STUDY QUESTIONS FOR
WILLIAM GOLDING’S
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER ONE: “THE SOUND OF THE SHELL”
VOCABULARY: Define the terms for each chapter. Ensure that you
define the term in regards to the context used in the novel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Efflorescence
Enmity
Decorous
Chorister
Bastion
Hiatus
QUESTIONS: For each chapter you must answer the questions. (If
your provide proof, be sure to include page references).
1. After reading the first chapter of the novel, close your book and list as
many adjectives (descriptive words) as you can think of that describe the
mood or atmosphere.
2. Describe Ralph’s attitude towards Piggy in the first chapter.
3. a) Why is Ralph elected chief?
b) What reasons does he give for being the chief?
4. a) What is the ‘scar’ that is repeatedly mentioned?
b) Why is it called a scar?
5. Explain why Jack is unable to kill the pig.
6. a) How is Piggy indirectly responsible for the blowing of the conch?
b) For the fire?
7. What is your first impression of Piggy and Ralph?
8. Prepare a chart comparing both Piggy and Ralph. (Social, physical and
personality aspects)
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER TWO: “FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ebullience
Recrimination
Tumult
Tirade
Officious
QUESTIONS
1. a) What question does the littlun with the birthmark raise?
b) What do you think the snake symbolizes?
2. a) How do Ralph and Jack answer the question about the beast?
b) What do their answers tell us about each of them?
3. What is the significance of the fire? (Why do they decide to have one?
What happens to it at the end of the chapter? What does this
foreshadow?)
4. How do the boys start the fire?
5. Describe the organizational system that the boys have set up.
6. How is the system already beginning to break down?
7. Look at the imagery describing the fire. Golding uses similes and
metaphors to describe it. What does he compare the fire to at the
beginning of the paragraph and at the end of the paragraph?
8. a) What do you think happened to the boy with the birthmark?
b) Do you think anyone is responsible for this? Explain.
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER THREE: “HUTS ON THE BEACH”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Oppressive
Inscrutable
Vicissitudes
Declivities
Tacit
QUESTIONS
1. Describe Jack’s appearance at the beginning of this chapter. Provide
specific details from the text. Take notice his appearance is changing!
What is the significance of this change?
2. a) Already there is a clash of interests on the island. What two groups
have formed?
b) What is each group doing?
3. What is Ralph’s attitude to the littl’uns fears? How about Jack?
4. a) Where does Simon go at the end of the chapter?
b) Why do you think he goes there?
5. Notice the imagery of Simon’s secret place. Golding creates a strong
sense of the island’s vibrant colours and smells. Read the following
extract from the chapter and complete the missing words:
“The whole space was walled with dark _______________ bushes. Evening
was advancing towards the island; the sound of the _________ __________
birds, the bee-___________, even _____________ of the gulls were fainter.
The slope of the bars of _______________ sunlight decreased; they slid up
the bushes, passed over the green_____________ buds. With the fading of
the light the ______________ colours died and the _______________ tips of
the flowers rose _______________ to meet the open air.”
Why do you think the author describes Simon’s ‘secret place’ in the forest is
this manner? What might it tell us about Simon and his relationship with the
island?
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER FOUR: “PAINTED FACES AND LONG HAIR”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Blatant
Taboo
Sinewy
Malevolently
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Describe the daily routine of a littlun.
Describe Percival. Refer to pages 54-55.
Why does Roger, throwing stones at the littluns, aim to miss?
Why do you think the boys paint their faces?
Why is the link snapped between Ralph and Jack? Prove how Ralph is
fastening a bond with Piggy.
Why does Jack hit Piggy and refuse to give him any meat?
Contrast Jack’s behaviour at the end of the chapter one to his behaviour
in this chapter. (Describe the re-enactment of the killing of the pig).
Create a character chart comparing Jack and Simon. (Don’t forget
Quotes)
List some plot developments. Create a plot graph that you will continue
to fill in as the novel progresses.
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER FIVE: “BEAST FROM THE WATER”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ludicrous
Ineffectual
Jeer
Inarticulate
QUESTIONS
1. How do each of the following characters describe the idea of fear or the
beast? Provide a quotation for each character:
Ralph; Jack; Piggy; Simon; littluns
Which character’s explanation do most agree with? Why?
2. Why does Ralph call a meeting? State the issues Ralph addresses in his
speech.
3. Do you think Ralph’s speech is effective? Why or why not?
4. Why does Piggy dissuade Ralph from giving up his position as chief?
5. What is ironic about Ralph and Piggy’s conversation at the end of the
chapter?
CHAPTER SIX: “BEAST FROM THE AIR”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leviathan
Clamour
Diffidently
Mutinously
QUESTIONS
1. At the end of Chapter 5, Ralph states, “If only they [adults] could get a
message to us…a sign or something.” What is the ‘sign’ they get in
chapter 6? What does it reveal about the world outside the island?
