Lord of The Flies

Question 0

Name traits of Jack

Answer 0

He desires power
He is easily angered
He represents barbarism / savagery
He is bloodthirsty
He has no regard for democracy - he is a dictator.

Question 1

Name traits of Ralph

Answer 1

He is calm and thoughtful
He represents order; he likes rules
He represents civilisation and good morals
He shows honesty and fair leadership
He is humane - always wants to help and protect

Question 2

Symbolism associated with the conch

Answer 2

It is a symbol of civilisation and order
It represents democratic governance
It gives legitimacy to an organisational structure
It is a symbol of unity: when the boys meet initially they are united by the call made by the conch. In this way it symbolises good.
All subsequent meetings are orderly because the conch is used to give each boy an equal chance to speak.
The shattering of the conch marks the end of civilisation and the final destruction of good on the island.

Question 3

Symbolism surrounding the beast

Answer 3

The imaginary beast represents inherent evil in all humanity.
The boys know that evil or the beast exists but do not realise that the beast lies within each one of them.
The beast comes to represent savagery as the boys gradually believe in its existence and start making offerings.
It represents evil as Jack regularly alludes to the beast when he wants to scare or manipulate the boys.
The beast is mystical as it is difficult to describe or define.

Question 4

Describe Jack’s attitude towards Ralph when they first meet.

Answer 4

Jack respects Ralph
He is willing to co-operate with him.
He becomes Ralph’s friend.

Question 5

The boys are evacuated because of…

Answer 5

A war

Question 6

How do the boys conclude that they are on a deserted island?

Answer 6

They decide to explore the place.
They discover that the place is surrounded by water.
There are no other people on the island.

Question 7

Explain Jack’s action and the symbolism of Jack holding out his hand for the conch.

Answer 7

Jack wants the conch. The conch gives the holder the right to speak.

Question 8

The group of little boys initially ‘urge’ the boy with the birthmark forward. What does this action tell you about their feelings?

Answer 8

They are afraid and want the older boys to protect them.

Question 9

Why is the boy’s face described as being ‘blotted out’ by the birthmark?

Answer 9

The birthmark is so big that it covers half of his face.

Question 10

Piggy argues that the little boy must be given the conch. What do we learn about Piggy?

Answer 10

He believes that the conch creates democracy.

He is fair and he believes that everybody has the right to speak and to be heard.

Question 11

Why was it necessary for Ralph and Piggy to go to the Castle Rock?

Answer 11

Jack and his tribe had stolen the glasses

To retrieve Piggy’s glasses.

Question 12

Discuss the fears of the littl’uns and the reactions of the bigger boys to them.

Answer 12

The littl’uns are afraid of noises they hear at night on the island.
they dream/have nightmares about beasts that crawl upon them.
They even claim to have seen creepy, crawly things in the dark
thi big boys dismiss the fears of the littl’uns as figments of their imagination.
Jack mocks their fears, saying that the only beasts on the island are pigs.
Ralph is more sensitive and concerned about the fears of the littl’uns. He orders that no mention be made of ‘snakes’.
Piggy is kind and takes trouble to explain their fears away.
Despite reassurance, the littl’uns never overcome their fear of the beastie. Their fears keep increasing. it is even referred to as a ‘ghost’ at a later meeting.

Question 13

Discuss the ‘beast from air’ and the boys’ reactions to Simon’s discovery.

Answer 13

Samneric think they see a beast on the mountain whil minding the fire one night.
They narrate exaggerated details of their imagined encounter.
Jack’s tribe initiates a search for the beast but gets side-tracked by the discovery of a natural fort.
Meanwhile, hunting gains momentum and becomes rough and violent.
Robert is used as a ‘mock’ pig and Jack even suggest that a littl’un be used as a pig.
Ralph also claims to have seen a beast with teeth.
Simon encounters the Lord of the Flies, which he thinks is the beast. He then falls into a trance. When he recovers, he stumbles upon the real beast - a dead parachutist.
Simon releases the corpse and goes to tell Jack about it. He stumbles into Jack’s hunting orgy where he is perceived as the ‘beast’ and killed.

