Lord of the Flies: Chapter 1
Introduction: The first chapter is set up with great care and caution. Watch closely,
because the author wants you to think things that just aren't so.
Chapter 1: Sound of the Shell Answer the following questions fully.
1. What is "the scar", why does Golding choose that word?
2. How did all the kids get there? Did all the kids make it to the island?
3. How is Ralph unfriendly to Piggy? Why?
4. Where is the darkness on the island? What is darkness a metaphor for?
5. What does Piggy want to do with the boys. Is Ralph interested? Explain.
6. What does Ralph imitate as he calls "Piggy". Why is that important? Is Ralph an
innocent person?
7. How does Piggy upset Ralph
8. What is all over Ralph and his face in the first chapter? Why might that be
important? What does light stand for? What does darkness?
9. How does Johnny sit below Ralph? What does the little boy expect? Why does he
choose Ralph?
10. How are the kids acting now? What were they doing in the forest?
11. How do you know that Merridew (Jack) is up to no good?
12. What makes Ralph attractive as a leader? Is this a good quality?
What would be good qualities in a leader?
At this moment, would Jack make a good leader?
Explain.
13. Why do they make one leader and not a council of three?
How could that be a problem later?
14. Ralph has the Conch, what does Jack have?
How is that effective?
What does the Conch symbolize?
What does the knife symbolize?
15. What excites them on the expedition?
What do they do on the way to the top?
What about this expedition makes it less than innocent kid stuff?
16. Why doesn't Jack kill the pig?
Why is this incident so ominous?
What is the main emotion Jack feels?
Writing
Have you ever been really embarrassed in front of people. what did
you do next?
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 2
Introduction
Ralph starts to organize things and the world looks good. The name
"Ralph", by the way, means "consent" or "agreement." But there is fire....
Chapter 2: Fire on the MountainContinued on next
page
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6. What do they all run off to do?
What does Ralph want the kids to think about?
What does Jack want the kids to think about?
7. How do the kids work?
What is their general manner if given a task?
Why doesn't Piggy like it?
8. What part of the wood gathering has been done successfully?
What went into it?
9. How do they light the fire?
What do the little ones see in it?
Why is that important?
Who comes up with the idea of using the glasses?
10. Why is Jack important to the group?
How is Piggy a little useless?
How does Piggy feel?
As a result, how does he act?
11. Personification is where an inhuman thing is given human qualities.
What is given human qualities on page 44?
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12. What sensible things does Piggy say?
Why don't Ralph and Jack like him?
Complete the quote: "How can you expect to be rescued_____
__________________________proper?"
Explain.
13. Who is missing?
Where is he?
What does Golding mean by the drum roll?
Writing
Which should the boys have done first? shelters or the fire?
What would you have done?
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 3
Introduction
Jack ("one who supplants or takes over by force")begins to have even
more of an effect in this section. Simon (Hebrew for "listener") also
becomes important here. See how they approach the jungle differently.
Chapter 3:
Huts on the
Beach
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. What is Jack doing?
How long have they been on the island?
What is he being compared to?
2. What is the Jungle like?
What is the most oppressive part of the jungle?
Since Jack is starting to become comfortable in the jungle, what does
that show?
3. What are Jack and Simon trying to do?
Why aren't they successful?
What are the littl'uns doing?
Psychologically, why are the shelters important?
4. How are Ralph and Jack similar?
How does Ralph annoy Jack?
Why do they want meat?
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5. What are the littl'uns afraid of?
What is Ralph's solution?
What is Jack's?
The Beastie (and snakes) have become unmentionable. Why is naming
things important?
6. Where does Simon go?
What role is he starting to take on in the story?
Why is it important that he slips away from the ground?
How does Golding use light in this section?
How is the jungle for Simon different than the Jungle for Jack (look at
the beginning of the chapter.)
7 What flowers bloom at night?
What does that show about the jungle?
Writing
• Is Ralph right in how he addresses the Littl'uns fear?
• Is Jack right?
• What would be a good path of action for both of them?
• If Jack symbolizes darkness and chaos, Ralph lightness and order,
what does Simon symbolize?
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 4
Introduction
A chance for rescue passes by unheeded, while hunting goes on and
Piggy loses something dear to him.
Chapter 4:
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
Painted Faces
and Long
1. What rhythm is the island in?
Hair
How do the boys measure time?
What does this show about their civilization?
In describing the day, what else is Golding describing?
Explain.
2. How do the littl'uns act?
How have they lost civilization?
Would Ulysses be this way?
3. What does Roger do to Henry?
Why?
Why doesn't he hit him?
How is Roger described? How is Golding using the metaphor of
darkness?
What was Henry doing while he was being "shelled"?
Golding says "he was exercising control over living things" Why would
Henry want to do that?
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4. Masks are powerful things. Why?
How does Jack show this?
What does a mask allow you to do?
How does Jack feel with the mask on? Quote
5. What does Ralph see on the horizon?
What had be been doing before it?
6. Why do they know, even before they get there,, that the fire went
out?
Why did Jack let the fire out?
Why did Ralph not notice?
7. What are the hunters chanting as they approach?
What does the killing show?
Who is carrying the pig?
"We needed meat." Why?
8. What does Jack break?
Why?
What do the glasses symbolize?
9. Simon says that he is afraid. Why?
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10. Does Ralph eat any pig?
Does Piggy?
How does he get it?
How is Jack using the meat?
11. What do they do after they eat?
How does that show savageness?
Writing
• How does Golding use hair color and clothing to show the kids?
• What will they look like in another three months?
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 5
Introduction
The break has been made and Ralph and Jack's friendship is gone,
while Piggy is getting more important. The meetings start to slip
away...
Irony is ______________________________________________________
Chapter 5:
Beast from
the Water
Read the passage and answer the questions fully. use another sheet of
paper.
1. How is Ralph different now from the way he was the first time he
walked the beach?
How does Golding use hair symbolically here?
2. What is the tone of the meeting?
What does Ralph want to talk about?
How have they forgotten their jobs?
3. Where do the littl'uns go to the bathroom?
What does that show about them?
Why shouldn't they go near the fruit?
4. Complete the quote; "We've got to have smoke up there__________"
Explain.
Ralph also says that the smoke is more important than the pig. How is
he right?
How is he wrong?
Why should he have ended his speech when Jack wants the Conch?
Continued on next page
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5. What does Jack say to the assembly?
How is he being sensible?
6. What does Phil tell them about?
Why is it a mistake to talk about the Beast when they do?
What happens to Percival?
When he remembers his name, what does that show?
Where does he think the beast is?
7. How are the little kids starting to behave?
Why?
8. Simon comes up with a dangerous idea. What is it?
Who does he think the beast is?
Explain.
9. How does the meeting end?
Why do the kids do that?
10. What do they wish for at the end of the chapter?
Why?
11. What does Percival do in the middle of the night?
Why?
Writing
• How might Ralph have kept the meeting focused?
• Why is Piggy afraid?