LORD OF THE FLIES: CHAPTER ONE - NOTES
Point of View: Omniscient third person point of view
Golding uses a bird’s eye to convey an objective perspective of the events on the island
The Island: man’s Eden – unspoiled and untouched nature - until the boys arrive
The scar – man’s first permanent mark on Eden and foreshadowing of
events that happen later in chapter 1, and chapters 9, 10, 11, and the end of
the novel. As stated in chapter one,“ . . . .the long scar smashed into the
jungle was a bath of heat” (Golding 5). Man’s first impact (defect) on the
island caused by fire and destruction.
It is referred to as a scar perhaps because it is man-made rather than an act
of nature. It is the mark made by the plane after it was shot down. It slid
through the foliage and trees leaving nothing in its path. When the boys are
on the mountaintop, it is easy to see: “there was a gash visible in the trees;
there were the splintered trunks and then the drag, leaving only a fringe of
palm between the scar and the sea” (28).
Later in the novel, on page 26-27, the boys roll a boulder “through the air , and [it] smashed a deep hole in the canopy
of the forest”. Again, the boy’s leave a permanent man-made mark on the island.
NOTE: As you continue to read, note the boys’ actions that permanently affect the island.
They are symbolic of the effect of living on the island: the boys too will be permanently
“marked” by their experience on the island.
The symbolic nature of the boys:
Ralph
Sense of order and stability
Piggy
Adult figure
Chief of the boys
Rational and logical thought
Voice of reason
Intellectual power and insight
The Father Figure
The Sage and Outcast
Popular and appealing
“Mildness about his mouth”; “eyes
that proclaimed no devil” (8)
True and wise; Different mentally
and physically
“He looked critically at Ralph’s
golden body and then down at his
own clothes” (9).
Evidence of Democracy and Civilization
Holding a meeting
Taking a vote for the leader
Compromising Ralph’s leadership with Ralph’s power to
lead the choir – being diplomatic
Taking turns to speak with the conch
Using the conch to call the boys from the jungle
Using the conch to maintain power and control and civility
Deciding on the first order of business – are they on an
island – and following through with discovery and
answers
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Jack
Lack of Civilized Behaviour
Running around naked
Going to the bathroom randomly on the island
Taunting and teasing Piggy; excluding him from the
exploration and trip to the mountaintop
ANSWERS:
1a, b, c: see above
2. For discussion and see above
3. The British school boys were evacuated from England due to “a war” that apparently has left everyone
dead due to an atomic bomb. On their way from England to their final destination they were attacked. The
plane was shot down and in flames. Some critics believe the boys “were dropped off” and then as the plane
took off it was attacked. However, this is not consistent with the description in the book.
Piggy states on page 6 that “When we was coming down I looked through one of them windows. I saw the
other part of the plane. There were flames coming out of it . . . and this is what the cabin done.”
Thus, they were attacked while the boys were still in the plane. The pilot had to make a crash landing. This
probably left many kids dead, but the boys don’t focus on this reality for too long: “What happened to [the
plane]? Where’s it got to now? That storm dragged it out to sea. There must have been some kids still in it . .
. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke again. What’s your name?”
4. What is Ralph’s attitude and treatment toward Piggy in the first chapter?
Does it seem to be personal or related to another issue?
Ralph sees Piggy as a nuisance, but also realizes his usefulness. When Piggy first appears, Ralph constantly tries to
walk away from him and does not answer his questions. Ralph is obviously a very independent boy and spends most of
his time in a world of solitude. However, the boys have a “bonding” moment when they discover the noises they can
make with the conch and even though Ralph is never overtly kind to him, Piggy is dedicated to Ralph
5. How is Piggy actually responsible for the blowing of the conch?
Piggy is indirectly responsible for the blowing of the conch because he told Ralph how to blow it. Apparently, Piggy
had a friend who knew how to make a noise out of a seashell and Piggy was more than happy to share the
information with his new pal. Of course, Piggy does not blow the conch himself, for he is a timid, reclusive boy who
would rather be the sidekick of a stronger, more popular person.
5b. Piggy is most tied to the world of adults, for his Aunt has obviously led him through a very sheltered life. When
Piggy reveals that his parents have died and he is left with a relative at home, the reader feels very sorry for him and
begins to understand why he does not fit in with the other children. The way he describes his upbringing is also
disturbing, for it seems that his aunt will not allow him to do anything remotely fun – including swimming. As a result of
his sheltering guardian and his exposure to difficult adult situations, Piggy is very closely tied to the world of adults.
