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Lord of the Flies Study Guide
English 10R
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell
1. Why is Ralph elected chief?
2. How does Ralph betray Piggy? What does this show about his character?
3. What is the conch and what purpose does it serve?
4. How are Jack and the choir described? What might this foreshadow?
5. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig?
6. Why does Golding use British school boys?
7. How is Piggy revealed as most closely tied to the world of adults?
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain
1. What rules are established to keep order on the island?
2. Compare and contrast Ralph and Jack.
3. Describe the little boy who speaks up at the meeting. Of what is he afraid?
4. What happens to the fire?
5. What tragedy occurs at the end of the chapter? How do the boys react?
Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach
1. What is Jack doing at the beginning of the chapter? What does this reveal about his character?
2. Who builds the shelters?
3. How is Simon different than the other boys in the choir? Why does he go to the bower (a place enclosed
by overhanging trees or vines)?
Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair
1. Characterize Roger.
2. Why does Roger, throwing stones at the littluns, aim just to miss? What does this show about his
character?
3. What does Jack do to help himself be a better hunter? How is this symbolic?
4. Why has the signal fire gone out? Why is Ralph so angry about this? What does this reveal about the
boys on the island?
5. Describe how the hungers kill the pig.
6. How does Jack respond to Piggy scolding him? What happens to his glasses? What does this
symbolize? Who helps him?
7. What is the significance of the chapter's title?
Chapter 5: Beasts from Water
1. How does Ralph's opinion of Piggy begin to change?
2. Of what are the boys afraid? What does it turn out to be?
3. What does Simon suggest the beast really is?
4. How does the meeting end?
5. Why does Piggy dissuade Ralph from giving up his position as chief?
6. What does Ralph wish for at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 6: Beasts from Air
1. What lands on the mountain? How is this ironic?
2. How does Jack feel about the conch? What does this represent?
3. Who is the only boy who doubts the existence of the beast? What does this tell us about his character?
Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees
1. What does Ralph do at the beginning of the chapter that he hasn't done in a long time?
2. What does Ralph daydream about? What does this symbolize?
3. What happens when Ralph wounds the boar?
4. What happens to Robert during the reenactment of the hunt?
5. Who volunteers to go back to Piggy?
6. What does Ralph as Jack?
Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness
1. Who blows the conch? Why does he call the meeting? What is the outcome?
2. What kind of leader is Jack? How does he differ from Ralph?
3. Describe the killing of the sow. What does this represent?
4. What offering does Jack's tribe leave for the beast?
5. What is the Lord of the Flies? What does it tell Simon? What does it represent?
Chapter 9: A View to a Death
1. Where have all the boys gone? Why, according to Ralph?
2. What does Jack offer those who will join his tribe?
3. How does the coming storm contribute to the mood of the chapter?
4. Why do Ralph and Piggy join the dance?
5. What happens to Simon? Why is this ironic?
6. How is imagery used at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 10: The Shell and The Glasses
1. What do Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric say about their whereabouts the night before? Why?
2. How is Wilfred punished? Why?
3. How does Jack account for the fate of Simon?
4. What does Ralph start to forget? What does this signify?
5. What do Ralph and Piggy fear will happen if they don't get home soon?
6. What happens when Ralph and Piggy are sleeping? What is taken?
Chapter 11: Castle Rock
1. Why does Ralph call an assembly? Who attends? What do they decide to do?
2. How do the boys prepare for their visit?
3. What happens when Piggy holds up the conch and tries to talk? What does this symbolize?
4. How is Ralph described at the end of the chapter? Why is this significant?
Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters
1. What does Ralph find in the forest?
2. What are Jack's plans for Ralph? How does Ralph discover this?
3. Why won't Samneric join Ralph?
4. How does the tribe try to flush Ralph out of the thicket?
5. How are the boy's discovered? Who discovers them? Why is this ironic?
6. Why is Percival unable to remember his name and address? Why is this significant?
7. Who steps forward when the officer asks, "Who's boss here?" Why is this significant?
8. What does Ralph finally realize about Piggy?
9. What comparison is implied at the end of the novel?