Anticipation Questions Respond to the following statements with A if you agree, D if you disagree, and NS if you re not sure. 1. Left without any adults, a group of six to twelve year old boys would probably just have a lot of fun. 2. Human beings need boundaries, including laws and law enforcement. 3. Whenever people live with others, there will be a struggle for power. 4. Everyone is capable of murder. 5. Hunters hunt primarily for food. 6. Democracy always works. 7. Any problem can be solved if you think about it long enough. 8. Children are capable of cruel and ruthless behaviour. 9. Political leaders usually do what is best for the people they serve. Introduction to the Novel Answer the following questions after reading the About the Author page and Chapter 1. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper. 1. How did William Golding s experiences in World War II influence his opinions about human nature? 2. (a) Which characters in the novel are potential leaders? (b) What are their qualities? (c) Which leader/s are chosen and why? 3. List the many challenges the characters face. 4. Create a priority list for the boys. 5. What are your first impressions of the main characters?
Character Identification Write the name of the appropriate character or characters beside the descriptions below. 1. Father is a commander in the Navy. 2. Doesn t want the boys to call him by the nickname he was given at school. 3. Head boy at his school. 4. The first to appear after the conch is blown. 5. Says a conch is very valuable. 6. Fears the boys will stay on the island until they die. 7. Go on an expedition to determine whether or not they have landed on an island. 8. Twin brothers. 9. The first boy to take off his uniform. 10. In control of the choir. 11. Suggests the boys vote for who will be chief. 12. Hunters. 13. Responsible for taking names. 14. Has a knife. 15. Faints. 16. Elected chief. 17. Saw flames coming from the plane before it landed.
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell 1. Where are the boys? How did they get there? When does the story take place? 2. Describe Ralph and Piggy. How would you describe their initial relationship? 3. How does each boy react when he realizes there are no adults on the island? 4. Piggy keeps mentioning his auntie. When does he bring her up? What is he trying to accomplish when he mentions her? 5. Why does Ralph respond, Sucks to your auntie? 6. Golding spends some time describing the conch shell, and even names the chapter after it. Why is the conch important in this chapter? How is the conch a symbol? 7. Who is Merridew? What gives him his power? 8. What job does Jack claim for his choir? 9. What discoveries do the boys make at the top of the mountain? 10. How do we know that the boys expect to be rescued soon? 11. What excuse does Jack give for not killing the piglet? What is the real reason he didn t do it? 12. At the end of the chapter, Golding describes Jack s actions: He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. Next time there would be no mercy. What could this incident foreshadow? Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain 1. How does the importance of the conch change in this chapter? 2. Explain how the conch is supposed to be used in its new role. 3. Describe the first sighting of the beastie. Who sees it? 4. Contrast Ralph s reaction to the report of a Beast with Jack s reaction. How do the two boys differ in their approaches? Whose attitude is more generally accepted? 5. How does Ralph know they will all eventually be rescued? What is his plan? 6. What do the boys use to start the fire? How does this change Piggy s status within the group? 7. What happens to the little un who reported seeing the beastie? 8. Examine the way the boys respond to Ralph s plan and what happens as a result. What could this whole incident foreshadow? 9. What is a voice of reason? In what ways is Piggy the voice of reason for the castaways? Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach 1. What is Jack doing at the start of this chapter? 2. Approximately how much time has passed since the events of the previous chapter took place? 3. What has Ralph been working on all this time? Suggest two reasons why this is very important to the boys survival. 4. Who are the little uns? What is happening to them at night? 5. Jack describes a strange fear he has while he s out in the jungle by himself. What is it? 6. If the fear isn t real and it s all in his head, what is it that Jack is really experiencing? 7. Why are the boys arguing? Outline both sides of the argument. 8. Who is Simon? Why do both Ralph and Jack consider him strange? 9. How is the way Simon relates to people different to the way Ralph and Jack relate to people? 10. Where does Simon go at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair 1. Describe the average routine of the boys lives on the island. 2. Of the three boys playing in the sand, Henry is the leader. Why? 3. Why does Maurice hurry away after getting sand in little Percival s eye? 4. After the others leave, Roger is left alone and starts throwing stones at Henry. What kind of conflict is Roger experiencing? What prevents him from throwing the stones at Henry? 5. Explain the significance of Jack s face paint. Why does he use it and what effect does it have on Jack himself and on the other boys? 6. A ship passes by at a distance, but the hunters have let the fire go out. This is a pivotal moment in the story. Examine the impact this has on the community of boys and explain why this moment is so important to the plot. 7. In what ways is the conflict between Ralph and Jack different than the conflict between Jack and Piggy? Find two examples of each conflict to support your answer. 8. As the hunters re-enact their experience, Golding says, Ralph watched them, envious and resentful. How can he be both envious and resentful?