2. State Samneric’s description of the beast.
3. Why does Simon doubt the existence of the beast?
4. Compare Ralph and Jack’s reactions to the unexplored end of the island.
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER SEVEN: “SHADOWS AND TALL TREES”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Furtively
Crestfallen
Impervious
Enterprise
Industrious
Coverts
QUESTIONS
1. Name three things that upset Ralph concerning his personal appearance.
2. So far you have read various descriptions of the island’s wonderful
features. In this chapter you are introduced to the ‘other’ side – Castle
Rock. Find five images/descriptions that display the harshness and
threatening aspects of this side.
3. a) Explain Ralph’s role in the hunt for the pig.
b) What happened after the hunt?
c) Describe Ralph’s behaviour and feelings after the ritual killing.
4. a) Who went back to tell Piggy the boys were going to be late?
b) What does this tell us about him?
5. Simon says to Ralph, “I think you’ll get back alright” (101). What does
this quotation tell us about Simon’s character?
6. What is the ‘rock-like hump’ at the end of the chapter? Why do the boys
run away?
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER EIGHT: “GIFT FOR THE DARKNESS ”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Contemptuously
Tremulous
Rebuke
Demure
Fervour
QUESTIONS
1. Jack uses the mood of fear and uncertainty to launch an attack on
Ralph’s right to be chief. Identify the key criticisms jack makes of Ralph.
Are any valid? Explain.
2. Why do the boys refuse to vote for Jack as chief but slip of to join him
later?
3. What effect does Jack’s departure have on Piggy?
4. State the images Golding associates with Simon while in the forest. Why
do you think he uses these images?
5. What does Jack tell his new tribe? Why do they find it easier to obey
Jack than Ralph?
6. a) Why is the killing of the pig discussed in such detail?
b) Describe the weather. What significance does this have?
7. Describe the invaders of Ralph’s camp? Why is this significant?
8. Why is Ralph so depressed about the situation?
9. What does the Lord of the Flies tell Simon? (p.130) (What is Simon’s
“ancient, inescapable recognition”?)
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER NINE: “A VIEW TO A DEATH”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sauntered
Weariness
Clamorously
Corpulent
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the weather at the onset of the chapter. What does it suggest?
2. Outline Simon’s condition as this chapter begins.
3. Simon “walks drearily and with glum determination” (133). What is he
determined to do?
4. Why does Simon loosen the parachute lines to set the pilot free?
5. What reason does Ralph give for the boys’ decision to join Jack?
6. There is a new reason for the ritual dance in this chapter.
a) What is it?
b) How and why have the words changed?
7. Closely examine the details of Simon’s burial. Describe the imagery
associated with it. What do these images reinforce or tell us about
Simon?
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER 10: “THE SHELL AND THE GLASSES”
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Compelled
Caressingly
Crag
Assimilate
5. Emphatically
QUESTIONS
1. Was it murder or accident? Answer the following question:
“It was an accident…he asked for it.”
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
a) How does this quotation by Piggy affect our judgment of him?
b) What is Ralph’s reaction? Provide a quote.
c) Why are Piggy and Ralph’s reaction different?
Why do none of the children fully recognize what they have done?
Examine the strategies Jack’s tribe uses to make themselves feel strong.
Take note of the ‘military’ language, Wilfred’s punishment etc.
Why do the hunters steal fire from the others if the signal fire was not of
importance to them?
Retell the attack on the huts in your own words. Be sure to use the words
which suggest the boys behaved like beasts.
In stealing the glasses and the fire, why did Jack and the others ignore
the conch? Is this surprising, why or why not?
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER ELEVEN: “CASTLE ROCK”
VOCABULARY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Myopia
Sniveling
Quavered
Truculently
Talisman
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who are the remaining members of Ralph’s group?
Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to visit Jack’s camp?
How is the conch described? What is the significance of this?
What does Ralph ask the boys to do before going to Jack’s camp? Why?
Find an example of foreshadowing. Explain.
This is the third death on the island.
a. How is Piggy killed?
b. How does this death differ from the others?
7. How is it appropriate that Piggy and the conch should be smashed
together?
8. Read the last paragraph of this chapter: “Roger edged past the chief,
only just avoiding pushing him with his shoulder…” (166). What is the
significance of this final detail at the end this chapter?
LORD OF THE FLIES
CHAPTER TWELVE: “CRY OF THE HUNTERS”
VOCABULARY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Acrid
Inimical
Ululation
Cordon
5. Epaulettes
QUESTIONS
1. Why does Roger sharpen a stick at both ends?
2. What does Ralph say to the twins when they refuse to help? What is
their response?
3. Golding uses animal imagery to describe Ralph’s flight across the island.
Find proof.
4. What is the irony of the fire that finally allows them to be rescued?
5. Why is Percival unable to remember his name and address?
6. State how Golding describes the naval officer. Why is this appropriate?
(What does the officer stand for? How is it ironic?)
7. What three things does Ralph weep for at the end of the novel?
8. Copy the last sentence of the novel. Why do you think Golding chooses
to end the novel with this sentence?