Ch 1 Questions
Characterization
1. The term characterization refers to the various means by which an author describes and develops
the characters in a literary work. Describe Ralph, Piggy, and Jack. How is Ralph’s reaction to
having no adults around differ from Piggy’s?
Ralph = confident, positive, independent, daring
Piggy = dependent, insecure, upset, weak, honest
Jack = mean, rebellious, clever, serious, angry
Ralph is more outgoing and hopeful. He tells the group to be positive and leads them. Piggy is
very negative, and talks about how no one is going to find them. He’s more of a leader.
2. How is Piggy revealed as most closely tied to the world of adults? How is Piggy indirectly
responsible for the blowing of the conch?
Piggy wants to take everything seriously and take action. He talks about his auntie and what
she did. Piggy found the conch, knew what it was actually for, which brought everyone
together.
3. In what sense do Ralph and Piggy complement each other while dealing with the conch? Describe
Sam and Eric.
Ralph blows the conch because Piggy has asthma and Piggy teachers Ralph how to use it. The
twins, Sam and Eric act, look and dress the same.
4. How do Ralph and Jack treat Piggy? What does this say about each of their characters? Why is
Ralph elected chief?
Ralph is a lot more empathetic and understanding towards Piggy. Meanwhile Jack always tells
Piggy to shut up and is rude to him. Ralph is more nice than Jack, that’s why he was elected.
5. How does Ralph try to appease Jack…does it work? On the expedition, why doesn’t Jack kill the
pig? What does this say about him?
Ralph appeases Jack by letting him be in charge of his own group the choir. Jack comes off mean
and stuff, but deep down he has a soft side.
Symbolism
1. Describe the discovery of the conch shell.
It symbolizes the leader of the civilization taking the conch.
2. What role does the conch shell play in the election?
Whoever finds the conch becomes the leader of the group.
3. What does the scar symbolize?
Where the plane crashed.
4. What is the title of the first chapter, and how does it fit into the story?
The title of the first chapter is called “The Sound of the Shell”
Setting
1. The combination of place and time that provides the general background for the characters and
plot of a literary work is the story’s setting. Describe everything you know about the island and
explain the significance of its shape.
The significance of the shape of the island is its shape like a fish. It represents them being stranded
like a fish out of water. They also seem to talk a lot about a mountain which they climb up. I think
this might have to do with foreshadowing because the author stresses the importance of the
mountain.
2. What is “the scar”? Why does Golding choose that word? Focus on the descriptions.
The scar is where the plane crashed.
3. Compare the forest to the beach; the lightness to the darkness. What overall tone is set by these
descriptions?
Beach
Mountain/Forest
Nice weather
animals/pigs
Blue Water
dark
Soft sand
cold
Happy place/paradise
unknown/scary
Conflict
A confrontation or struggle between opposing characters or forces in the plot is conflict. External
conflicts generally involve a clash between a character and nature or between humans competing or
struggling against one another or society. Internal conflicts are psychological and involve the inner
divisions or turmoil of a single character.
1. Identify all the types of conflict shown in chapter 1.
They were attacked, they realized that all the adults were dead. They went swimming in the lagoon,
but Piggy can’t swim because of his asthma. They found a six year old boy named Johnny. They
found more boys half naked. There was an election between Ralph and Jack.
2. Describe the conflict between the boys during the election.
Ralph and Jack are competing because Jack wants to lead because he has always been in
leadership.
3. How does the author show tension in the election? Which words create the tense tone?
“Shut up” said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide.
“Who wants me?” “I’m the chief then”
4. What internal conflicts face Ralph? Jack? Piggy?
Jack wants to lead, Piggy is being bullied, Ralph thinks his dad is coming for him.
Theme and Main Ideas
1. Why is the discovery of the pigs on the island important?
The discovery of pigs on the island was important because the pigs could be a source of food and
materials.
2. How do the boys try to recreate civilization in the first chapter?
The conch was used as a talking mentality, so whoever had this shell was the one who could talk.
Also the choirboys/the hunters are an individual, higher power group of all the boys on the island.
3. How does the author start developing the theme of savagery vs. civilization in this chapter?
Savagery was introduced when they started to think about killing pigs. Civilization was introduced
when the boys started the group called the hunters.
4. Identify two other themes that exist in this chapter.
The irony of the safety of the boys.
Rules and order are important in the lives of children.
Lord of the Flies
Chapter 1 Quotations
For each of the following identify:
A. Who said it
B. What it revealed about that character
C. What it reveals about the situation or
theme
Chapter 1 Quotations
1.“’That storm dragged it out to sea. It wasn’t half dangerous with all them tree trunks falling. There must
have been some kids still in it.’”(3)
a. Piggy
b. he cares about the kids, thoughtful
c. he’s not an evil person
2.“’My auntie told me not to run…on account of my asthma.’”(3)
a. Piggy
b. He’s taking precaution, it shows his trouble
c. his parents aren’t alive
3.“’I’m sorry I been such a time. Them fruit—‘”(5)
a. Piggy
b. he’s innocent
c. the fruit he eats makes him go to the washroom
4,“’I expect we’ll want to know all their names..and make a list. We ought to have a meeting.’”(5)
a. Piggy
b. He wants to get to know people, he’s friendly
c. He is personable and not an evil person
5.“’So long as you don’t tell the others—‘”(6)
a. Piggy
b. self-conscious about his nickname, doesn’t tell others/reveals trust
c. He knows better about what would happen if others found out
6.“’I could swim when I was five. Daddy taught me. He’s a commander in the Navy. When he gets leave
he’ll come and rescue us. What’s your father?’”(8)
a. Ralph
b. has a positive attitude about his situation
c. that Ralph will be stranded for a while.