Question 14

How does the fear of ‘the beast’ affect the boys’ behaviour?

Answer 14

Initially, only the littl’uns are afraid of the dark, noises in the night and the absence of adults.
Later, even the bigger boys are overwhelmed by issues regarding survival on the desert island.
Fear prompts them to forget the boy with the birthmark who disappeared in the fire on the island.
Hunting for food to survive competes with the need to be rescued.
Rivalry develops between Ralph and Jack and they, eventually, seperate.
Roger plays dangerous games with Henry.
Simon is murdered.
Piggy is murdered.
Jack’s tribe hunts Ralph down.
Murder becomes the order of the day.
Innocence is lost.
The boys’ behaviour becomes savage.

Question 15

Discuss how the boys try to set up rules on the island that reflect their experiences at home

Answer 15

The laws and rules the children followed before arriving on the island:
Children respected adults and followed their instructions
they learnt and carried out household chores
they followed regular eatings habits and kept neat and clean
they could not take a life
they had good ablution facilities.

Question 16

Discuss how these rules change as the boys try to survive on the island in the absence of grown-ups

Answer 16

Children become savages to ensure survival
They play and do not do anything useful.
Eat wild fruit and hunt animals. Kill pigs - can now take a life without thinking twice.
They get very dirty and unkempt.
Commit murder without showing any remorse.

Question 17

Discuss how the relationship between Ralph and Jack affects the way the rules are obeyed

Answer 17

How Ralph and Jack become chiefs:
Ralph’s leadership ensures adherence to rules.
Jack’s leadership turns them into savages.
Jack entices them to use violence to get their way, e.g. forcing the twins to join the tribe.

Question 18

Discuss Ralph’s behaviour at the beginning of the novel

Answer 18

Carefree
Happy
Enjoys having fun
Careless
Has little consideration for Piggy's sensitivity

Question 19

Discuss Jack’s behaviour at the beginning of the novel:

Answer 19

Proud of his position in the choir
Enjoys power
Marches the choir to the rock
Is the natural leader
Ralph and Jack like each other

Question 20

Discuss the formation of two groups and the duties of each:

Answer 20

Ralph’s group: focus on the fire and keeping it going; building shelters - caring
Jack’s group: focus on food; they go hunting; hold a feast - providing

Question 21

Discuss the strengths of Ralph as leader:

Answer 21

Democratic leadership style
Generally shows respect for everyone
Not afraid to challenge Jack
Believes in order and rulesd

Question 22

Discuss the weaknesses of Ralph as leader:

Answer 22

Beacomes nervous easily
Cannot make decisions quickly
Providing food for the group is not a priority

Question 23

Dicuss the strengths of Jack as leader

Answer 23

Realizes that providing meat is a priority as it wins the favour of the boys
He succeeds in providing meat
Commands respect because of his physical strength and strength of character

Question 24

Discuss weaknesses of Jack as leader:

Answer 24

Autocratic (appoints himself as chief)
Rejects ideas of democracy and fairness
Rejects rules
Insists on being called chief
Punishes any disobedience severely

Question 25

Discuss Ralph’s influence on the behaviour of the rest of the boys:

Answer 25

The boys are more civilised / concerned about one another / they follow Ralph as long as he makes plans.

Question 26

discuss Jacks influence on the behaviour of the rest of the boys:

Answer 26

The boys become primitive / savage / bully younger boys

Question 27

Discuss the rivalry between Ralph and Jack:

Answer 27

The boys are forced to choose between Ralph and Jack.
They think that with Jakc they will have more fun than with Ralph and that their immediate needs will be met
The rivalry splits the group and destroys the unity among the boys.
It causes conflict between the two groups and it is through this conflict that the true nature of human beings is revealed.

