Name:
Lord of the Flies Webquest
Directions
Complete the following tasks. Though there are websites listed here that will be helpful you may find
it necessary to do some more research on the Internet. This assignment is due May 7th, 2012 at the
start of class. Although we will spend two class days working on this you may need to complete this
before the due date outside of class. As always, I urge you to remain on task in class. You should, with
proper focus and effort complete this major assignment during the two class days.
Task #1: BUILD A CONTEXT: WAR ON THE BRITISH HOMEFRONT
In William Golding’s the Lord of the Flies a group of British boys were evacuated from their homes
during World War II and it was in the process of this evacuation that their plane was shot down, leaving
them stranded on the island. The following site will help you to build an understanding of life in Britain
during World War II. This is a British-authored educational site. We normally learn history from the
American perspective. It should be interesting to read from an authentic British source. You will enjoy
this site.
Task: Log on to: http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/homefront/default.htm
Read each of the following sections: Evacuation, Gas, Internees, Home Guard, Spies. They
will help you to answer the questions below.
1) Why were children evacuated from Britain in the 1940’s?
2) Which countries offered to accept evacuees?
3)Why did the British public support oversees evacuation?
4)What caused the government to change its mind and discontinue the oversees evacuation
policy?
5)How many children were evacuated or sent oversees from Britain or its colonies during World
War II?
6) By September of 1939, who had gas masks in Britain? Why?
7) What is meant by the term “internee”?
8)
Who was interned in Britain during World War II?
9)
Which was the last country in Europe to stand fighting against Germany
(Hitler)? Spies
10) Who was Karel Richter?
Read the following links to answer the question
11. What was the Battle of the Bismarck? http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarcksea.htm
12. What happened at D-Day? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/sfeature/sf_info.html
13. What was ‘Operation Pied Piper’?
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/children_and_world_war_two.htm
Task# 2: Literary Context & Allusions
4. Define allegory and provide an example (other than Lord of the Flies )
http://grammar.about.com/od/terms/g/allegory.htm
5. Define symbolism and explain at least one symbol you have encountered in past reading.
6. Who (what) was Beelzebub? http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02388c.htm
Task# 3: War Crimes (Golding’s primary influence!)
7. What was Auschwitz? (give a complete definition, when, where, why)
http://en.auschwitz.org.pl/h/
8. Read and explore the website above. What did you find most shocking? (provide at least four
complete sentences)
Task# 4: POWs
Visit the following website. http://www.merkki.com/stories.htm
 Choose any three POW stories to read. Summarize your understanding of each story in the
spaces provided.
SUMMARIES: provide at least three complete sentences each
Story #1:
Story #2:
Story#3:
Task# 5: Personal Connection
Visit the following sites and record your results in the provided space
(Quiz #1) http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/alive/quiz/quiz.html
(Quiz #2) http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/8pPwNCc/Lord-of-the-Flies-Personality-Quiz
(Quiz#3) http://www.wilderness-survival.net/quiz/quiz.php
Results =
Quiz #1_________________________________ Quiz#2___________________________
Quiz#3_____________________________________________
.Do you agree with the results? What would you do differently? Do you think you have strong
survival skills?
Explain, on the provided loose-leaf, in at least six sentences, which single person living or dead
would you like to have with you on a deserted island. Also, what three things you own right now
would you like to have with you on this deserted island (no Internet/Phone connection
available). Explain your decisions. You may also wish to discuss the type of life you expect on
the island.
Task #6: MEET THE AUTHOR
Author's Biography
Read the biography of author William Golding here and here Answer the following questions
about William Golding that you learned. YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE
RESEARCH BEYOND THE PROVIDED LINK TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS.
1. Golding is a native of what country?
2. What was his occupation during the 1940s?
3. Summarize his philosophy of human nature.
4. What event helped to shape this philosophy?
5. What is the Nobel Prize for literature? How does one earn it?
6. Differentiate between the following terms:
Great Britain, England, the United Kingdom & the British Commonwealth
7. From what you know about Golding’s philosophy of human nature, what do you predict
might happen to a group of boys marooned on a deserted island with no adult supervision? Keep
these predictions handy. As you read the novel, see if they materialize.
Previewing the Novel
1) Read the plot over view of the novel here
2) You may also find this you tube video montage interesting
3) Then try out the Lord of the Flies game that can be found on this page. Some of this game
will be challenging—which will prove that a summary of the novel does not take the place of
reading the novel. But this will be a good exercise in introducing us to some major
characters/ideas
4) In the game, which quote(s) and item(s) belonged to Jack?
5) Based on what you have learned explain in at least four sentences why or why not you think
you will enjoy this novel.