5c. Hands up rule – whoever holds it, can speak.
6. What are the mixed reactions to having no adults? What role do adults regularly fulfill in the boys’ lives?
Joy, excitement and relief: worry, anxiety, and fear. Generally, adults provide direction, control and influence in the
boys’ lives.
7. Explain how Jack is presented to the reader?
Jack enters the story leading a pack of boys in black cloaks in a disciplinary manner. The reader instantly thinks of
him as the antagonist, for this dark image sweeps the tropical island with its presumed negativity. Jack shows some
vulnerability when he accepts his loss to Ralph, but retains his stern authority by continuing to lead the choirboys. In
the beginning, the reader is confused as to what kind of person Jack truly is, but Golding has certainly written a
negative undertone to this character, perhaps foreshadowing events that are about to occur.
He believes the sound is a trumpet. As part of the choir he would respond to one of his own. Uniform unites them;
they all seem to have previously known one another.
8. Jack collects power for himself. Ralph gets it by delegating responsibility. Find evidence for both of
these statements. For discussion.
9. Eventually, Ralph elected chief? What effect does it have on the boys? What does he do with the choir?
Ralph is elected chief because he was the first boy to call all of the others together. Although he may not have any
more survival experience than the rest, all of the boys feel an instinctive comfort with this person who sounded the
conch. There seems to be a quiet appeal about Ralph that makes others content. See page 21 for narrator’s
comments.
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10. For what reason do you think the author makes all his central characters British schoolboys?
William Golding probably chose British schoolboys as his subject for a few reasons. Firstly, he had a lot of experience
in dealing with schoolboys, for he was a teacher in Britain for many years. He must have witnessed many real-life
situations that he was able to adapt within this story. Perhaps more importantly, Golding probably used young boys in
his book because they represent innocence. Placing people who have yet to be shaped by the adult world in a
serious survival situation creates a very interesting look at pure human psychology. The acts of these children are
committed purely out of instinct, for they do not have adult knowledge to base decisions on.
11. What do Piggy, Simon, and the littlun with the birthmark have in common?
Piggy, Simon and the boy with a birthmark are all outcasts for their own reasons. Piggy is immediately excluded from
important events because of his hilarious name and “nerdy” nature. Simon becomes the laughing-stock of the group
when he faints in front of everyone and, according to Jack, he is “always throwing a faint”. The little boy with a large
birthmark is obviously different from the rest of the boys in a physical way, but more importantly he is also a reclusive
person. All three of these boys are estranged from the rest of the group in some form.
12. What is the significance of Piggy’s plea to join the expedition to the top of the mountain? And why is the
refusal to allow him to come more relevant?
Piggy’s plea to join the expedition represents his desperation to “fit in” with the rest of the boys. This is presumably an
issue that Piggy has dealt with back home, for his nickname suggests that he is often excluded from groups. He would
love to walk by Ralph’s side and feel like a member of authority, but once again, his peers have stereotyped him as an
outcast and left him behind.
13. What evidence exists that the boys have an immediate need to claim the island as their own?
14. Of what importance is there to toppling the huge rock into the jungle below a precipice?
15. What evidence is there that all may not be well in “paradise”? Provide specific details.
16. What does Jack’s inability to kill the pig reveal about his character?
Although Jack is one of the oldest characters in the story, he is still only a child. Ending the life of an animal can be
traumatic for any human being, let alone one who has not yet experienced life. The thought of having a pig to eat may
be initially appealing to someone on an island, but the moment at which the animal is breathing in front of the hunter
causes one’s morals to overtake their instincts. Jack may be a strong boy, but he cannot bring himself to end a life – at
this point in the novel. As time passes and the boys are away from society and civilization, some will transgress. The
invisible bonds that keep Jack from sticking his knife in the pig eventually erode. .
17. Why is the chapter properly entitled “The Sound of the Shell” and why it is significant?
This chapter is entitled “The Sound of the Shell”, for all of the boys on the island come together as a result of the noise
Ralph makes by blowing into a sea shell. Piggy explains to Ralph that such a shell is actually called a conch and the
boys eventually decide to use the conch as a symbol of authority and attention. Whenever a boy has the conch in his
hand, he is able to speak to the rest of the group without interruptions. Although it is only a small tangible item, the shell
may become a very important aspect of the boys’ survival on the island.
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