Chapter One : the Sound of the Shell

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Lord of the Flies Study Guide Questions

Chapter One : The Sound of the Shell

1. Who are the first two boys to appear in the novel? Describe them.

1. How have the boys come to be on the island?

1. What do the boys discover in their exploration?

1. Name and describe some of the other characters who appear.

1. Who is the most obvious leader at this point?

1. Why is Ralph elected chief?

1. Who appears to be the most intelligent boy thus far?

1. What is the scar?

1. How is the division of labor arranged?

10. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig when exploring the island?

What does he vow to do next time?

11.Aside from physical ones, what other differences are apparent in

Ralph and Piggy?

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

1. What are some of the rules that Ralph comes up with at the assembly?

1. What does the frightened boy tell the boys and how do they react?

1. What do the boys decide they need to do in order to facilitate rescue?

1. Describe the building of the rescue fire.

1. What happens to it?

1. What jobs are the choir boys assigned?

1. What happens to the boy with the mulberry colored birthmark?

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

1. How much time has elapsed since the start of the novel? How do you know this?

1. Describe the activities of the littluns.

1. Who helps Ralph with the building of the shelters?

1. Where are the other boys?

1. What is the conflict that arises between Jack and Ralph? How do they feel about each other at this point in the novel?

1. Why is Ralph so concerned about the littluns?

1. What is revealed about Simon in this chapter?

Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair

1. What are the strange mysteries that occur in the hot afternoon sun?

1. Describe the activities of the littluns.

1. Who knocks over the littlun’s sandcastles? Why?

1. Why does Roger refrain from actually hitting Henry with stones that he is throwing at him?

1. In what ways do the boys prepare for the hunt?

1. Why doesn’t the ship that passes by see the fire on top of the mountain?

1. How do Jack and Ralph feel about each other at this point in the novel?

1. Describe the feast.

1. Why doesn’t Jack give Piggy meat? Who shares with him?

Chapter 5: Beast from Water

1. Why does Ralph call an assembly?

1. What does he now realize about Piggy?

1. Why does Ralph scold the boys?

1. What does Simon believe the beast is?

1. How does Piggy show his disapproval at this meeting?

1. What new rules does Ralph establish?

1. Where does Percival say the beast comes from?

1. At the end of the meeting, why is Ralph afraid to blow the conch?

1. How has Ralph changed since the beginning of the novel?

1. Cite specific examples of the deterioration of a democratic society.

Chapter 6: Beast from Air

1. What drops from the sky in the middle of the night?

1. What do Samneric think it is?

1. What happens to the significance of the conch?

1. What does Simon believe this “beast” is?

1. Why does Ralph agree to do a search of the island?

1. What is Piggy’s job?

1. Why does Jack believe they don’t need the conch any longer?

1. What do the boys do instead of building a new fire?

Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees

1. What do you think that Simon means when he says, “You’ll get back alright”?

1. What does Ralph dream about?

1. Describe the hunt which takes place?

1. What game do the boys play?

1. With what question does Ralph confront Jack?

1. Who offers to return to Piggy to tell him that they will not return until after dark?

1. Who climbs the mountain to view the beast?

1. How do they react to the “Beastie”?

Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness

1. Who blows the signal for an assembly? WHY?

1. When the boys vote to elect a new leader, who do they vote for? How does Jack respond to this?

1. What point does Ralph make at this time?

1. What is done about the fire?

1. How do the boys react to Jack’s departure?

1. What does Jack tell his band of followers?

1. How does the next hunt differ form the others?

1. What do the boys do with the pig’s head?

1. Why is it called the “Lord of the Flies”?

1. How is Jack perceived at this point?

1. Summarize the discussion that Simon has with the Lord of the Flies.

1. What happens to Simon at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 9: A View to a Death

1. Where does Simon go after he leaves the Lord of the Flies?

1. What is he planning to do?

1. Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to join Jack’s feast?

1. How do the boys treat Jack at the feast?

1. After the boys eat, what do they do?

1. What is the thing that crawls out of the darkness? What happens to it?

1. Do Piggy and Ralph join in the “fun”?

1. What happens to the parachutist and Simon?

1. What do you think Simon’s role in this novel was?

Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses

1. What does Ralph realize about the previous night? Does Piggy agree with him?

1. Who are the only ones to remain with Ralph?

1. Why does Ralph decide to let the fire burn out?

1. What happens after they go to sleep?

1. What do the hunters steal?

1. What happens to Wilfred?

1. What does this show about the hunters?

Chapter 11: Castle Rock

1. Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to visit Jack?

1. Why does Piggy bring the conch with him?

1. Do you think that Piggy is aware of how savage the boys have become?

1. What happens to convince him that Jack is no longer playing a game?

1. Why does Piggy feel that he has a right to be heard?

1. What happens to Piggy?

1. How is Piggy’s death related to the death of the slaughtered pigs?

Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters

1. What does Ralph realize might happen to him?

1. What happens to the twins?

1. Where does Ralph go after Piggy’s death?

1. Where does he obtain a weapon?

1. What happens to the pig’s head on a stick?

1. What does Ralph learn of Jack’s plans?

1. What does Jack plan to do when he captures Ralph? How do you know?

1. Describe Jack at the end of the novel?

1. Who rescues the boys?

1. Why does Ralph weep at the end of the novel?