Question 28

Discuss the true nature of human beings (as in Lord of the Flies):

Answer 28

Man is savage / evil in nature and it is only the rules of society that make him appear civilised
Man’s basic needs are his first priority
Man has a tendency to exploit the young/weak in order to survive, e.g. the older boys bully the younger ones.

Question 29

What do human beings need to function as a civilised society (according to the book)?

Answer 29

Rules and laws to prevent chaos
Unity, co-operation and having a common goal/purpose
Good/strong leaders with a vision for that society
Adult supervvision/guidance of children and adult role models
Education - to allow people to think/behave rationally

Question 30

Discuss Simon’s relationship with Ralph

Answer 30

He supports and encourages Ralph
He volunteers to go with Ralph and Jack on the first exploration of the island.
He is the only one to help with shelters - Ralph says that Simon ‘has done as much as I have’.
He encourages Ralph to ‘keep on being chief’.
When Ralph worries about the littluns’ nightmares and fears, Simon is the one who acknowledges the fears of the ‘beastie’.
He is with Ralph when the ship passes - his tears portray both his own and Ralph’s desperation.
When Jack leaves to start his ‘tribe’, he stays despite being a choir member.

Question 31

Discuss Simon as a symbol of goodness and kindness

Answer 31

He is a choir member but never takes an active part in hunting or killing.
He helps the littluns pick fruit.
He escapes to his ‘place’ in the forest where the candle-buds and butterflies create an atmosphere resembling a sanctuary.
When Jack hits Piggy, Simon finds his specs and hands them back.
When Jack refuses Piggy meat, Simon gives his meat to Piggy.
Simon seems unafraid of the dark - even walks about alon in the dark of night.
He is the only one to suggest that evil resides within them - ‘perhaps it’s only us’.
After the hunt, Simon volunteers to go throught the forest to reassure Piggy and the littl’uns.
His encounter with the sacrificial “Lord of the Flies” in the clearing clearly puts him as the opposite to evil.

Question 32

Discuss how Simon’s death affects the behaviour of the boys.

Answer 32

His death is the final division between Jack and his tribe, on the one side and Ralph and his little group, on the other side.
Simon’s death clearly exposes Jack and most of the boys’ savagery.
When his body disappears ‘beautifully’ into the sea, it contrasts starkly with the other boys’ savagery.
This scene contains an almost Biblical comparison - Simon is killed when bringing the good news (that the beast is harmless)

Question 33

Discuss how the conch is discovered and used in the beginning:

Answer 33

It is discovered in the lagoon by Ralph and Piggy on their first meeting.
Piggy sees it as a useful instrument to call the boys.
The first time it is blown, it achieves its purpose of calling the boys out of the forest.
Some of the boys refer to it as a ‘trumpet-thing’
One of the boys seems to associate it with a megaphone used when they were evacuated.
At the first formal meeting Ralph, as chief, gives the conch the status of indication who may speak.
From the start, Piggy relies on the conch very often to obtain the right to speak - right up to his last fatal trip to Castle Rock.

Question 34

Discuss How Jack undermines the ‘power’ of the conch

Answer 34

Jack regularly undermines the status of the conch when it suits him
This reflects that he does not accept Ralph’s leadership
The very first meeting breaks up in chaos because Jack ignores Ralph waving the conch and leads the rush to make a fire.
Jack often voices his contempt for the conch with remarks like ‘bollocks to the rules!’.
Jack ignores rules regarding justice and freedom of expression - showing a disregard for the conch and all it stands for: discipline, democracy and order.
When Jack and his tribe raid the shelter for Piggy’s glasses, they do not steal the conch, showing that they do not attach any value to it.
The conch is destroyed when Piggy is killed.

Question 35

Discuss how the ‘power’ of the conch is destroyed by the end of the novel

Answer 35

Its destruction marks the end of innocence and freedom
At Piggy’s death which is the same moment as the destruction of the conch, evil completely overtakes Jack’s tribe.
While hiding from the hunters, Ralph desperately wishes for the ‘dignity of the conch’.