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Great Depression
The great depression was kind of what started the war that happened. This is the reason the boys had to leave because of the war. Piggy Claims ""He must have flown off after he dropped us. He couldn't land here. Not in a place with wheels."
"We was attacked!"
"He'll be back all right."
The fat boy shook his head.
"When we was coming down I looked through one of them windows. I saw the other
part of the plane. There were flames coming out of it." (Golding 5) -
Amelia Earhart becomes the first female aviator to successfully fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
This was very important for the author to know. This meant that we knew it was possible to fly across the ocean. So it was good for the boys to fly across the ocean because it was possible. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected as the President of the United States.
I related Franklin Roosevelt getting elected to the boys picking a chief. Everyone had to choose who they wanted as chief just like people pick who they want to be president. "This toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch. Jack started to protest but the clamor changed from the general wish for a chief to an election by acclaim of Ralph himself."(Golding 16) -
The first successful solo around-the-world flight is completed by Wiley Post.
This is another reason the author was inspired to write the place scene. At this point we knew it was possible to fly around the world. This would result in the boys being able to make it across the world if they had to. -
Wall Street Strike
This strike was a protest. I relate this to when the boys kill the pig and they start chanting. During protest you're normally chanting something. Although the boys weren't protesting I felt it was kind of similar. ""Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"" (Golding 118) -
Federal Securities Laws Drafted
On the island the boys had to make some rules. So I think the author might have been Inspired by all the acts being passed that provided different laws. ""And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have
'Hands up' like at school."
He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth.
"Then I'll give him the conch."
"Conch?"
"That's what this shell's called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can
hold it when he's speaking."" (Golding 25) -
Penguin produces their first paperback books, bringing affordable modern literature to the masses.
I like to think this helped the boys learn certain things. I know they are just paperback books but I think it was important for the boys to know how to read and gain that information. It would help their speaking and it could help them on the island. -
Germany begins its persecution of Jews.
This is important because this is what started the war. The boys wouldn't have been flying across the ocean if Germany never started killing Jews. -
War of the Worlds
The war of worlds was about alien things attacking the world. In lord of the flies the boys constantly fear the beast. So the beast could be that alien like creature in a way. ""So this is a meeting to find out what's what. I'll tell you what's what. You littluns
started all this, with the fear talk. Beasts! Where from? Of course we're frightened sometimes but we put up with being frightened. Only Ralph says you scream in the night. What does that mean but nightmares..." (Golding 63) -
Germany attacks Poland starting World War II.
This progresses even more causing most kids to move to America or somewhere safer then Europe. In lord of the flies the boys had to leave because of the war. They were most likely going to America. -
Russian Revolution leader Leon Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico City.
I feel like the author may have used assignations to inspire him to figure out the way some of the Boys die. For example Simons Death. "The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise something about a body on the hill. The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water.(Golding 118) -
The Blitz
While not directly stated, this attack may be the battle that sent the boy's plane down, or it may be the battle that sent the pilot that "fell and crumpled among the blue mountain." (Golding 130) -
Pearl Harbor
While providing an entrance for the US into WW2, This event would lead towards the Allied powers gaining ground in the war, which may have been what lead to the boys being rescued as the war ended. -
Anne Frank Goes Into Hiding
Towards the end of LOF we learn that Ralph is hiding from Jack's tribe. So I feel like maybe Golding was inspired by Anne Frank's story. "Hide was better than a tree because you had a chance of breaking the line if you were discovered. Hide, then." (Golding 154) -
Italy Joins The Allied Powers
Once again, the power growing for the Allied Powers allowed for the war to end quicker, allowing the boys less time to kill each other. -
German troops and police entered the Warsaw Ghetto
This could have inspired Golding when the boys are getting rescued. The island was burning and people came to get the boys off the Island. During this event the Germans burned down the Warsaw Ghetto and Cleared out anyone living there. -
The first V-1 flying bomb attack
This event could be what lead the boys plane to getting shot down. As it claims in chapter 1 ""We was attacked!"
"He'll be back all right."
The fat boy shook his head.
"When we was coming down I looked through one of them windows. I saw the other part of the plane. There were flames coming out of it." (Golding 5) -
World War 2 Ends In Europe
Following numerous fire bomb runs, Germany surrenders, ending World War 2 with the allies in favor. The event gives Golding 6 years of events to use as reference for Lord of the Flies. -
Soviet Union Develops An Atomic Bomb
While yet to be used, Golding might have used this event as a way to write about a future war that might happen using "the atomic bomb..." (Golding 11) -
Joseph McCarthy's Red Scare Starts
By putting Americans against each other, falsely claiming once is a communist and therefore a fake American, we're show how nonsensical rivalry's can be, something that Golding could have used for building the rivalry between Jack and Ralph. -
Baby Boom
Post-war, all of the soldiers are coming home and having children with their wives. Due to this, the generation after theirs is much larger, still carrying the repercussions nearly 70 years later. -
"The World Is Yours!"
This was a television show released. I feel like the author could have used this. The boys are the only ones on the island so the world is practically there's. -
US and Japan sign a peace treaty
After dropping two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese eventually agree to signing a peace treaty with the US, which end WW2. This could have inspired Golding to have the boys join together in the end to avoid any more deaths on the island. -
The Korean War ends after three years
This could of inspired the Author to write about how the war between the boys finally ended. In the end of the story we learn "He gave
himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body." (Golding 157-158) -
The Soviet Union detonates its first hydrogen bomb
This could be what happens as the boys return home. The author may not have wrote that but I feel like if there was another story things with bombs and stuff would happen throughout the second story. -
The re-election of Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston may have had inspiration on different characters in the book like Ralph and Piggy. His reaction allowed Golding to experience his political choices longer which lead him towards more interesting character traits he could use for the characters. -
Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister in England and is defeated for re-election.
This could help Golding decide if Ralph is still chief or not. Jack and most of the boys turned on him and as far as we are concerned he isn't chief. -
Sputnik 1
This launch was able to provide important development of international politics as the first space race between Soviet Union and the United States, this race would end up meaning so much more. Golding could have used this race to give you the idea that what is happening on the island has a bigger meaning then we are actually seeing. -
Bobby Fischer
This man was a chess master. I feel like maybe Golding used his personality and his smarts to make Piggy. Piggy is smart and his personality is very bold.
