Lord of the Flies Chapter Questions
Chapters 1-4
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell
“A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It’s ever so valuable--”
1. How did the boys arrive on the island?
2. How did Ralph call the first meeting? Why did he do this?
3. Describe Piggy’s physical appearance and personality. What do his comments and concerns about
their plight as well as the possibility of other survivors suggest about his character and level of
intelligence?
4. Describe Ralph’s physical appearance. What impressions do we gain of Ralph in the opening pages?
5. What is the "scar?"
6. How is the choir initially described on p12-13? What do you think this description suggests about the
choir?
7. Describe Jack’s physical appearance and personality.
8. Who went to make sure the island was really an island? What happened when they saw a pig?
Quotes
“Perhaps there aren’t any grownups anywhere.”
“He became conscious of the weight of clothes, kicked his shoes off fiercely and ripped off each stocking
with its elastic garter in a single movement.”
“The children gave him the same simple obedience that they had given to the men with megaphones.”
“They knew very well why he hadn’t: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into
living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.”
Discussion Questions
When Piggy and Ralph find the conch, it is Piggy who recognizes its usefulness. Carefully analyze the way
in which he persuades Ralph to use the conch to call the others and arrange a meeting. What does his
technique suggest about his intelligence and his understanding of how to gain and use power?
How does Ralph handle Jack's disappointment at being beaten in the vote? How does Ralph handle
Piggy's hurt at being betrayed by Ralph and at being excluded from the leadership group who are going to
explore the island? What do these acts suggest about Ralph's character and his leadership qualities?
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain
“If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain.
We must make a fire.”
1. How does Ralph attempt to establish order and authority?
2. What is the general attitude of the boys to their plight? How does Piggy's view differ from the rest of
the group?
3. The concept of the beast is first introduced in this chapter.
A. How does Ralph respond?
B. How does Jack respond?
4. What did the boys use to start the fire?
5. Who is the first boy to die?
Quotes
"How do you expect to be rescued if you don't put first things first and act proper?"
"I told you to. I told you to get a list of names!"
"We'll have rules! Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks 'em-"
Discussion Questions
How do Jack and Ralph’s different responses to the concept of the beastie reflect their different
personalities and view of life?
The conflict of authority between Ralph and Jack surfaces over the beast and the fire. How does Jack
assert his authority? How does Ralph re-establish authority after the fire gets out of control? What does
this suggest about his strength of character?
Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach
“If you’re hunting sometimes you catch yourself feeling as if--…There’s nothing in it of course. Just a
feeling. But you can feel as if you’re not hunting, but—being hunted, as if something’s behind you all the
time in the jungle.”
1. As this chapter opens, what is Jack doing? How has his appearance changed since the last
chapter?
2. What is Ralph doing down by the shore? Why is he frustrated?
3. Why is there tension between Ralph and Jack? What are Ralph’s objectives or goals? Jack’s?
4. What reasons does Ralph give for needing the shelters?
5. Who first suggests they might not be on a “good” island? What has become unmentionable
amongst the boys?
6. Where does Simon go when he leaves the boys?
Quotes
“He swung his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength. From the pig-run came the quick,
hard patter of hoofs; a castanet sound, seductive and maddening—the promise of meat.”
“I bet if I blew the conch this minute, they’d come running. Then we’d be, you know, very solemn…when
the meeting was over they’d work for five minutes, then wander off or go hunting.”
“Jack had to think for a moment before he could remember what rescue was.”
“They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate.”
Discussion Questions
Jack says that sometimes he feels as if he’s being hunted when he is alone in the forest. Explain why he
feels this way.
Reread the last eight paragraphs of this chapter. What kinds of imagery does Golding use in this section,
and what do you think he is trying to convey? Also, why do you think he chose to include this section at
this point in the book, and to focus on Simon?
What are some of the ways in which Simon’s character is revealed?
Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in.”
1. At the beginning of this chapter, Golding describes the passing of day. What two parts of day are
the boys most comfortable on the island? Why? What two parts of the day aren’t they comfortable
on the island? Why?
2. What keeps Roger from actually hitting Henry with the stones he throws at the smaller boy?
3. What reason does Jack give for applying the colored clay to his face?
4. Why couldn’t the boys signal the ship that Ralph spotted on the horizon?
5. Where was Jack and his choir when Ralph spotted the smoke from the ship?
6. Why does Jack attack Piggy and what is the result of the attack?
7. What is Jack’s reaction when Simon gives Piggy the meat?
Quotes
“Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of
parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew
nothing of him and was in ruins.”
“Ralph turned and smiled involuntarily…Piggy saw the smile and misinterpreted it as friendliness. There
had grown up tacitly among the biguns the opinion that Piggy was an outsider.”
“He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger…a mask that drew up their
eyes and appalled them. He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling…the mask
was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.”
“So Ralph asserted his chieftainship and could not have chosen a better way if he had thought for days.
Against his weapon…Jack was powerless and raged, without knowing why. By the time the pile was built,
they were on different sides of a high barrier”
Discussion Questions
The older boys called the small boys “littluns.” Why is this label necessary from the point of view of the
author as well as other characters? What does the fact that the littluns are basically nameless convey
about their purpose in this story?
Why does Golding have the boys reenact the pig hunt? What mood does it create? What does it show?
Does it appear that Jack knows he has made a mistake by taking all of the hunters with him to kill instead
of leaving two as promised to keep the fire going? How can you tell? Should his apology to Ralph be
enough?
Why does Ralph call an assembly at the end of this chapter, when just at the beginning of chapter three he
was complaining about how useless the meetings have been? What shift has taken place between he and
Jack? Why does an assembly, with the conch at the platform have to take place?