Reading Guide – Lord of the Flies
Mrs. Clark
Chapter 1 – “The Sound of the Shell”
Name
1.
What is “the scar”?
2.
Identify the following characters: a.
Ralph b.
Piggy c.
Simon d.
Jack e.
Sam & Eric f.
Maurice g.
Roger h.
“the littluns”
3.
Why are the boys on this island?
4.
What is the Island like? (use descriptive details)
5.
How do the boys begin to organize themselves?
6.
What is the symbol of authority in the society formed by the boys?
7.
What important things do Jack, Simon and Ralph discover while exploring the island?
8.
What is Jack’s excuse for not killing the pig? What can you infer is the real reason?
Period

Chapter 2 – “Fire on the Mountain”
1.
What important rule was decided at the second assembly?
2.
What does the boy with the birthmark fear? What do you think it might really be?
3.
What is the purpose of the fire? How is it started?
4.
How does the fire change the tone and mood of the island?
5.
Piggy criticizes Ralph and Jack’s efforts to lead. What is Piggy pointing out to them?
Chapter 3 – “Huts on the Beach”
1.
How is Jack adjusting to life on the island? What is he doing at the beginning of the chapter?
2.
Why is Ralph frustrated?
3.
How are all the other boys handling life on the island?
4.
What evidence is there of growing tension between Ralph and Jack?
5.
What is the source of the tension between them?
6.
How does Golding describe the forest? Write down specific images.
Chapter 4 – “Painted Faces and Long Hair”
1.
What has helped the littluns get through their days on the island?

2.
Why did Roger refrain from hitting Henry when he threw rocks at him?
3.
What happens to Jack when he paints his face?
4.
How does Jack feel about Piggy? Why do you think he punches him?
Chapter 5 – “Beast from the Water”
1.
What is bothering Ralph at the beginning of the chapter? Why does he call the assembly?
2.
Ralph lists a number of things that are not right. Taken all together, what doe they suggest about the boys’ manner of life on the island?
3.
When Ralph loses control of the assembly, what becomes the focus of discussion?
4.
Jack challenges Ralph’s leadership. What is there in Jack’s argument that should alarm the reader?
5.
Why do Piggy and Simon want Ralph to continue acting as chief?
6.
What does Ralph wish for at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 6 – “Beast from Air”
1.
What is the beast from the air?
2.
Why does Jack feel they no longer need the conch?
3.
Ralph and Jack disagree again. How does Ralph manage to keep control?

4.
What is the “castle”?
5.
What do the last two lines of the chapter suggest?
Chapter 7 – “Shadows and Tall Trees”
1.
Explain the significance of Ralph’s reflection on his appearance and the appearance of the boys with him.
2.
What are you feelings on the scene where the boys pretend Robert was a pig?
3.
Why is there a growing antagonism between Ralph and Jack?
4.
How is this antagonism revealed during their walk through the woods and up the mountain?
5.
Who handles the situation better, Ralph or Jack?
6.
What do the boys discover at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 8 – “Gift for the Darkness”
1.
Why did Jack call the meeting?
2.
What did Jack do at the end of the meeting? Why?
3.
Why did Simon suggest climbing the mountain?
4.
When Jack asked for a vote of no confidence in Ralph, none of the boys voted against him. Yet most of the biguns left to follow Jack. Why?

5.
How successful is Ralph in rallying the remaining boys to his cause?
6.
How do the boys react when they see the pig’s head?
7.
What happens to Simon when he meets the Lord of the Flies?
Chapter 9 – “View to a Death”
1.
How does Jack’s leadership differ from Ralph’s?
2.
How does the “community” of boys under Jack’s leadership differ from the “community” under Ralph’s leadership?
3.
Describe the imagery, mood and atmosphere during the time leading up to and during Simon’s death. What causes his death?
Chapter 10 – “The Shell and the Glasses”
1.
Describe Jack as a leader.
2.
How do the various boys deal with Simon’s death (Jack, Ralph, Piggy, others)?
3.
What is the new “order” like at Castle Rock?
4.
How do Jack and the hunters deal with their knowledge of Simon’s death?
5.
What happens to Piggy’s glasses?

Chapter 11 – “Castle Rock”
1.
Several references are made to face paint in this chapter. What is the significance of putting face paint on?
2.
What is the plan for getting Piggy’s glasses back?
3.
How do the hunters react to Ralph and Piggy?
4.
How does the conflict on the bridge illustrate the slide into savagery of Jack and his followers?
5.
What happens to the conch?
6.
What happens to Piggy?
Chapter 12 – “Cry of the Hunters”
1.
Why do Jack and Roger hate Ralph?
2.
Why are all the boys willing to help Jack hunt down and kill Ralph?
3.
Who rescues the boys?
4.
Why does Jack change his mind and stand still when the officer asks who is in charge?
5.
Why does Ralph cry at the end?
6.
What was ironic about Ralph’s rescue?