Chapters 1-4 Across 2. The function of the fire is to send a to passing ships. 4. Hunters (23) 6. Helps Ralph to build shelters and finds choice fruit for the littluns. 7. At the second meeting, Jack likes the idea of having lots of, and he is excited by the prospect of punishing those who break them. 8. Its sound signals an assembly, and he who holds it has the right to speak. 10. Roger and Maurice destroy the littluns. 11. Piggy limits physical exertion on account of this. 13. When Ralph watches the hunters re-enact the hunt he is and resentful (75) 14. To assert his power, Jack withholds meat from him. 16. Also known as the snake-thing.
19. Jack wants to wear for hunting, like in the war, like things trying to look like something else-- (63). 21. Author of Lord of the Flies. Down 1. Piggy s spectacles are used for. (40) 2. Ralph screams insanely, Come back! at this, as he ran back and forth along the cliff, his face always to the sea. 3. When confronted with the fact that he was responsible for a missed chance to be rescued, Jack punches and threatens Piggy, and his voice is described as vicious with (71). 4. Piggy s aunt owns one, much to his delight. 5. Says, There isn t a snake-thing. But if there was a snake we d hunt it and kill it (36). 7. Throws stones at Henry but threw them to miss; s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins (62). 9. Jack chooses over rescue when he leaves the fire unattended. 10. The hunters weapons. 12. Jack s surname. 15. Ralph tells everyone at the meeting, We re on an island with no other people on it (32). 17. Ralph s first decision is to determine whether or not they ve landed on one; he, Jack, and Simon go on an expedition to find out. 18. The hunters re-enact the hunt, dancing and singing and chanting, the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in (75). 20. Ralph s father is a commander in these armed forces.
Chapter 5: Beast from Water 1. How is the assembly different from any of the other meetings they ve had before? 2. Ralph makes observations on his clothes and the log they call the twister. What do his observations tell the reader about how Ralph is changing? 3. List some of the concerns that Ralph feels must be put straight. How would most of these issues be dealt with back home? 4. After Jack starts his speech at the meeting, Ralph is stunned. Why? 5. What does Jack say about the Beast? 6. What does Piggy say about the Beast? 7. What does Simon say about the Beast? 8. How do the boys react to the suggestion that the Beast comes from the sea? 9. Why won t Ralph blow the conch after the meeting breaks into chaos? 10. Piggy, Simon, and Ralph remain behind and talk about Ralph being chief. List some of the reasons why Piggy and Simon believe that Ralph should not give up. 11. Ralph was the kid who was happy that there were no grownups on the island. Now he s desperately wishing for some adult influence. Why doesn t he just give up and join the hunters and have some fun? Chapter 6: Beast from Air 1. What is the Beast from Air? How did it get on the island? 2. What does it do that frightens Sam and Eric so much? How does it do this? 3. What do the boys decide to do? Who goes along? 4. Where do they end up looking for the beast? Why there? 5. Describe the boys reaction to the rock formation. What does this say about them? 6. Golding describes Ralph: At once the ideas were back, and the anger. Why is this observation significant?
Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees 1. Summarize the main events of this chapter. 2. How does Jack react to Ralph s participation in the hunt? Why? 3. Describe the hunt re-enactment in the jungle. What s different about this one? What does it show about the boys mental state? 4. What other events in this chapter contribute to the conflict between Ralph and Jack? Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness 1. Summarize the main events of this chapter. Which of these events are the most important to the plot of the story? 2. What is the meaning behind the chapter title Gift for the Darkness? 3. Describe Simon s experience with the Lord of the Flies. What is it really? What does it tell Simon? Who is he really talking to? 4. Consider Ralph, Jack, Simon, and Piggy. What changes are evident in each boy? How do the qualities of will, conscience, and reason also change in their counterparts? Chapter 9: A View to a Death 1. What does Simon discover on top of the mountain? What does he do about it? 2. Where are most of the boys at this time? 3. Describe Jack s appearance. Why is he dressed up in this way? 4. Suggest a reason why Jack gives meat to Ralph and Piggy. 5. For a moment, when the rain starts, the boys seem to waver between joining Jack s tribe and staying with Ralph. What does Jack do to get them back? Why does this work? 6. What happens to Simon? What might this symbolize? 7. What happens to the dead pilot s body? Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses 1. How does Ralph explain his participation in the attack on Simon? How does Piggy explain it? 2. How does Jack react to the attack on Simon? 3. What has the warriors dance become? 4. What is happening to Ralph? What does that say about the will of the group? 5. Explain the meaning behind the chapter title The Shell and the Glasses.
Chapter 11: Castle Rock 1. After his glasses are stolen, what does Piggy expect from Ralph as the chief? 2. Throughout the story, Piggy s glasses have been a symbol. What do they symbolize now? 3. How does Piggy plan to get his glasses back? What does Ralph say or do that shows us he knows it won t work? 4. What is the significance of the fact that Sam says (about Jack), He ll be painted? Why does it matter? 5. Eric says, I ve got both socks kept in the shelter so we could pull them over our heads like caps, sort of. What is the significance of caps? Why do you think the four boys are concerned about the way they look as they plan to confront Jack and his tribe? 6. Examine Roger s role in the attack on Piggy. How does it start? How did the author prepare us for this moment in a previous chapter? 7. Explain what happens that causes Piggy s fall through the air. 8. Why is the capture of Samneric important to this scene? 9. Throughout the book, Piggy has represented reason. a. Write a definition of reason in your own words. b. Suggest an explanation why Piggy has been hated so much by the other boys. c. If Piggy symbolizes reason, what does their hatred of him tell us about the tribe? d. What happens to reason in the story? Explain your answer. Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters 1. What frightening realization does Ralph make about Jack and his tribe as he s walking back to the beach? 2. How does Ralph react when he finds the pig s skull mounted on its stick in the forest? Suggest two reasons why he reacts in this way. 3. Why does Ralph believe he is an outcast? 4. How do Samneric explain their joining of the tribe? What do they do that finally betrays Ralph s trust in them? 5. Outline Jack s plan to capture Ralph. 6. What is the significance of the stick sharpened at both ends? 7. Identify the three options Ralph thinks he has when the tribe starts their hunt for him. Which does he choose? 8. What is different now about the way Ralph identifies the other boys? How does the Cry of the Hunters fit into his perception of them? 9. The Naval officer who comes ashore to investigate the island says he saw their smoke. How does the fire start? How big does it get? 10. What does the officer think the boys have been doing before he arrived? What does Ralph say that convinces him they weren t playing? 11. Compare the descriptions of the tribe before the officer arrives and then through the eyes of the officer. What are some of the main differences? 12. As the rest of the boys gather on the beach, Ralph finally gets to be a kid again and he lets himself break down and cry. Name the three things for which he is crying.
