Lord of the Flies Reading Questions

Lord of the Flies Reading Questions Chapter 1 1. What s the scar? 2. Compare and contrast how Ralph and Piggy react to the fact that there are no grown-ups on the island. 3. What kind of boy is Piggy? Do you like him? Why or why not? 4. What kind of boy is Ralph? Do you like him? Why or why not? 5. Why does Ralph decide to get naked? 6. Use ten words to describe the island. 7. Why does Golding use so much description in the book? Do the books you read now have this much description? 8. Compare and contrast Piggy s and Ralph s backgrounds. 9. How do Ralph and Piggy react to being marooned? How are their reactions different? 10. What does the conch represent? 11. What are the side-effects of eating the fruit? 12. In what condition are the survivors? 13. What seems special about the group of choir boys? 14. How do the other boys treat Piggy? 15. How does the election go? How does Ralph feel about it? How does Jack feel about it? 16. Do you think people naturally need leaders? How are the boys going about organizing themselves socially? 17. Are the boys actions realistic? Why or why not? 1

18. What assignment do Ralph, Simon, and Jack have? 19. What do the boys discover on their trip? 20. What happens with the piglet? Why doesn t Jack kill it? Chapter 2 21. Explore the significance of what the conch may symbolize since one must have it at meetings in order to speak. 22. Is there really a beastie do you think, or is it a figment of your little uns imaginations? Explain. 23. Describe the contrasting ways Jack and Ralph respond to solving the beastie problem. What does this indicate about the personality and leadership style of each? 24. Discuss the growing significance of Piggy s glasses. What might they symbolize and why? 25. Discuss the possible symbolic significance of the fire. 26. How does Ralph treat Piggy and why? 27. How does Jack treat Piggy and why? 28. Why do you think Jack volunteers his hunters to keep the fire going? What is his motive? 29. Discuss the power structure that is forming on the island, in particular the way Jack, Ralph, and Piggy interrelate. 30. What happens to the little un with the birthmark? What is the significance of this? 31. Evaluate the ability of Ralph as a leader so far and the ability of these kids to govern themselves so far. 32. Explain the irony and importance of Piggy saying that they are acting like a bunch of kids? 33. Can individuals share power for long and be satisfied? Explain and then apply your answer to the novel. Chapter 3 34. What are the two practical reasons to build the huts? 2

35. What might the symbolic importance of the huts be? The importance of the difficulty completing them? 36. Describe the growing contrast between the roles of Ralph and Jack. 37. Describe the growing external conflict between Ralph and Jack. 38. What character traits of the boys as a whole become apparent in this chapter? Do these traits surprise you? 39. Describe the secret place Simon finds. Why do you suppose he visits there? 40. Tell what you know of the Garden of Eden story. How might it apply to the novel so far? 41. Describe Simon. How is he seemingly different than the other characters? What is his role on the island? Chapter 4 42. What are the boys beginning to discover about themselves in this chapter? 43. What seems to be motivating both the little uns and the older boys in this chapter? Explain. 44. What do you think of Roger after this chapter? How does he seem to be different than the others? 45. How does Simon seem to be different than the others? 46. How do the boys change when they put on the paint? Why? 47. Do people act differently when they are in disguise? Explain. 48. Why do the hunters let the fire go out? How might this occurrence effect the relationship between Ralph and Jack? 49. Jack brings back meat. How might this begin to alter the power balance on the island? 50. If you were 12, who would you follow Jack or Ralph? Why? 51. Why is it that Jack is able to kill a pig now? How has he changed and why? 52. Ralph accepts meat from the pig. How does he feel about himself doing this and why? 3

