A seemingly simple tale of schoolboys marooned on an island, the novel "Lord of the Flies" is an enigmatic and provocative piece of literature. This casebook probes the many layers of meaning in the novel, examining its literary, philosophical, historical, scientific, and religious significance. The casebook integrates analysis and primary documents, with excerpts from materials as diverse as the Bible, the writings of Darwin, and war crimes interviews, to explore the nature of human aggression and evil. The interdisciplinary approach of the casebook helps students situate the lessons of "Lord of the Flies" in diverse contexts. The casebook is divided into the following chapters: Introduction; Literary Analysis; the Ignoble Savage; Education; The Adventure Story; Religion; Biology, Evolution and "Lord of the Flies"; and War and Postwar. It will spark students to consider connections between William Golding's masterpiece and broader concepts of civilization, altruism, political leadership responsibilities, and the history of western imperialism. Ideas for class discussions and research topics, along with carefully chosen further reading suggestions, enhance the casebook as a teaching tool. (NKA)