All Quiet On The Western Front And Lord Of The Flies Comparison

Although Erich Maria Remarque wrote All Quiet on the Western Front in 1929, the theme can be compared to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies written 25 years later. In both Lord of the Flies and All Quiet on the Western Front the main characters struggle with identity and suffer from a loss of innocence. However, Golding expresses these themes through the use of symbolism, while Remarque expresses these themes through visual imagery. A literary theme is defined as a central topic or concept that the whole story is about. In both Lord of the Flies and All Quiet on the Western Front the main characters struggle with identity and suffer from a loss of innocence. Lord of the Flies shows a group of young boys who’s experiences render them much

Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel in which multiple characters signify important ideas or themes. Ralph represents order, leadership, and civilization. Piggy represents the intellectual aspects of civilization. He is by far the most intelligent character in the story. Additionally, Piggy represented rule and order on the island. Jack represents savagery and thirst for power. Similar to Ralph, Jack is inclined to leadership. Unlike Ralph Jack abuses his position above others. Jack can be described as "tall, thin, and bony: and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger” (Golding,3) Simon represents natural human goodness. His goodness comes out in his actions such as the time he recovered after Piggy’s glasses after they flew off of his face. Roger represents brutality. However at first Roger is held back by the “taboo” of his old life. Although he throws rocks in the direction of the litlums he doesn't aim for any of them. The island can be compared to the world and these boys can be compared to leaders. Civilized boys such as Ralph and Simon use their power to protect the younger boys, while savage boys such as Jack and Roger abuse their power to

Visual imagery can be defined as the use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas. When All Quiet on the Western Front was written war was glorified. This story showed the horrors of war through vivid imagery. Remarque spares no detail in his descriptions of death at the front.Remarque describes one scene by stating, “ In the branches dead men are hanging. A naked soldier is squatting in the fork of a tree, he still has his helmet on, otherwise he is entirely unclad. There is only half of him sitting up there, the top half, the legs are missing.” ( Remarque, 109). Originally Baumer was excited to be apart of the war, because society made it seem like a great thing. However, once arrives on the front he comes to the realization of the horror that comes from war. This makes him question everything and lose his