7.“’Not them. Didn’t you hear what the pilot said? About the atom bomb? They’re all dead.’”(9)
a. Piggy
b. it says that he’s gullible and pessimistic
c. There are no adults to help, it is all boys
8.“’We go to find the others. We got to do something.’”(10)
a. Piggy
b. The characters are proactive and determined
c. they do not want to be alone on the island
9.“’Shut up.’”(11)
a. Ralph
b. Ralph is short tempered
c. This reveals that the situation is suspenseful and exciting because they know that conch shells
are expensive and very unique.
10.“’That was what you meant, didn’t you? That’s why you got the conch out of the water?’”((12)
a. Ralph
b. Ralph is understanding as Piggy’s actions
b. Ralph changes his opinion on Piggy.
“11.’We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us—‘”(12)
a. Piggy
b. He has good idea
c. Everyone meets up in one place
12.“’Choir! Stand still!’’(16)
a. Ralph
b.he has leadership skills
c. he begins to take charge
13.“’Kids’ names…Why should I be Jack? I’m Merridew.’”*(17)
a. Jack, Merridew
b.
c.
14.“’You’re talking too much…Shut up, Fatty.’”(17)
a.Jack
b. he has a short temper, doesn’t like Piggy
c. shows Jack dislikes Piggy
“15.’He’s not Fatty…his real name’s Piggy!’”(17)
a. Ralph
b. Shows Ralph is sympathetic
c. Shows Ralph cares about Piggy
16.“’I ought to be chief…’”(18)
a. Jack
b. want to be leader
c. No Answer
17.“’The choir belongs to you, of course.’”(19)
a. Ralph
b. working with others to make peace
c. No Answer
18.“’I was with him when he found the conch. I was with him before anyone else was.’”(21)
a. Piggy
b. He is jealous and upset
c. No Answer
19.“’…I’m sorry if you feel like that. Now go back, Piggy, and take names. That’s your job. So long.’”(22)
a. Ralph
b. very rude/bully
c. No Answer
20.“’This belongs to us.’”(26)
a. Ralph
b. Happy/Pride
c. No Answer
21.“’We’ll get food… Hunt. Catch things…’”(27)
a. Jack
b. he is a leader
c. making a plan is key to survival
22.“You cut a pig’s throat to let the blood out…I was choosing a place. Next time…!’”(29)
a. Jack
b. Jack makes an excuse because he is scared to kill
c. Doing stuff for the good, don’t always happen along a happy time.
Chapters 2-3
Conflict:
The boys on the island have many reasons to feel stressed, and stress often leads to conflict. Identify
specific examples of each of the following types of conflict and explain in detail:
Person vs. Self (Internal Conflict),
Person vs. Person,
Person vs. Society,
Person vs. Nature
Characterization:
1. Ralph: What are Ralph’s main responsibilities? Describe his changing attitudes toward them. Has his
attitude toward Piggy changed since the opening pages of the novel? What causes his rage in chapter 4?
How does this series of events illuminate his character?
2.Piggy: Does Piggy’s place in this society seem to be any different from his place in England? How has
he changed during their time on the island? In what ways is Piggy the voice of reason? Why is it hard for
the boys to hear Piggy?
3.Jack: How does Jack and Ralph’s relationship develop during the building of the fire? Then how does
friction develop between them in Chapter 3? When Jack is hunting or talking about hunting, what kind of
look does he have? What does this signify?
4.Simon : How is Simon different from Ralph and Jack? What additional information do we learn about
Simon’s appearance and personality? What does Simon do at the end of chapter 3? Why?
5.Roger : What does Roger do to Henry? What does this reveal about him?
Symbolism:
1.What do Piggy’s glasses represent? What part of society does Piggy represent?
2.In addition to the huts on the beach being a shelter from weather, in what symbolic way does Ralph
think that the shelters are important?
3.What societal archetypes do Ralph, Jack, and Simon seem to represent? In what ways does the author
create a Christ-likeness about Simon?
4.What does the beastie signify?
5.Allusion – What allusion is made when Ralph is explaining the benefits of the island (about
three pages into Chapter 2)? Why is it referenced?
Main Ideas and Theme
1.The little boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark comes forward to speak of what?
2.What element does he introduce? How does the descriptive phrase, “the small boy twisted
further into himself” hint at a theme?
3.What has Ralph come to learn about society on the island? The personal conflict between Ralph and
Jack in Chapter 3 mirrors the thematic conflict of the novel. What is the thematic conflict?
4. What is the main idea of ch 2? Ch 3?
Setting:
1.How does the contrast between the beach and the forest contribute to the theme and the tone of the
novel?
Chapter 2 Quotations
1.“’All the same you need an army –for hunting. Hunting pigs—‘”(31)
2.“’We’ll have rules!...Lots of rules!’”(32)
3.“’That’s what I was going to say..when you all, all…The plane was shot down in flames. Nobody knows
where we are. We may be here a long time.’’”(32)
4.“’He wants to know what you’re going to do about the snake-thing.’”(34)
“5.’He still says he saw the beastie. It come and went away again an’ came back and wanted to eat him—
‘”(35)
6.“’But I tell you there isn’t a beast!’”(35)
7.Like kids!...Acting like a crowd of kids!’”(37)
8.“’Jus’ blurs, that’s all. Hardly see my hand—‘”(40)
9.“’The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain..so you shut up.’”(42)
10.“’I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English,
and English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things.’”(42)
11.“’You said you wanted a small fire and you been and built a pile like a hayrick. If I say anything…you say
shut up; but if Jack or Maurice or Simon—‘”(43)
12.“’How could I..all by myself? How was I to know which was which?’”(46)
13.“’That little ‘un…him with the mark on his face, I don’t see him. Where is he now?’”(46)