What would happen if a group of boys are abandoned by the rest of world and left to look after themselves for an extended period of time?

Would they be able to maintain the societal norms of everyday life without adults to tell them what to do?

Although this book was written in the 50s and it does have a slightly old-fashioned feel to it, it deals with a subject that is still being debated at length today. Some say that if the children had a prior knowledge of what is right and wrong then they would continue to live according to those rules. Others say that in time everyone would regress to a more savage state, with the strong ruling the weak through use of fear and bully tactics. 'Lord of the Flies' looks at the argument from both sides. The group splinters, with Jack and the choristers regressing to a savage, less-civilised way-of-life and Ralph's boys trying to maintain the norms of society. Ralph relies on items, such as 'The Conch', to institute rules. Jack simply uses the fact that he is bigger, stronger and therefore, can hurt the other boys as control.

So much more than a simple 'nature' vs. 'nurture' tale!