LORD OF THE FLIES--Chapter One Study Guide and Notes
WENZ
Where are these boys from and why have they been stranded?
Discuss the importance of setting in the first chapter. What purpose is served by giving a
detailed description of the island?
How are each of the following boys characterized in this first chapter?
Ralph:
Piggy:
Jack:
Simon:
Discuss the rituals the boys have already set up in the first chapter. Compare these
with rituals people use at school and in the world.
(a) What excuse does Jack give for not killing the pig? (b) Why do you think Jack
didn’t kill the pig?
Vocabulary: Lord of the Flies contains a lot of difficult vocabulary. I will list a group
of words for each chapter or pair of chapters. For all of the words, write a definition.
Then, choose five of these—preferably, five of which you don’t know the meanings
(remember, the purpose of this is to learn). For each of these five, complete the
following additional tasks:
a. List the part of speech of the word.
b. List two synonyms of the word.
c. List two antonyms of the word.
e. Use the word in a sentence of eight or more words. Use other words in your
sentence that place the word in an appropriate context.
Here’s your list for Chapter One:
a. conch b. asthma c. ill-omened d. strident e. defiles f. hiatus g. immured
h. specious I. enmity j. pliant (Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes for Chapters 2-3
Wenz
Let’s focus on the main literary elements in these chapters:
Character
Describe the evolving relationship between Jack and Ralph in these chapters:
Explain why the other boys, particularly Jack, are so contemptuous of Piggy. Cite two or more
reasons.
What is the importance of the boy with the mulberry birthmark?
What do we learn about Simon at the end of Chapter Three? How is he different than the other
boys? What kind of symbol is he?
Conflict
Both Ralph and Jack experience frustration at the beginning of Chapter Three. Explain the
different causes of their frustration.
What essential qualities does Golding suggest all the boys--except Ralph and Simon and perhaps
Piggy--seem to lack? What point is Golding making about human nature?
Theme
Explain how Golding introduces the concept of anarchy in Chapter Two. Does Ralph appear to
have the power to exercise longstanding control?
Mood
What kind of mood does Golding create at the end of Chapter Two? How does he do so?
Vocabulary
The first ten words below are from Chapter Two; the last five are from Chapter Three.
Follow the same directions as for the vocabulary in Chapter One. (All subsequent vocabulary
assignments have the same directions.)
induced (33/35)
ebullience (36/38)
indignantly (39/42)
vicissitudes (45/49)
conspiratorial (35/37) borne (35/38)
incompetence (37/40) officious (38/41)
recrimination (40/43) tumult (41/43)
incredulous (48/53)
tacit (50/55)
errant (36/38)
avidly (45/49)
clamorously (51/56)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes and vocabulary for Chapter 4
WENZ
What gives Littlun Henry so much pleasure as he pokes at the small forms of life in the
pool with a bit of stick? What aspect of human nature is Golding emphasizing?
What evidence in this chapter suggests that the boys’ “old way” of life, with its rules,
authority, and restrictions, still has a grip on their behavior (see pp. 55-56/61-62)?
How are Henry and Roger alike? What similarities do you see between their actions?
Discuss the importance of the details about Simon on pp. 62/68 and 65/71.
What is situational irony? Give an example of situational irony in this chapter.
Why do you think Jack’s personality changes when he applies the colored clay to his
face? What unspoken reason could he have for needing a mask?
Discuss the topic of power in this chapter and explain how it subtly shifts.
Vocabulary: Same directions as in previous chapters.
impending (53/58)
chastisement (55/60)
myriad (55/61)
malevolently (65/72)
blatant (53/58)
impalpable (55/61)
taboo (56/62)
parody (65/72)
dubious (54/59)
incursion (55/61)
sinewy (58/64)
gyration (65/72)
belligerence (55/60)
detritus (55/61)
ravenously (60/66)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes and Vocabulary for Chapter 5
WENZ
What practical points does Ralph address at the assembly? List at least four.
Piggy is the first character to realize what the real thing to fear is. What is it
(see p. 76/84)?
What is it about the “Beast from Water” that makes it so terrifying?
Discuss the different ways that Jack, Ralph, Simon, and Piggy view the beast. Which of
these four views, in your opinion, comes closest to the truth?
Paraphrase and discuss the significance of the following quotes (comment on these and
keep them in mind to use as support in your tests/papers):
“Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express mankind’s essential illness” (p.
80/89).
“The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away. Once there was
this and that; and now--and the ship had gone” (p. 82/91).
