... is a much more serious theme. The idea of the loss of innocence is one of the prominent themes in Lord of the Flies. At the start of the book, World War II is going on, and the boys" plane is shot down over the ocean. This large-scale war off of the island foreshadows what will eventually become of the children on the island in the near future. Throughout the entire story, we see the boys on the island gradually transform from orderly, well ... an actual thing on the island, for that matter. The beast represents the natural human need for power, and the inescapable cruelty and savagery ...

• Word Count: 1683
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School