Lord of the Flies Test discussion questions

What is very different about Ralph's way of looking at things as opposed to the way the other boys look at things? How is this difference important?

1) Ralph is focused on being rescued while the others would rather play 2) No cooperation = pushing away civilization

What does this chapter reveal about Simon‟s personality, and what importance do you think this will have later in the novel? (How do you think the other boys will react to Simon?)

Chapter three shows that Simon is different, but he embraces it. He lieaves the group unannounced, showing that he is not ruled by society but by an inner force. He is indirectly compared to Jesus Christ

What are some foreshadowing instances in the first chapter

Fight for power between jack and Ralph, Piggy's little power in "society"

How does Ralph "assert his chieftainship" after the argument with the hunters about the duties on the island? Why do you think this gesture is so effective?

He gives the hunters the task of keeping the fire going. This gesture was important becasue it showed that Ralph was not afraid to step up and give orders.

What does Percival say when Jack asks him where the beast lives? Why do you think he says this?

He says that the beast comes from the sea in a squid form but is disguised as a ghost so you cant see him when he attacks. I think he says this due mainly to his infancy, he is very young and perceives things in a way more imaginable way

What does Simon say about the beast, and what do you think he means? How does everyone else react to what he says?

He says that there is no beast but rather the best is part of their humanity because evil exists inside of them. I think he means that the evil inside of all these boys is what. Represents the best which is their fear. The other boys laugh at simon after he said this.

What does Simon say to Ralph that makes them both smile?

He tells him that they will be rescued

Why do you think Jack insists on going up the mountain to look for the beast even though it‟s already dark when they arrive? What internal conflict does Ralph feel about the decision to go up the mountain in the dark?

I think Jack insists to go up the mountain to snow that he is not scared and he will kill the beast just as he promises. I think Ralph is experiencing both a man vs man and man vs himself conflict during making his decision on whether to go up the mountain because he is trying to show that jack is no better than him, but also mentally he is experiencing a lot of pressure because he knows that cannot let Jack be the more dominant leader and he too has to go up the mountain to maintain the trust of the boys

Why do you think Simon is so eager to volunteer to go across the island to tell Piggy and the littluns what they‟re doing?

I think he is eager to do this because he wants to sit in the grove which he often stays in

Why do you think Jack and the littluns (and others, probably) have fears about a "beastie," but Ralph, Simon, and Piggy don‟t? What theme does this suggest?

I think jack and the littluns believe in this beast because that evil inside humans is being manifested by a belief in a false "creature." Piggy,Ralph, and Simon don't believe in this beast because they have not yet reached that evil inside of the themselves, they are still pure and are in reality. I think this symbolizes man vs himself because they are battling their own mind and beliefs

What do you think the "sound of the shell" and the conch itself might symbolize?

It symbolizes order, governance through out the book it becomes weaker.

Discuss the change in Jack‟s personality that is described at the beginning of the chapter. What is Jack‟s highest priority, and what does this tell us about him?

Jack acts like a dictator. He hates that Ralph is chief. His main priority is hunting and killing animals.

What does Jack‟s behavior in this chapter suggest about him (e.g. his attitude toward killing pigs and hunting the beast, his excitement about the rules and the consequences of violating them, his treatment of Piggy etc.)? In what way(s) might the behavior of the boys during the meeting foreshadow later events?

Jack is aggresive and intimidating. He is obsessed with killing the pig. He constantly wants approval from the other boys. He torments piggy a lot. His behavior foreshadows him turning into a barbarian/savage later in the novel.

How do the hunters behave in response to the success of the hunt, and what is the significance of this behavior?

Jack is very happy with himself after he leads the hunt. The hunters all feel strong and accomplished. This also shows the excitement that all these hunters possess after killing the pigs. However, Jack's leaving the fire causes him trouble later on.

How does Jack deal with the fear of the beastie and how is this significant?

Jack says that if there is a beast him and his hunters will kill it. This shows how Jack is slowly grasping his control as leader in the island by insuring safety to the littluns.

How do most of the boys react to their discovery of the "castle"? What foreshadowing takes place at the end of the chapter?

Most of the boys are fascinated with the discovery of castle rock due to its great architecture and great shelter. This foreshadows the use of castle rock as jack's palace or kingdom, which he would use later on in the story when departing from Ralph's leadership

Describe Ralph

Order

Why does Piggy say that Ralph should blow the conch to call everyone back, and why does Ralph decide not to?

Piggy tells him so that they can reform order, but Ralph doesn't do it because if he blows the conch and no one comes that means Jack has won and Ralph has lost his power.

What hypocritical irony is there in the boys‟ treatment of Piggy in contrast with their treatment of Ralph and Jack? What does this fact suggest about human nature?

Piggy was the boys' best chance of getting rescued and/or urviving. He was organized and smart (he wanted to make a sundial). Jack and Ralph gain immediate respect because Jack is aggressive and Ralph is adult-like.

What do you think Piggy‟s glasses might represent? Consider their normal function, the use they are put to in this chapter, Piggy‟s intelligence, and Piggy‟s helplessness without them.

