LORD OF THE FLIES STUDY GUIDE Name:________________________ 

By William Golding  

« Chapter One The Sound Of the Shell  

1)     What does the title Lord of the Flies suggest to you? What do you think it means?

   2)     We do not know Piggy’s real name. What effect does this have on the

reader? What do you think of Piggy?  

  3)     What do the boys discover in their exploration? To what use do they

put it? 

  4)     Who is the elected leader? 

  5)     How is the division of labor arranged? 

  6)     What takes place when Jack, Ralph & Simon find a piglet caught in the

brush? 

  7)     What effect does the encounter have on Jack? 

  8)     What differences, other than physical ones, are apparent between

Ralph and Piggy? 

  

« Chapter Two Fire on the Mountain  9)     What rule does Ralph lay down at the first assembly?    10)What does the frightened boy tell the group and how does it affect

them?    11)What does Ralph tell the boys they must do to facilitate rescue?    12)What changes had to be made as a result of the fire?    13)Who accepted the responsibility for tending the fire?    14)What further characteristics of Piggy are revealed in this chapter?

Give some examples of Piggy’s intelligence.   

 

« Chapter Three Huts on the Beach  15)How successful is Jack in the second hunt?   

 16)Who is the only one who helps Ralph build the huts?   

 17)What conflict arises between Jack and Ralph?    18)Why is Jack so intent on hunting? Can you predict where this might

lead?    19)Why is Ralph so worried about the ‘littluns’?   

 20)What is revealed about Simon in this chapter?   

 21)      How do you think you would be feeling at this point if you were on this

island?  

« Chapter Four Painted Faces and Long Hair  22)Describe the adventures of the ‘littluns.’ 

  23)Who knocks over the sandcastles? 

  24)What is revealed about Roger by his actions in this chapter?   25)Why does he stop short of actually hitting Henry with the stones? 

  26)How do the hunters prepare for another hunt? 

  27)How do the boys react to Piggy? 

   28)Why doesn’t the passing ship realize there is someone on the island? 

  29)Describe the hunters return from the hunt. What do they not realize? 

   30)How do the hunters react to Ralphs’s angry tirade? 

  31)Describe the confrontation between Jack and Piggy. 

  

 

« Chapter Five Beast From Water  32)Why does Ralph call the meeting in this chapter?     33)What brings Ralph into closer sympathy with Piggy?   

34)For what does Ralph scold the boys?In what ways are they forgetting the rules?

    35)What are the various reactions of the boys to the beast?     36)Describe Simon’s theory about the beast.

Do the boys know what he is talking about? Do you?       

***BONUS Cite evidence in this chapter of deterioration of democratic rule.

   

 

« Chapter Six Beast From Air  37)What is the sign that comes from the world of adults?

   38)What is the irony of this situation?   39)Why are SamnEric so frightened when they are tending the fire?   40)How has the significance of the conch changed?   41)Describe the confrontation which takes place between Ralph and Jack.    42)What bothers Simon?   43)What does he want to say?   44)Why does Ralph agree to a search of the island?   45)Why does Ralph become angry with Jack and his followers?  

 

« Chapter Seven Shadows and Tall Trees  46)      What does Simon predict as he talks to Ralph?

   47)      How does Ralph react?    48)Describe the hunt that takes place in this chapter.   49)How does Ralph react to the first hunt in which he participates? Did his reaction surprise you?    50)What game do the boys play after the hunt?   51)What important question does Ralph ask Jack?   52)What answer does Jack give?   53)Who climbs the mountain to see the beast?   54)How do they react?  

 

« Chapter Eight Gift for the Darkness  55)Who blows the conch for the assembly? Why?

 

 

 56)How do the rest of the boys react to the suggestion that

Jack replace Ralph as leader? 

  57)What is the main disagreement between Ralph and Jack? 

   58)What is done about the fire? 

  59)How do the boys feel about Jack’s departure? 

  60)What does Jack tell his band of followers? 

  61)How does the hunt in this chapter differ from the other ones?   62)What did the hunters do with the head of their kill?   63)     Why is the head called “the lord of the flies?” 

 

 

« Chapter Nine A View to a Death  64)Where does Simon go after he leaves “the lord of the flies?”    65)What has happened to Simon?    66)Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to attend Jack’s feast?   67)What happens when Jack asks Ralph’s followers to join him?    68)What tragic mistake is made in the middle of this frenzy?   69)Is this believable to you? Why or Why not?    70)What has been Simon’s function in the novel?   

 « Chapter Ten The Shell and the Glasses  71)Who are the only ‘biguns’ who have remained with Ralph?   72)In what way does Piggy show himself to be superior to Ralph?   73)How does Jack deal with those who disobey his wishes?   74)How does Jack explain Simon’s death to the boys who are with him?    75)Why do Jack’s boys attack Ralph?      

    

  

 

« Chapter Eleven Castle Rock  76)Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to go to Jack’s fort?   77)Do you think Piggy is aware of just how far Jack and his followers

have degenerated from civilization? Briefly Explain.   78)How can you be sure Jack is no longer playing a game?   79)Why does Piggy feel he has a right to be heard?    80)Do you think he believes Jack will be fair? What happens to Piggy?  81)Why is Piggy’s death equated to the slaughter of the pigs?   82)How does Jack react to Piggy’s death?   83)What do you predict Jack’s reaction to Ralph will be?   

 « Chapter Twelve Cry of the Hunters   84)Where does Ralph go after Piggy’s death & the twins ‘capture?’      

85)How successful are Ralph’s attempts to rationalize what happened?    86)Where does Ralph get his weapons?    87)How are SamnEric treated by Jack and his boys?    88)Who discovered Ralph’s hiding place?    89)Describe Ralph’s frantic flight?    

90)To what does it compare?        

91)How is Ralph saved at the last possible moment?   92)Explain the significance of what the naval officer says to the boys.

What does he think he is seeing?    93)What are the “end of innocence” and “the darkness of man’s heart”?    94)      Explain the irony of the fact that the naval ship was signaled to the

island by the fire meant to smoke Ralph out.        

 

«BONUS William Golding’s novel sends a very strong message about the nature of mankind. Do you agree or disagree with the message?Explain your answer to back up your position. 

If you had to assume the identity of one of the main characters in the novel, who would you choose and why?