Activity: Interpreting Simon’s Death — Meaning, Symbolism, and Sacrifice
Instructions for students:
In your group, explore the interpretation assigned to you. Prepare a short presentation (3–5 minutes) explaining your interpretation of Simon’s death, its meaning in literature, and how Golding uses it to develop the novel’s themes. Include at least one quote from Chapter 9 to support your ideas.
Group 1 — Simon as a Christ-like Figure (Spiritual Sacrifice)
Investigate how Simon’s death can be read as a symbolic sacrifice similar to religious or Christ-like figures. Consider his kindness, isolation, encounter with the “Lord of the Flies,” and his attempt to bring truth to the others.
Group 2 — The Death of Innocence
Explore Simon’s death as the moment when the boys lose the last piece of innocence on the island. Discuss how this turning point shows the collapse of morality and the triumph of savagery.
Group 3 — Humanity’s Fear of Truth
Examine how Simon’s death represents humanity’s tendency to reject or destroy uncomfortable truths. The boys kill him exactly as he tries to reveal the truth about the “beast.” What does this say about human nature?
Group 4 — Mob Mentality and Collective Violence
Look at Simon’s death as an example of how ordinary people can become violent when swept up in a crowd. Analyze the storm, the chanting, the dancing, and how the group’s identity overrides individual responsibility.
Group 5 — Nature vs. Civilization
Interpret Simon’s death as a clash between natural goodness and the breakdown of civilization. Consider Simon’s connection to nature (the forest, his quiet observations) and how his death symbolizes the destruction of natural harmony.
Group 6 — Fate, Tragedy, and Inevitability
Discuss Simon’s death as a tragic and inevitable moment in the novel. Was Simon doomed from the beginning because of who he was? How does his death fit traditional patterns of tragedy or sacrifice in literature?
