A great way to engage your students is through storyboards that use vocabulary from Lord of the Flies. Here is a list of a few vocabulary words commonly taught with the novel and an example of a visual vocabulary board
.In the vocabulary board students can choose between coming up with their use of the vocabulary board, finding the specific example from the text, or depicting it without words.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in Lord of the Flies by creating visualizations.
Begin the class using an interesting opening such as asking an open-ended question. Build on the lecture using the students' answers and provide a simple definition of the concept. Explain to the students that just like traditions and cultures, the words and their meanings also change over time.
Give instances of terms from various eras that have suffered semantic drift. For instance, the term "knight" may now conjure images of someone wielding a sword and shield rather than a valiant person in armor.
Teachers can select writings from literature written long ago and recent novels or poems for the students. Students can try and find similar words used in different contexts. Teachers can turn it into an interesting game such as “spot the similar word”.
Ask students open-ended questions to encourage their critical thinking skills. For instance, teachers can ask them why they think semantic drift happens. Do other things also change over time? Do they think the words they use today can be used differently in the future?
Encourage your students to be linguistically curious. Remind them that they may research the historical development and adaptation of language. Engage them with interesting examples and activities that they can use to understand the concept. For instance, drawing the meaning of two similar words which have changed meaning over time.
The conch shell is a potent representation of strength and discipline. It summons the boys to a conference where only the boy who is holding the conch has the right to speak. The conch's impact diminishes as the plot goes on, symbolizing the collapse of civilization. Initially, the Conch was acquired by Ralph as the rest of the group considered him their leader. After Ralph and Jack fight over power, the group becomes more barbaric and the conch does not hold any more importance.
Piggy's use of complex vocabulary demonstrates his intelligence and education. It distinguishes him from the other boys and draws attention to his yearning for logic and reason in contrast to the island's escalating disorder. Students can also analyze the vocabulary used in the story as symbolism in itself.