H. English - Lord of the Flies Ch.1-8 Study Guide

What is the 'scar' in 'Lord of the Flies'?

The crash site of the plane that dropped the boys off.

How old is Ralph?

12 years old.

What prevents Piggy from running and swimming?

His asthma.

What valuable item does Ralph find that Piggy recognizes?

A conch.

What does Piggy suggest be done with the conch?

He suggests blowing into it to make a deep sound.

What arrangement does Ralph make with Jack to maintain peace?

Ralph lets Jack have control over the choir while he controls the rest of the boys.

What excuse does Jack give for not killing the pig?

He claims he was finding a place to stab it.

How do the characters of Ralph, Piggy, and Jack differ?

Ralph represents order and leadership, Piggy symbolizes intellect and reason, while Jack embodies savagery and desire for power.

What is predicted about the relationships between Ralph, Piggy, and Jack as the story progresses?

Tension is expected between Ralph's group and Jack's choir, with Piggy possibly being bullied.

How does social order come about on the island?

Through the boys' naivety and willingness to follow power figures like Jack or Ralph.

What purpose does the detailed description of the island serve?

To establish the setting where the boys will live.

Who is suggested to be the best leader among the boys, and why?

Jack, because he easily controls the choir boys and they treat his word as law.

Why didn't Jack kill the pig?

He is squeamish about blood, death, and murder.

What does the small boy with the mulberry birthmark tell the assembly?

He saw a snake-beast thing.

How does Ralph calm the small boys' fears?

He tells them that such monsters can't exist on an island this small.

What does Ralph plan to do to help the boys get rescued?

Make a giant fire to signal passing ships.

Why do the boys need Piggy's specs?

To create the fire.

What job does Jack volunteer his choir for?

to be hunters

What does Golding hint about the time period of the story?

The story likely takes place during a major world war, suggested by mentions of an atomic bomb and references to the English queen and the navy, indicating a 20th-century setting.

What happened to the small boy with the mulberry birthmark?

He probably died due to snakes, which highlights the boys' potential for dying on the island and the reality of their situation.

Why do children imagine monsters, according to the notes?

Monsters symbolize their fears and uncertainties about the unknown island, helping them cope with their fears.

What rules does Ralph introduce during the assembly?

Ralph establishes that whoever holds the conch has the right to speak, and others must listen without interruption.

How has Jack's appearance changed since the last chapter?

Jack's hair has grown longer and lighter, he has darker freckles, and he shows severe sunburn.

What is Jack doing in the woods?

He is hunting.

What is Ralph doing while Jack is in the woods?

Ralph is building shelters.

What reasons does Ralph give for needing shelters?

Shelters are needed for protection from rain and a place to rest at night.

Who first suggests they might not be on a 'good' island?

The little ones express fear and have nightmares about beasts.

Where does Simon go when he leaves the boys?

Simon goes to a quiet and beautiful place on the island.

What gives Littlun Henry pleasure while poking at small forms of life in the pool?

It provides entertainment and an illusion of control as the fish are frightened by the stick.

What prevents Roger from hitting Henry with stones?

Roger's belief that murder is wrong stops him from actually harming Henry.

Why does Jack apply colored clay to his face?

Jack uses it for camouflage while hunting.

Why couldn't the boys signal the ship Ralph spotted?

The fire had died, preventing smoke from being created to signal the ship.

Where was Jack and his choir when Ralph spotted the smoke?

They were killing a pig together.

Why does Jack attack Piggy, and what is the result?

Jack attacks Piggy out of anger for letting the fire die, resulting in Piggy's glasses being damaged.

What is Jack's reaction when Simon gives Piggy meat?

Jack becomes angry.

How does Jack's personality change when he applies colored clay to his face?

The notes suggest that applying the clay alters Jack's demeanor, possibly making him more aggressive or primal.

What does Jack's application of colored clay to his face signify about his personality?

It represents a change towards being more controlling and aggressive, as he hides his vulnerabilities and insecurities behind the mask.

What is the purpose of the boys reenacting the pig hunt in 'Lord of the Flies'?

To illustrate the brutality of the murder and the boys' excitement rather than disgust.

Why does Ralph choose a firm ground path to return to the platform?

To have space to think as he worries about losing control over the group.

What discomfort does Ralph experience about his living conditions?

He feels dirty and uncomfortable.

How does Piggy express his disapproval during Ralph's assembly?

He stands outside of the triangle.

What complaints does Ralph raise at the hastily called assembly?

No water, poorly built shelters, improper bathroom use, and neglected fires.

What does Littlun Phil report seeing in the jungle at night?

He thought he saw a snake, but it was actually Simon.

What revelation does Littlun Percival Wemys Madison share with the assembly?

He claims that monsters come out of the ocean.

What rationale does Piggy provide for not believing in ghosts?

He believes life is scientific and that ghosts are not.

What does Simon imply when he suggests, 'Maybe there is a beast'?

He suggests that the beast may not be a physical entity but a mental manifestation of their fears.

Why is Piggy concerned about the opinion of grown-ups regarding the boys' actions?

He believes the adult world parallels their own and still adheres to the moral rules of the old world.

What conclusion does Ralph reach about the boys' behavior?

He concludes that they have succumbed to savagery and prefer hunting over survival.

What falls to the island during the night in Chapter 6?

A dead parachuter.

What event causes the parachuter to descend to the island?

An aircraft explosion.

Who discovers the dead parachuter?

Sam and Eric, the twins.

What do the twins initially think the parachuter is?