Vocabulary:
lamentably (70/77) ludicrous (71/78)
compelling (71/79) clamor (72/80)
condemnation (77/86) effigy (78/87)
gesticulating (80/88) perilous (80/88)
solemnity (71/78)
indignantly (75/83)
lamentation (78/87)
decorum (80/89)
flourished (71/78
derisive (77/86)
incantation (85/94)
tempestuously (82)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes and Vocabulary for Chapters 6-7
WENZ
What falls to the island during the night? What has happened above the island?
Who discovers this thing? What do they think it is?
Simon has logical reasons for why he can’t believe in the Beast. What are they? (See p. 93/103.)
Discuss the possible symbolic meanings of the dead parachutist. What is Golding saying about
the outside world when he sends this “sign” down to the island?
Discuss the significance of the last three paragraphs of Chapter Six.
Simon tells Ralph, “you’ll get back” (pp. 100-101/111). Why do you think Golding has him say
something like this?
Discuss the significance of Ralph’s getting involved in the pig hunt in Chapter Seven. What
point is Golding making about human nature?
What do Ralph, Jack, and Roger find when they get to the top of the mountain? For what do they
mistake it?
Vocabulary:
tremulously (90/99)
bastion (94/104)
plinth (95/106)
impervious (110/121)
emphatic (91/101)
chasms (95/105)
mutinously (98/108)
bravado (110/122)
incredulity (93/103)
polyp (95/105)
sagely (107/118)
diffidently (93/103)
leviathan (95/105)
daunting (108/119)
WRITING ASSIGNMENT: CHOOSE ONE. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND
ASSISTANCE WILL BE GIVEN IN CLASS.
1.
You are Piggy writing a letter to his Auntie describing the situation on the island. Use
Piggy’s “voice” and write at least 150 words.
2. You are Ralph writing a letter to his father describing the situation on the island. (Ralph
plans to find a bottle to put the letter in and to throw it out into the waves.) Use Ralph’s
“voice” and write at least 150 words.
3. You are Jack writing a sarcastic descriptive essay with Piggy as your topic. Be as meanspirited as Jack would be, using Jack’s “voice” in your description.
4. You are Simon writing a journal entry describing his philosophy of the situation on the
island. Use Simon’s “voice” as you imagine it.
5. You are one of the main characters (choose whichever one you would like) writing a
philosophical treatise explaining what the beast actually is. Use supporting details that you
feel the character would use in arguing his opinion. Use the “voice” of the character in your
treatise.
6. Write four poems, each which captures the essence of each of the main characters. You may
choose to have the characters themselves be the speakers of the poems, or you may choose
other speakers, including yourself, to create each character’s essence. Then write an
additional poem that involves one of the minor characters—perhaps the boy with the
mulberry birthmark or Henry or Roger or Bill.
7. Come up with an idea of your own and share it with me.
LORD OF THE FLIES--Chapter 8 Notes and Vocabulary
WENZ
Why does Simon suggest the boys go back to the mountain (p. 117/128)? What might he be
suggesting symbolically?
How does Jack use the idea of the Beast to control and direct the boys in his tribe?
Why do you think the killing of the pig was such a savage, vicious event? What reason could
Golding have had for writing this way?
Comment on the significance of Ralph’s “lame remarks” on p. 129/142.
Discuss the meaning and significance of the phrase “Lord of the Flies.”
Who or what is the Lord of the Flies and what does it symbolize?
Discuss the meaning and symbolism of the last scene in Chapter 8 when Simon “communicates”
with the Lord of the Flies.
Chapter 8 Vocabulary: Define the following words; provide each word’s part of speech; use
each word in a sentence.
prefect (115/126)
sanctity (118/130)
demure (121/133)
fervor (121/133)
covert (noun) (122/135)
furtive (124/137)
vexed (126/139)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes and Vocabulary for Chapters 9-10 WENZ
Comment on the irony in Chapter 9:
How does Jack manipulate the other boys in a way that legitimizes his claim to leadership?
Discuss the significance of the storm in Chapter 9:
The boys are able to kill Simon partially because they have reached a state of altered
consciousness. What has contributed to their achieving this state?
How does Piggy place the blame of what happened to Simon on Simon himself? Discuss the
symbolism inherent in this blame:
How can we tell that Jack’s tribe has sunk to a despicable level of savagery in Chapter 10?
How does Jack rationalize the killing of Simon?
Why do you think Jack wants to make the boys believe the Beast is still alive?
Jack is called “Chief” by the boys now. Why does he no longer use his given name?