53. Explain the importance of Jack apologizing in front of everyone for letting the fire go out. 54. What new purpose do the specs serve now that they have meat? 55. What might the significance of the specs breaking be? 56. How do you suppose the hunters felt as they killed for the first time? How might this change them? 16. In general, what is happening to the boys? Is this expected given the environment they are in? Chapter 5 57. What is an assembly? What purpose does it serve? 58. How does Ralph feel about his hair and what does this feeling symbolize? 59. What does the following quote illustrate about the boys? The place of assembly in which he stood was roughly a triangle; but irregular and sketchy, like everything they made (Golding 77). 60. How has the island changed Ralph? How have his feelings about Piggy changed? 61. Describe the main ideas that Ralph presents during the meeting. What specific examples does he use to prove his point? 62. What new rules does Ralph suggest? What is his rationale for presenting them? 63. Analyze the following quote: Things are breaking up. I don t understand why. We began well; we were happy. And then- (Golding 82). 64. How does Jack respond to Ralph s message? 65. Explain the different opinions about each of the following: the beast; fear; ghosts. Why is it so important that they discuss and decide the existence and nature of these elements? 66. Why does Percival cry? What is the significance of him stating his full name and address? 67. What does Simon feel about the beast? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? 68. What is happening on the beach while Simon, Ralph, and Piggy talk? What does it symbolize? 4

69. All of this conflict is happening as it grows dark. Why is the darkness symbolically important? 70. In the end most of the boys follow Jack and join the chant. Why do they follow him? What might this foreshadow? Chapter 6 71. What happens while the kids sleep? 72. What falls from the sky? Is it inanimate, living, or dead? 73. What is happening in the world outside of the island that the boys inhabit? 74. What are Sam and Eric doing while the others are sleeping? Why are they scared? 75. Considering character, theme, metaphor, and symbolism, analyze the following quote: But for the sense of something watching them, Ralph would have shouted at him (101). 76. How does Jack now feel about the conch and what do his feelings symbolize? 77. Considering character, theme, metaphor, and symbolism, analyze the following quote: Ralph walked in the rear, thankful to have escaped responsibility for a time (103). 78. What insights does Simon have about the beast? What does he think it is? 79. How is Ralph feeling about being the chief in this chapter? 80. Why does Ralph decide to venture out onto the bridge before Jack goes? 81. Describe how Jack and Ralph interact in this chapter. 82. What does Ralph want to do at the end of the chapter and what do the other boys want to do? 83. Considering character, theme, metaphor, and symbolism, analyze the following quote: Jack led the way down the rock and across the bridge (108). Chapter 7 84. At the beginning of the chapter, what is Ralph daydreaming about? 5

85. Why do the boys still wear clothes? Find a quote to support your answer. 86. Define the term flashback, give an example of how it s used in this chapter, and explain why it s used in this chapter. 87. What message does Simon give Ralph and what does this illustrate about Simon s character? 88. What changes does Ralph undergo in this chapter? 89. What is Golding saying about the nature of humans in this chapter? Give specific examples. 90. What game do the boys play? Is it only a game? What do their actions represent? 91. Explain the significance of the following passage: Use a littun, said Jack, and everyone laughed. 92. What conflict arises between the boys? How is it resolved? 93. What power does Jack have at this point? What can he force Ralph to do? 94. Find an example of parallelism. Chapter 8 95. What does Ralph report to Piggy at the beginning of this chapter? How does Piggy respond to Ralph s tale? 96. Who calls the assembly in chapter 8? Do you think it s significant? Why or why not? 97. Of what things does Jack accuse Ralph? Give specific examples! 98. What does Jack suggest on p. 127? How do the others respond? 99. What issue arises with the fire? What does Piggy suggest they do to solve it? 100.What happens to the biguns of the group? Who would you follow? Why? 101.What is Simon doing on p. 132? Why are his actions important? 6

102.What does the quote below mean? How does it connect to the main ideas of the book? And about the beast. When we kill we ll leave some of the kill for it. Then it won t bother us, maybe (133). 103.Describe the pig that the boys kill. What is special about the pig and what does their choice illustrate about the boys character? 104.Describe the kill in detail. Why does it symbolize and foreshadow? 105.Explain the importance of this quote and how it relates to the book s theme: A gift for the beast...go back, child, said the head silently (137). 106.What is the Lord of the Flies and what is it supposed to represent? 107.Why is the fire so important to Ralph? Make sure to include a CD to support your answer. 108.What does Jack s character represent? 109.What does Simon learn from his conversation with the Lord of the Flies? Why is it important? 110.Why does Golding use personification of the pig s head to illustrate his point about the nature of humanity? Is it an effective literary technique? Why or why not? 111.Is the title Gift for the Darkness appropriate for this chapter? Why or why not? What is the darkness? Chapter 9 112.What was happening when Simon conversed with Lord of the Flies. How was he feeling physically? 113. Translate the following quote into English you and your peers would understand: Nothing prospered...preferring the pig s high flavor (145). 114.What does Simon discover on the mountain? Make sure to fully describe what he sees. 115.Explain how the following quote is important to the story: The beast was harmless..even with great care the best he could do was a stagger (147). 116.Why do Piggy & Ralph decide to visit Jack s camp? 7