Across 1. Tied up for hours and beaten at Jack s command. 3. They understood only too well the liberation into that the concealing paint brought. (172) 4. Ralph asks Piggy, Can t they understand? Without the we ll die here? (139). 2 words 5. Members of Jack s tribe are called by the narrator. 6. Jack has two anonymous savages (Maurice and Robert) say this at his command when he s finished talking. (141) 4 words 7. He took up a small stone and flung it between the twins, aiming to miss.some source of power began to pulse in his body. (175) 8. Jack says that when they re-enact the pig hunt, they could kill one of these, and everyone laughs. (115) 9. Enraged and afraid, he punches the pig s skull on the stick, causing the skull to break in two, and bruising his knuckles. 10. As Ralph pleads for order, for everyone to play by the rules, to keep a signal fire going at all times, the savages react with ; Golding describes it as silvery (178). 11. The head of the sow is a for the beast. 12. When Piggy is killed, the conch that he is holding explodes into a (a number) white fragments and ceases to exist. (181) 14. Ralph thinks of his childhood, a cottage vacation, cereal with cream and sugar, books, when everything was ; everything was good-humored and friendly (112). 2 words 19. Chapter in which Jack tries to discredit Ralph and take the title of chief away from him, and then goes his own way. 21. What Ralph calls Jack s hunters when he suggests they can conquer the beast on the mountain. (125) 4 words 24. By Chapter Ten, when Sam and Eric ask Ralph what s the good of maintaining a signal fire, Ralphs can t quite and Piggy has to answer for him. 25. After Simon s death, Ralph says, I m frightened. Of us. I want to go. Oh God, I want to go (157). Same word repeats. 27. As Piggy is struck down by the rock, he is holding the conch, which is described as a (180), an object that is thought to have magical powers or to bring good luck. 29. Piggy gives reasons for Simon s death. Two of the reasons are: it was and they were. 2 words 33. Sam and Eric describe Jack and Roger as these, and they perceive Roger as being the worse of the two. (189) 34. Piggy thought Jack wanted to steal it from them, but to Jack it has no value. 35. Ralph wonders, Supposing we go [to meet with Jack and his tribe at Castle Rock], looking like we used to, washed and hair brushed after all we aren t savages really and being rescued isn t a (170). 37. A stress-related habit that Ralph develops. 2 words Down 1. Ralph asks Jack this question which goes answered. (118) 5 words 2. Simon prophetically tells Ralph, You ll get back to (111). 4 words 5. The Lord of the Flies speaks in the voice of one; a word meaning teacher. 12. Ralph to Jack: You could have had fire whenever you wanted. But you didn t. You came sneaking up like a and stole Piggy s glasses! (176) Jack challenges him to say it again. Ralph does, twice, after which Jack rushes him and stabs at his chest with a spear. He screamed at Jack, You re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody! Same word repeats. 13. Simon s is foreshadowed by his conversation with the Lord of the Flies, when he is warned that the boys will do him in. 15. Described in the following passage: A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at his waist, started forward [when the naval officer wants to know who s boss], then changed his mind and stood still (201). 16. Number of biguns remaining in Ralph s tribe after the boys split into two tribes and Simon is killed. 17. Piggy has an attack when Jack and two hunters raid their shelter in the middle of the night. 18. Suggests they build a fire between the bathing pool and the platform since no one wants to confront the beast on the mountain. 20. The naval officer s initial assessment of the boys situation is fun and, and he asks if they were having a. 2 words 22. Ralph considers his options:, break the line, climb a tree. He wonders which is best. Chapter 12 23. Sam thinks they should carry these when they go to Castle Rock. 26. Jack uses this as a tool to bring Ralph out of hiding as they hunt him; it also brings a ship.
28. Piggy stubbornly argues that Simon s death was an ; Ralph disagrees. 30. Piggy s last words are Which is better to have rules and agree, or to hunt and? (180). Roger chooses the latter. 31. Ralph believes he is an outcast because he has some (186); Eric says to him, Never mind what s. That s gone (188). Same word repeats. 32. At the end of the story, Ralph cries for the end of, the of a man s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy (202). 2 words 36. Without his glasses, Piggy has none.