One example of irony in the novel is the fact that the boys, who were originally stranded on the island in order to evacuate them from the dangers of the war, end up causing their own demise through their violent actions. The boys were meant to be rescued, but their actions ultimately prevent that from happening.

Another example of irony is the fact that the boys choose Ralph as their leader, despite the fact that he represents order and civilization, while Jack, who represents savagery and chaos, is seen as the antagonist. However, as the novel progresses, the roles of Ralph and Jack become reversed, with Ralph struggling to maintain order and Jack becoming more powerful and dominant. This ironic twist highlights the corrupting influence of power and the inherent evil that can emerge in the absence of structure and authority.

Additionally, the concept of the "beast" is ironic in the novel. At first, the boys believe that there is a literal beast on the island, and they are terrified of it. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the real beast is not an animal, but rather the boys' own inner savagery and brutality. This ironic twist highlights the danger of fear and how it can lead to irrational and destructive behavior.

Overall, the use of irony in Lord of the Flies serves to illustrate the theme that the inherent evil in human nature can lead to the breakdown of society. It also highlights the dangers of power, fear, and the absence of structure and authority, and the corrupting influence they can have on individuals.

Examples of Irony in Lord of the Flies

examples of irony in lord of the flies

We only know him as Piggy. He uses similar phrases at several points throughout the story. The irony, of course, is that the boys mistake Simon for the beast. Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. When Sam and Eric first discover the beast, Golding reveals that the creature was merely a dead parachutist whose corpse was tangled within the trees. Another example of irony of situation is when Jack and the choir leave the fire to go hunting.

Next

What are examples of irony in Lord of the Flies?

examples of irony in lord of the flies

Although the naval officer saves Ralph, the ending of Lord of the Flies still is not particularly happy, and the moment in which the officer encounters the boys is not one of untainted joy. His attempted use of smoke creates an out of control, chaotic fire that burns down the entire island around them. William Golding makes extensive use of irony in Lord of the Flies. What is ironic about the ending of Lord of the flies? This is shown through symbolism, like the fire, which represents the fear in the group, the boys, which represents how humanity has corrupted the world we live in, and the Lord of the Flies, which represents the monster inside of us and how it affects our lives. Although the naval officer saves Ralph, the ending of Lord of the Flies still is not particularly happy, and the moment in which the officer encounters the boys is not one of untainted joy.

Next

What is the irony in Lord of the Flies?

examples of irony in lord of the flies

Finally, there is the irony of the boys desperately needing a grownup and the fact that when one shows up in the form of a dead parachutist, he actually makes things worse. They ain't afraid of the dark. Not only do they kill the pigs, they enjoy it tremendously. Sometimes the author makes the tone very pleasant and dreamy, like every thing is good and ok, when all of the sudden the story is flipped completely, changing the whole outcome of the story. At the end of the novel, the destructive fire started by Jack catches the attention of a passing ship and leads to their rescue. For example, we expect expensive food to be good, so it can be ironic if an expensive burger tastes the same as a fast food burger. His hesitation allows his potential prey to escape.

Next

What is an example of dramatic irony in Lord of the Flies?

examples of irony in lord of the flies

Shortly, fear, disagreements, and struggles for control turn civilized boys into savages. They can't discuss and agree on things. Piggy's verbally ironic assessment that the boys are acting like children illustrates the group's mistaken belief that they can act like adults. After understanding the complex, yet realistic, view of life he remembers his first impression of the island and how he thought they would have fun on the island, like living in one of his books. The adult in question is the dead parachutist, whom most of the boys mistake for a mythical beast that has supposedly been rampaging around the island. This is actually a device called a deus ex machina or God in the machine.


Next

Irony in Lord of the Flies Free Essay Example 667 words

examples of irony in lord of the flies

. They set rules and elect leaders. Exploring examples of irony in Lord of the Flies will provide a clear understanding of the technique and its effectiveness. In the story the boys believe that there is a beast on the island, but as one of the boys Simon finds out the truth, that the beast is not a monster that you would cast in your nightmares, but something that is inside everyone on the island. We're English, and the English are best at everything. Ralph is keen, throughout the novel, to keep a fire going — so that the boys have a chance of being rescued — while Jack is more interested in hunting. This evil can present itself in anybody if the circumstances permit.

Next

What are some examples of irony in Lord of the Flies?

examples of irony in lord of the flies

The page numbers I have given are for my edition of the book. By juxtaposing the reality of what the beast is against what the boys believe it is, Golding creates a dramatic irony that leads to Simon's death. Another example of irony is when the boys are rescued and will return to civilization after becoming wild savages on the island. In fact, the boys' experience was the exact opposite of what took place in the story. Explain how the fire at the end of the novel is heavily ironic.


Next

Lord of the Flies: Irony, Sample of Essays

examples of irony in lord of the flies

The idea that power corrupts is another theme established through irony. This quote does an excellent job of showing the overall irony of this entire novel and how this literary technique explains the innate evil that all mankind share. Why is the answer to his wish depressingly ironic? Another example is when Jack cannot hurt a pig while hunting but is later able to kill Piggy with no regrets. The readers would be able to finish the novel without thinking about the issues that you are meant to ponder after reading Lord of the Flies, such as evil, spirituality, society, man versus the unknown, man versus himself and many other important themes in the book. Due to the boys' irrational fear of the beast, they turn to Jack for protection, who takes the opportunity to consolidate his power and control.

Next

Irony in Lord of the Flies by William Golding

examples of irony in lord of the flies

If they had been able to meet and discuss they boys would have never fleed their school and would have never been shot down, therefore avoiding ever being on the island. It poses no threat to the boys. His prayer is answered by a dead parachuter, a casualty of war from the fighting going on in civilized society. Fear in Lord of the Flies Essays — Fear in Lord of the Flies In the novel the Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, fear is the cause of all of the problems that take place on the island. Now he realized what life on the island would really be like. The boys think so little of Piggy that they never even bother to learn his real name. Furthermore,… The Irony Used in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce and Stephen Crane's the Blue Hotel Many authors use irony to impact the story in different ways.

Next

What is an example of situational irony in Lord of the Flies?

examples of irony in lord of the flies

The dead man is powerless to help the boys. We would not expect a preacher to preach against his own vice. I was choosing a place. Jack soon questions the ability of a signal fire to get them rescued. Salinger examines the many sides of behavior and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the novel.

Next

Lord Of The Flies Irony Analysis

examples of irony in lord of the flies

The biggest irony is, of course, that the boys are rescued because of Jack lighting the island on fire. The irony is that they are kids. What is the conclusion in Lord of the flies? Irony, in literature can be anything from sarcasm to a shocking plot twist that can be inconvenient to the characters toward the end. Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. What is the moral in Lord of the flies? An instance where situational irony occurs is in the prologue where the Pardoner states that he preaches that the root of all evil is avarice.

Next