Discuss the symbolic importance of Piggy’s glasses and the fire in Chapter 10:
Chapters 9-10 Vocabulary: Get directions from Mr. Wenz.
festooned (133/146)
primly (134/147)
derision (136/149)
tremulously (137/150)
demented (138/152)
cascading (139/153) phosphorescence (140/153)
succulent (136/149)
torrid (145/159)
spangles (149/164)
assimilating (145/160) theological (146/161)
emphatically (151/166) quavering (152/167)
dredged (147/162)
purged (152/167)
LORD OF THE FLIES--Notes and Vocabulary for Chapters 11-12
WENZ
Why does Piggy bring the conch to Castle Rock (see p. 156/171)? What happens to Piggy and
the conch?
How is the sea a symbol in this book?
What other episodes in the novel prepare us for Roger’s behavior towards Piggy?
How does Golding use Roger and Jack to show that the disorder they have created will lead to
more disorder?
What fate does Roger have in store for Ralph? (See p. 173/190)
Discuss the irony associated with the stick sharpened at both ends, the fire, the officer’s
comments, and the naval cruiser.
Discuss the concept of Deus Ex Machina and how it applies to this story.
Describe and discuss the shift in point of view at the end of the novel.
Why does Ralph break down and cry at the end?
Vocabulary: Define each word and list its part of speech; then use the word in a sentence.
myopia 154/169
multitudinous 157/173 propitiatingly 157/173 truculently 161/177
inscrutably 162/177
cessation 162/178
parried 163/179
acrid 169/186
essayed 171/187
ululation 172/189
lair 174/191
ensconce 174/191
cordon 174/191
diddle 174/191
crepitation 177/194
excruciatingly 179/196
Foreshadowing in Lord of the Flies
Directions: Golding foreshadows several events in the novel. Consider the
following examples:
Describe the difference in Jack’s appearance on p. 44 with when we first see him in Chapter One.
What might this change be foreshadowing?
Discuss the foreshadowing and parallelism associated with the fire at the end of Chapter Two.
How are Piggy’s glasses used in Chapter Two? Explain how this act foreshadows future plot
events.
Describe the foreshadowing on p. 77 (if you have the 190 page version) or 85 (if you
have the 208 page edition).
Discuss the foreshadowing on pp. 96-97/106-107 involving the rock.
What is Golding foreshadowing on p. 104/114-115 when the boys pretend Robert is a pig?
Symbolism in Lord of the Flies
Discuss the symbolic importance of the following:
Piggy:
Piggy’s glasses:
Ralph:
Jack:
Simon:
The island:
The conch:
The beast:
The sea:
Hair:
The dead parachutist:
The Lord of the Flies:
LORD OF THE FLIES ESSAY TOPICS
Directions: Choose one of the following topics on which to write an
incisive, brilliant, provocative, and enlightening 5-paragraph essay. An
outline of your essay is due ________________. A rough draft is due
___________. Your final draft is due _______________.
1. Discuss the use of symbolism in Lord of the Flies. Give examples of three different
symbols in the body of your paper. (Pick the three you consider to be most important.)
Make sure you explain: (a) what each symbol represents; (b) why you think it represents
that; and (c) places and events in the novel in which the symbol plays an important role.
You may also want to discuss how the symbol relates to Golding’s overall vision and the
theme of the novel.
2. Discuss your interpretation of Golding’s major theme in the novel. Explain how
Golding expresses this theme through other literary elements (such as characterization,
plot, and symbolism).
3. Be a critic of Lord of the Flies by supporting one of the following thesis statements:
a. Lord of the Flies is rightfully considered a classic work of literature for a
number of reasons.
b. Lord of the Flies has many strong elements but cannot be considered a classic
work of literature because of a few minor flaws.
c. Lord of the Flies is an overrated piece of literature suffering from many flaws.
4. A number of minor characters play important roles in the novel. (For our purposes,
the major characters are Jack, Ralph, Piggy, and Simon. We will consider any other
character to be a minor character.) Discuss three of these characters and explain their
importance in the novel. For each character, at least three supporting details that
relate to your thesis statement are necessary.
5. Compare and contrast your own philosophy of human nature with Golding’s. Both
Golding’s and your philosophies should be clearly expressed in the paper.
6. Discuss three of the following five topics in your essay: foreshadowing, irony, point
of view, minor symbols (not the main characters or the beast), and point of view. Tie
each topic to a thesis statement of your own creation.
HAVE FUN AND AMAZE ME WITH YOUR INSIGHTS!!!