Piggy's glasses represent the view of science and intelligence in society. He has the innovative idea to use them to light the fire. It is the source of the fire and therefore is the source of hope.

What change has come over Ralph as a result of the signal fire incident? How have his values changed?

Ralph begins to feel that his leadership position is threatened. Being saved is not main priority anymore because the chance was missed b/c of Jack. Ralph's values are now gaining the children's attention and stand out as the leader.

What embarrassing thing does Ralph say to himself near the beginning of the chapter that he‟s afraid someone might have overheard? What does he mean by it? What change in Ralph does the act of talking to himself demonstrate?

Ralph is talking about habits which he has become aware which he does and says next I'll probably be sucking on my thumb, he is scared that someone may have overheard him because he does not wins at to get made fun of. This act of talking to himself demonstrates that Ralph is pretty damn lonely.

What does Roger symbolize?

Roger symbolizes the evil of humans just because he does bad things just because he can. He has society keep him in check from the beginning but as the novel continues he turns into an animal.

Why are the rules so important to Ralph? What are the consequences of breaking them?

Rules are important to Ralph because he knows that they are the only thing that will allow the group to maintain order. The consequence for not following these rules are the destruction of order in society and the loss of hope to get rescued.

What is the "beast from air"? How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what connection does it have with the novel‟s themes, and what does it symbolize?

The beast from the air is a paratrooper who died while probably being in the sky battle which is the cause of this novel. This symbolizes and ties back to the themes of the novel because it shows how War brings out the beast in humans. We can see this on the island because the corruption which is war is leading to the savagery inside humans is becoming evident throughout the story.

How are the all of the boys except Ralph and Simon (and Jack) behaving? What is Golding telling us about human nature? What important qualities do Ralph, Simon, and Piggy have that the other boys seem to lack?

The boys appearances and word choice has changed. They forget about the way they used to live and have adapted to island life. They have developed nicknames for the twins and a dresscode. This shows that they are beginning to establish a culture of their own

What do the boys‟ attitudes and actions (e.g. Ralph‟s joy at being free of "grownups," the vote for leader, Ralph‟s telling the other boys about Piggy‟s nickname) reveal about human nature?

The boys' reaction to the no grownups is that they are excited, which shows that they are made to oppose authoritative figures; Each boys constantly wants to be accepted and be part of the group, this shows that humans never want to be left out

What do you think is the significance of the "snake-thing" or "beastie"? Consider the little boy‟s description of the creature, the discussion of nightmares, Ralph‟s feeling that he is "facing something ungraspable" when confronted with this problem, and his need to repeat loudly that "there isn‟t a beast."

The snake thing represents the fear of all of the boys turning dark. The beast is always hiding in the dark and can strike whenever. This relates closely to the boys losing their innocence.

What is making it difficult for Ralph and Jack to communicate and get along? Where do you think their differences will lead?

They both have opposite ideas and priorities. The only problem is, they both believe that they're right. Ralph wants to build shelter and Jack wants to hunt. I think this savagery will lead to a fight for being leader

What do the events of the first two chapters reveal about the major themes of the novel?

They reveal themes like: man vs nature, loss of innocence, and man (Piggy) vs. society

Why do the hunters decide to "paint" themselves with clay and charcoal? What effect does doing this have on their behavior, and why? Does this "makeup" have any symbolic meaning?

They used paint to camoflauge themselves while hunting. The face paint also acted as a mask and they could do anything without feeling guilty. Also this paint separates them from their true identity.

What is the significance (the meaning and importance) of the boys‟ encounter" with the wild piglet?

This encounter shows how innocent the boys are because they don't want to kill the pig. They aren't ready to get meat for the boys. Jacks hesitation and then vowing to kill the pig shows that he might turn into a savage later.

Why do you think Ralph doesn‟t really expect to encounter the beast?

This is a really open answer but I believe neither Ralph,Simon, or Piggy believed in the beast mostly due to their purity still. What i mean by this is that they still had a clear view of humanity and knew what real and fictional

What does Piggy mean by his claim that "life is scientific"? What does he mean when he suggests that "there isn‟t no fear, either[...]unless we get frightened of people"?

What he means by this is that it wouldn't make logical sense for their to be a beast. Everything comes from some type of information and from this information we can draw conclusions. By frightened by people he is implying that the beast isn't some type of supernatural creature but rather its the boys themselves, because evil dwells within them and that's what they have to fear.

What significant thoughts does Simon have about the beast while the boys are walking to the "castle"?

While waking to the castle, simon was very critical towards the beast. He thinks about how strang it was that it was swift enough to leave no tracks and yet it couldn't catch up with sam a and Eric. This casts doubts on the idea of the beast being real for simon. It also sheds light on the fact that simon is a free thinker and won't take what the boys say without thinking it through.

Describe Jack

savage;shows him as innocent choir boy and makes him a savage to show that savagery dwells within all of us

Describe piggy

well thought; sagacious; wisdom and intelligence