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Lord of the Flies Study Guide Questions

This document contains a study guide with questions about the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The questions cover characters, plot points, and themes from the first several chapters. They are meant to test the reader's comprehension and understanding of events and ideas presented in the story.

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177 views7 pages

Lord of the Flies Study Guide Questions

This document contains a study guide with questions about the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The questions cover characters, plot points, and themes from the first several chapters. They are meant to test the reader's comprehension and understanding of events and ideas presented in the story.

Uploaded by

acruz-5
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Name: _______________________________________________________________ Block: ____________



SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

Chapters 1 - 2

1. Identify:

Ralph



Piggy



Simon



Jack



Sam & Eric



Maurice



Roger



"The littluns"



2. How did the boys happen to come to the island?




3. What do the boys have that is the symbol of authority in the society they form?
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4. What does the reader learn about Jack when he slashed the green candle buds?




5. Why does Jack hesitate when he lifts his knife to kill the piglet, and what does he promise
will
happen next time he meets a pig?




6. Who are the hunters, and what is their job?




7. What does a little 'un think he has seen in the forest?




8. How and why do the boys make fire?




9. Why does the boys' plan for rescue fail?





Chapters 3 - 4

1. Although Ralph criticizes the boys for their lack of cooperation, does he bear some of the
responsibility for the failures of the group to achieve its goals? Why or why not?






2. How has Jack's personality developed during his stay on the island?



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3. Ralph says of Simon, "He's queer. He's funny." What kind of a boy is Simon?






4. After Maurice and Roger destroy the littluns' sand castles, Roger stalks the young boy
named Henry. When he begins to throw stones, why does he just throw them near him instead
of directly at him?







5. What causes the hunters, who had promised to keep the fire burning, to neglect it and allow
it
to go out?






6. Why does Jack paint his face?







Chapters 5 - 6

1. How does the author show us that Ralph is finally beginning to face the realities of their
existence?





2. Compare Ralph's treatment of the littluns with Jack's.

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3. What is Simon saying when he thinks the "beast" may be inside they boys themselves?






4. What do Sam and Eric tell the boys they have seen? What is it actually?






5. Why do Ralph and Jack decide to go find the beast?







Chapters 7 - 8

1. How does Ralph react when a boar comes charging down the path?





2. To what does Ralph's demonstration of his hunting prowess lead?





3. What did the boys see on the mountain top?





4. Why is the action of the story increasingly taking place in the near darkness or in the deep
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night when only the moon and stars give a little light?





5. How does Ralph's waning confidence in himself show in his words and actions?





6. Although he is not able to get the boys to vote Ralph out of office as chief, Jack manages to
overthrow Ralph's authority anyway. How?





7. Jack suggests a way to keep the beast happy. What is it?





8. Describe Simon's strange encounter with the Lord of the Flies.





9. Who or what is the Lord of the Flies?





Chapters 9 - 11

1. What does Simon find when he finally reaches the Beast?




2. What happens to Simon when he returns to the group?



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3. As a result of the storm with its high winds and high tides, what happens to the bodies of
Simon and the parachutist?




4. What does Jack plan to steal from Ralph and Piggy?





5. What will Jack do if someone interferes with him?





6. What happens to the conch and to Piggy?





7. What are Jack's plans for Ralph?





8. What course of action does Ralph take?





Chapter 12

1. What is Ralph's reaction when he encounters the pig's skull?




2. Driven by fear and hunger, Ralph manages to make contact with Samneric who are standing
guard at Castle Rock. Of what do they warn him?


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3. In what ways does the tribe try to hunt down Ralph?

4. What or who saves Ralph in the end?

Common questions

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Jack's evolution from a disciplined choirboy to a tyrannical leader illustrates the inherent savagery within human nature. As his savage instincts take over, he paints his face, uses fear to control the other boys, and prioritizes hunting over rescue. This shift highlights Golding's suggestion that civilization can suppress, but not erase, the primal instincts within people .

The storm during Simon's death carries both literal and metaphorical significance. Literally, it obscures the boys’ view and heightens the chaos, making it easier for them to mistake Simon for the beast. Metaphorically, it represents the overwhelming forces of nature and primal instincts overpowering reason and humanity. Simon's murder during the storm symbolizes the destructive power of baseless fear and the complete erosion of moral consciousness among the boys .

The "Lord of the Flies," represented by the pig’s head on a stick, is a powerful symbol of the inherent evil and savagery present within all humans. It embodies the chaos and moral corruption on the island, becoming a tangible manifestation of the boys' fears and innate barbarism. This symbol plays a crucial role in driving the boys further into violence and disorder, as they increasingly succumb to its influence .

Piggy's death and the destruction of the conch symbolize the complete disintegration of civilized order and rational governance on the island. Piggy represents intellect and reason, while the conch symbolizes law and structure. Their simultaneous destruction marks the triumph of savagery and chaos over reason, demonstrating the fragility of societal constructs without mutual respect and order .

Golding conveys the tension between Ralph and Jack through their divergent priorities; Ralph focuses on rescue and maintaining order, while Jack becomes obsessed with hunting and power. This struggle underscores differing concepts of leadership: Ralph represents democratic governance, stressing collective welfare and responsibility, whereas Jack embodies authoritarian control and prioritizes dominance and fear. This conflict illustrates the complexities and challenges of leadership amidst human instincts .

Samneric's warning to Ralph about Roger's violent tendencies signifies the complete breakdown of societal norms and humanity. Roger's ruthlessness and Samneric's fear highlight the transition from structured society to anarchic domination. This foreshadowing contributes to the story's climax by amplifying the tension and urgency of Ralph’s impending confrontation, symbolizing the ultimate conflict between civilization and savagery .

The boys use the conch shell as a symbol of authority, which represents their attempt to establish a society similar to the one they knew before arriving on the island. The conch serves as a tool for maintaining order during meetings, as only the person holding it is allowed to speak, symbolizing democratic order and civility .

The setting of near darkness contributes to the story’s ominous and foreboding mood. It symbolizes the boys' descent into savagery and the dominance of their irrational fears. Darkness serves as a metaphor for the unknown and the loss of clarity, intensifying the theme of chaos overtaking order as rational thinking becomes overshadowed by primal instincts .

Ralph's horrified reaction to the pig's skull reflects his psychological turmoil and the climax of fear and loathing he feels towards the pervasive savagery. The skull epitomizes the descent into brutality, mirroring Ralph's struggle to maintain civil order. This interaction underscores the novel’s themes of inherent human darkness and the fragile veneer of civilization .

Simon perceives the 'beast' not as an external creature but as a manifestation of the boys' own inner darkness and primal instincts. This understanding is symbolically significant as it reveals the central theme of innate human savagery and the moral implications of the loss of innocence. Unlike the other boys, Simon's insight suggests a deeper recognition of the true source of evil within themselves, contrasting with their belief in a physical beast .

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