117.Who is at Jack s camp? Why is it significant that they are no longer with Ralph? 118.What unites the boys at the fire? Why is this event significant? What could it foreshadow? 119.What arguments does Ralph make to keep the boys together? How do the other boys react to him? 120.What does the dance symbolize? 121.Describe in detail what happens to the beast. Who or what is the beast? 122.Describe in detail what happens to the parachutist. 123.What is phosphorescence and how does the description of nature contrast with the beast s killing? Why does Golding include this scene in the chapter? Chapter 10 124.How does Ralph react to Simon s death? What does Piggy tell Ralph to comfort him? 125.What do Piggy s and Ralph s reactions to Simon s death symbolize? 126.Explain how the following quote is important to the story: Memory of the dance... We left early (158). 127.How is Jack acting as chief? Do you think he is a good leader? Why or why not? 128.Who is Wilfred, what is happening to him, and why is this act important? 129.How does Jack explain Simon s death? 130.What problems arise with Ralph s group and the fire? Why is this significant? 131.What happens to Ralph s group while they are trying to sleep? 132.What happens to Piggy s glasses in chapter 10 and what does it symbolize? Chapter 11 133.Explain what is happening at the beginning of chapter 11 and why it s important. 134.How is Piggy starting to feel about Jack and Ralph? 8

135.Explain Ralph s argument in this quote: Just an ordinary fire...we d have given them fire for themselves only they stole it. I- (170). 136.Why is Piggy going to visit Jack and what does he plan to do? 137.What do Piggy, Ralph, Sam and Eric discuss as they walk to Jack s camp? Why is their conversation important? 138.Explain the significance of the following quote and what point Golding makes: Savages appeared, painted out of recognition...ralph went on blowing [the conch] and ignored Piggy s terrors (175). 139.What does the paint symbolize? 140.How does Piggy feel while he s in Jack s camp? How do his feelings help contribute to the overall tone of the chapter? 141.What does Ralph want from Jack? How does Ralph try to persuade Jack to give Ralph what he wants and how does Jack respond? 142.What do you think the following quote means in relation to the book? Samneric protested out of the heart of civilization (178). 143.Why do you think the boys follow Jack? Would you? Why or why not? 144.What role does the conch play at the beginning of chapter 11 and what role does it play at the end of it? 145.Find the following quote and explain why Piggy is compared to a pig: The rock struck Piggy...[L]ike a pig s after it has been killed (181). 146.What are your reactions at the end of this chapter? Chapter 12 147.What kind of physical and mental shape is Ralph in at the beginning of the chapter? 148.Explain the meaning and importance of the following quote: He had even glimpsed one of them...but really, thought Ralph, this was not Bill (183). 149.Explain the meaning and importance of the following quote: He argued unconvincingly that they would let him alone...[w]ho therefore would never let him alone; never (184). 9

150.Was Piggy s death an accident? Why or why not? 151.What does Ralph find in the forest and how does he feel about it? 152.How does Ralph feel about joining Jack s tribe? Do you think Ralph is right? Why or why not? 153.What role does darkness play in this chapter? Is a physical or metaphorical role? Do you feel that things feel differently during the day than at night? 154.How do Sam and Eric feel about joining Jack s tribe? What would you do if you were in their situation? 155.What do Roger and Jack plan to do to Ralph? Why do they plan to do this? 156.How does Jack try to kill Ralph on pp. 192-3? 157.What can Ralph do to save his life on page 196? What choice would you make? 158.Was it smart for Jack s group to set fire to the island? Why or why not? 159.Golding describes a powerful scene of the island burning as Ralph fights to save his life on page 200. Why do you think Golding does this? What message is the author giving and what can be learned from it? 160.How does the officer respond to the boys? What is his first reaction? How does he change his opinion after he learns more about their situation? 161.What lessons can be learned from reading the book? 162.What is Golding saying about people, society and government? Why do you think he wrote the book? 10