A beastie.

What excuse does Ralph give for Piggy staying behind during the hunt for the Beast?

Piggy needs to watch the little kids and keep the fire going.

What does Golding symbolize by sending the dead parachuter to the island?

The old world is 'dead,' representing loss of civilization.

Why is it significant that Piggy is prevented from joining the hunt for the Beast?

It symbolizes the preservation of civilization and morals, contrasting with the savagery of the hunt.

What logical reasons does Simon have for not believing in the Beast?

He shares similar views with Piggy and Ralph, believing the Beast exists only in the minds of the younger boys as a manifestation of their fears.

What do Ralph, Piggy, and Simon believe about the beast?

They believe it doesn't exist and is a manifestation of the boys' fears.

Why does Ralph consider the Castle to be a 'rotten place'?

Because it's remote and has no stable, clean water source, unlike the lagoon.

What does Ralph long for?

To be clean again.

What distracts the boys from searching for the beast?

Nearby pig droppings.

What does Ralph daydream about?

His peaceful life back at the cottage.

What action does Ralph take when the boar charges?

He throws his spear, hitting the boar's snout.

Who volunteers to inform Piggy that the boys will return after dark?

Simon.

What do Ralph, Jack, and Roger find at the top of the mountain?

The decaying body of the parachuter.

What role does civilization play in dictating grooming standards?

Societal norms value aesthetics and appearance.

What does Simon's statement to Ralph, 'you'll get back,' foreshadow?

It suggests Ralph might return to the adult world and escape the island.

What does Ralph's reaction during the pig hunt indicate about his character?

He has lost his innocence and has become savage like the other boys.

How does Jack react when Ralph calls his hunters 'boys armed with sticks'?

He becomes angry and calls a meeting with the other boys.

What does Jack do when the boys do not respond to his demand to be chief?

He declares he no longer wants to be part of the group and runs off into the woods.

Why does Simon suggest returning to the mountain?

Because they have nothing else to do with Jack gone.

What does Piggy suggest they do instead of returning to the mountain?

To build a fire down by the beach.

What happens to most of the bigguns while Ralph and Piggy are busy?

They run off to find Jack.

What gift does Jack offer to appease the Beast?

A freshly killed pig's head impaled on a stick.

What does Jack ask Roger to do with a stick?

To sharpen both ends of a stick.

What does Jack's statement 'I'm not going to play anymore' signify about the boys' reality?

There is no distinction between play and reality for the boys.

How does Jack use the idea of the Beast to control the boys?

He uses it to establish dominance, demand obedience, and justify his savagery.

Why does Golding have Simon 'communicate' with the Lord of the Flies?

To reveal the boys' savagery and the nature of evil, contrasting Simon's goodness with the Lord of the Flies' evil.

What does Lord of the Flies suggest about society and human nature?

It traces societal flaws back to human nature, showing civilization as a veneer that is stripped away in isolation.

What transformation do the boys undergo on the island in 'Lord of the Flies'?

They lapse into a state of savagery and darkness instead of maintaining a peaceful existence.

What does Golding's study in 'Lord of the Flies' explore?

The darker side of human nature, including universal emotions and characteristics.

Which fields of study are reflected in 'Lord of the Flies'?

Human socialization, psychology, and anthropology.

How does the island's development reflect the boys' psychology in 'Lord of the Flies'?

It illustrates their need for power, fear of the unknown, and the development of a culture based on their needs and fears.

What literary techniques does Golding use in 'Lord of the Flies'?

He uses symbols, irony, symbolism, and parody.

What is a fable?

A short allegorical narrative making a moral point, traditionally by means of animal characters who speak and act like human beings.

What is a parable?

A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.

How does Golding's use of figurative language impact 'Lord of the Flies'?

It enhances the story's themes and reveals Golding as a master of literary devices.

What role does symbolism play in 'Lord of the Flies'?

It serves to convey deeper meanings and themes related to human nature and society.

What is the significance of irony in 'Lord of the Flies'?

It highlights the contrast between the boys' initial intentions and the eventual outcome of their actions.

What does the development of culture among the boys signify in 'Lord of the Flies'?

It reflects their adaptation to their environment and the influence of their primal instincts.

In what ways does 'Lord of the Flies' serve as an allegory?

It uses characters and events to represent broader human experiences and moral lessons.

What emotions and characteristics does Golding examine in 'Lord of the Flies'?

Fear, power struggles, savagery, and the loss of innocence.

What is the setting of the novel?

A fictitious World War III, with boys being evacuated by plane due to the war.

Who does Ralph represent in the story?

The 'everyman'; an adventurous, healthy, curious, 12-year-old who symbolizes democracy.

What role does Piggy play in the story?

He is the 'Realist', intelligent but a follower, who attaches himself to Ralph to develop his ideas.

How is Jack Merridew introduced in the novel?

He is introduced with dark imagery as the choir leader, symbolizing military authority and later tyranny.

What does Simon symbolize in the story?

He is 'the prophet', a peacemaker who is doomed to destruction by his own vision.

What do the twins Sam and Eric represent?

Their merging into 'Samneric' symbolizes the loss of individuality and human rights.

What does the island represent in the novel?

It represents 'Eden', untouched and unspoiled until the arrival of the boys.

What does the 'beastie thing' symbolize?

It represents the fear of the unknown and evil.

What are the rules the boys make for the island?

1. You must have the conch to speak. 2. Certain people must attend the fire at all times. 3. Where the conch is, there is the meeting.