Lord of the Flies

1. Why does the signal fire go out?

  • Because the boys who are supposed to keep the fire going got neglected or distracted and left to hunt with Jack.

2. How does Ralph start the signal fire?

  • He uses Piggy’s glasses to focus sunlight on a pile of dry leaves and wood.

3. What happens to the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark?

  • He disappears during the first fire and spreads uncontrollably, presumed dead in the fire flames. 

4. What is the symbol of authority on the island?

  • The conch shell

5. What is the main source of food?

  • Fruit(especially from the trees) and later meat from hunting pigs.

6. How does Piggy die?

  • Roger pushes a boulder(Big rock) off Castle Rock, killing Piggy and breaking the conch, symbolizing the end of law and order.

7. Who kills Piggy?

  • Roger

8. Who represents the power-hungry dictator in society?

  • Jack 

9. Who represents the mystic or religious figure in society?

  • Simon

10. Who represents the rule-following leader in society?

  • Ralph

11. Who represents the educated scholar in society (who is the brains of the group)?

  • Piggy

12. How did the boys get to the island?

  • The plane crashes or is shot down during the evacuation in a war.

13. Who says, "We'll have rules! Lots of rules!"?

  • Jack

14. Who says that the beast is within each of them?

  • Simon

15. Who is this quote talking about, and what is it describing: "a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins"?

  • Roger was one controlled by the rule of society(civilization) but later those rules are gone(in ruins). This shows he has become more violent and less human, because nothing is stopping him anymore.

16. What happens to the bodies of Piggy and Simon?

  • Their bodies got washed out to the sea.

17. How does Simon die?

  • The boys caught in a frenzied dance, mistake him for the beast and brutally kill him.

18. Who starts the fire that ironically brings rescue?

  • Jack’s tribe starts the fire to snake out Ralph but it attracts a passing naval ship.

19. Why does Jack put the sow's head on a stick?

  • As an offering to the beast to appease it, symbolizing savagery and fear. 

20. What does Simon realize while staring at the severed pig's head?

  • The beast is not a physical creature but the evil within the boys themselves. 

21. What business does Piggy's auntie own?

  • A candy store

22. What do the boys use the fire for?

  • For rescue signals, and later for cooking, and warmth.

23. What is Piggy's health problem?

  • Asthma(and poor eyesight)

24. What symbolizes both law/order and democracy?

  • The conch shell

25. What is ironic about the naval officer's comment about the boys' "fun and games*,

  • The assumes the boys were playing civilized games, but they actually become violence savagery, and committed murder.

26. Even though Jack's tribe initially hunts to acquire meat, what does their motivation change into?

  • Hunting becomes less about food and more about power, dominance and the thrill of violence.

27. When the boys reenact the pig hunt and Robert is hurt, what future hunt does this foreshadow?

  • Simon’s death during the frenzied dance.

28. Who says the following quotes:

  • a. "Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill." - The Lord of the Flies (pig’s head, imagined by Simon)

  • b. "Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?" - Ralph

  • c. "Nobody killed, I hope. Any dead bodies?" - The naval officer 

  • d. "They're going to hunt you tomorrow." - Samneric 

  • c. "I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you." - Jack 

  • f. "I should have thought that a pack of British boys.... would have been able to put up a better show than that." - The naval officer

  • g. "You're acting like a crowd of kids!" - Ralph

  • h. "What are you doing here all alone? Aren't you afraid of me?" - The Lord of the Flies (pig’s head, imagined by Simon)

  • i. "That's right! Favor Piggy as you always do!" - Jack 

  • j. "This head is for the beast. It's a gift." - Jack 

  • k. "Now I only got one eye. Just you wait!" - Piggy 

  • l . "I got you meat!" - Jack


29. What object symbolizes true sight?

  • Piggy’s glasses

30. What is the long "scar"?

  • The damage caused by the crashed plane.

31. What are the youngest boys on the island called?

  • Littluns

32. Who throws stones at Henry?

  • Roger

33. What do Jack and his hunters do that alters their personalities?

  • Jack and his hunters paint their faces, which helps them shed their civilized identities and embrace and savagery.

34. What is the beast the Samneric see on the hill?

  • The dead parachutist 

35. Who is supposed to be in charge of maintaining the fire?

  • Jack’s hunter 

36. Which two boys are introduced first in the novel?

  • Piggy and Ralph 

37. When the first pig is killed, what happens after Jack refuses to give Piggy meat?

  • Simon gives Piggy his portion of meat.

38. Who first believes that a beastie lives in the jungle?

  • The littlun

39. How does Ralph respond when he hits the boar with his spear?

  • Ralph is excited and proud of himself.

40. What is Simon trying to tell the boys when he stumbles out of the forest onto the beach?

  • Simon is trying to tell the boys that the beast isn't real, it’s inside them.

41. What does Jack steal from the other group of boys? Why?

  • Jack steals Piggy’s glasses to make fire for cooking and warmth for his own tribe. 

42. What happens to Samneric when they go to Castle Rock to confront Jack?

  • Samneric are captured, threatened, and forced to join Jack’s tribe at Castle Rock.

43. What do Samneric do when they are hunting Ralph?

  • They secretly warn Ralph about Jack’s plan.

44. What three tactics do the boys use when they attack Ralph?

  • Rolling boulder(rock) to crush him.

  • They set the forest on fire to smoke him out.

  • Hunting him with spears like animals

45. Why does Ralph cry at the end of the novel?

  • Because of the loss of innocence and death of Piggy and Simon, and the darkness in human nature.

46. Why does Piggy talk Ralph out of giving up his position as chief?

  • Ralph remains chief because it represents order and civilization.

47. Why does Simon tell Ralph that "you" will get back all right?

  • Simon senses or has a vision that Ralph will survive. 

48. What part do Ralph and Piggy play in Simon's death? How do they respond the next morning?

  • They join the frenzied dance that kills Simon the next morning, they feel galt or bad but they assume it was an accident. 

49. Who is an authoritarian leader that rules through fear?

  • Jack

50. How does Jack propose to rule without the conch?

  • He uses fear, violence and power over food instead of rule.

51. What do Ralph and Piggy do that shows they have the same savagery as Jack and his tribe?

  • They join the dance and take part in Simon’s killing.

52. What happens to both the shell and the glasses?

  • The conch is shattered or destroyed, and Piggy’s glasses are stolen and broken.

53. Why do Ralph and Piggy visit Jack's camp the first time?

  • To get Piggy glasses back and try to restore order.

54. What does Percival do at the end of the book that shows he has been cut off from all forms of civilization?

  • He forgot his name and address

55. What are some of the things that the Lord of the Flies tells Simon?

  • The beast is inside them.

  • Evil is part of human nature. 

  • Simon is going to die

56. What betrays Ralph's hiding place at the end of the book?

  • Samneric betrays Ralph’s hiding place and the fire Jack’s tribe sets to smoke him out also attracts the naval officer leading to rescue.