Lord of the Flies by William Golding - Questions and Vocabulary
Chapter 1 - “The Sound of the Shell”
1. a) Who are the first two characters to appear in the novel and how old are they?
b) What is their attitude toward each other?
c) How are these two characters different (physically and mentally)?
d) From their conversation, what do we learn of their predicament? Why does Ralph think that they might soon be
rescued?
4. a) Describe the use of the conch. What does it become a symbol of?
b) Describe the choir which comes marching to the assembly. What physical characteristics mark their leader, Jack? Is
there anything that would suggest that Jack is a sinister character right from the start?
c) Who is elected leader? Why?
d) The beginnings of government lie in chapter 1. How successful is this government likely to be and why?
5. What is the “scar” that is repeatedly mentioned? What literary device does this represent?
6. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig? What effect does this encounter have on him?
7. Why might Piggy be a nuisance to the other boys? What valuable contributions does he make to the group?
8. Ralph and Jack appear to be the dominant figures among the boys. Contrast the two boys. Which one makes a better
leader and why?
9. What is the point of view of the novel?
Chapter 2 - “Fire on the Mountain”
1. a) What are the first two things the boys feel are necessary on the island?
b) How are these necessities ironic?
c) Who attempts the task of making the rules?
d) Why are they necessary?
e) What do they represent?
2. What is the only definite rule that Ralph establishes at the second meeting?
3. What is the “snake thing”? What does it represent? What is the reaction of the boys to it? How do they make it real?
4. Is the far side of the island really unfriendly? Why do they feel it is?
5. How do the boys manage to start the fire?
6. Why does Piggy howl with fear (literally and figuratively) when the boys take his glasses?
7. What does the fire on the mountain symbolize?
8. What happens to the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark? Who gets blamed for this? What are we now starting to
feel about this “tropical paradise”?
9. Who seems to be the voice of reason on the island?
10. The boys are attempting to establish a new civilization on the island. What hints are there that these attempts will not be
successful?
Chapter 3 - “Huts on the Beach”
1. Why does Ralph reproach Jack?
2. What is the nature of the conflict between Ralph and Jack?
3. What two accomplishments does Ralph feel are most important for the boys to achieve?
4. What task does Jack concentrate on?
5. a) What type of language does William Golding use to describe the jungle in this chapter?
b) How does Jack feel in the jungle and why is this disturbing?
c) What does Golding seem to be comparing Jack to in this chapter?
7. What two groups with differing goals are emerging? What are their different goals?
8. Why does Simon go to the bower? What does he feel and experience while he is there?
9. Simon, like Jack, is unafraid of the jungle, but they are very different people. How does Golding make their characters
seem very different?
Lord of the Flies Key Terms and Characters – Chapters 1 to 3
Key Characters:
 Ralph
 Jack
 Piggy
 Simon
 Sam-n-Eric
 The beast / snake-thing
 Mulberry-colored Birthmark
 The littluns
Key Terms:
 The scar
 the conch
 the platform
 the assemblies
 Piggy’s glasses
 pigs
 signal fire, rescue, shelters, food, water
Key Novel Definitions:
 setting
 motivating incident
 atmosphere
 conflict
 imagery (and running images / motifs)
 symbolism
 the chapter titles
 simile, metaphor, personification, pun, apostrophe, allusion, contrast
Key Concepts:
 human nature
 William Golding (his philosophy and his influences)
 society / rules / laws
 order
 democracy