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 Piggys real name. What effect does this have on the
reader? What do you think of Piggy?



3) What do the boys discover in their e!loration? "o what use do they
!ut it?



#) Who is the elected leader?



$) %ow is the division of labor arranged?



&) What takes !lace when 'ack( )al!h * +imon find a !iglet caught in the
brush?



,) What effect does the encounter have on 'ack?



-) What differences( other than !hysical ones( are a!!arent between
)al!h and Piggy?



Chapter Two Fire on the Mountain

.) What rule does )al!h lay down at the first assembly?




1/)What does the frightened boy tell the grou! and how does it affect
them?




11)What does )al!h tell the boys they must do to facilitate rescue?




12)What changes had to be made as a result of the fire?




13)Who acce!ted the res!onsibility for tending the fire?




1#)What further characteristics of Piggy are revealed in this cha!ter?
0ive some eam!les of Piggys intelligence.




Chapter Three Huts on the Beach

1$)%ow successful is 'ack in the second hunt?




1&)Who is the only one who hel!s )al!h build the huts?




1,)What conflict arises between 'ack and )al!h?




1-)Why is 'ack so intent on hunting? 1an you !redict where this might
lead?




1.)Why is )al!h so worried about the 2littluns?




2/)What is revealed about +imon in this cha!ter?




21) %ow do you think you would be feeling at this !oint if you were on this
island?


Chapter Four Painted Faces and Long Hair

22)3escribe the adventures of the 2littluns.



23)Who knocks over the sandcastles?



2#)What is revealed about )oger by his actions in this cha!ter?



2$)Why does he sto! short of actually hitting %enry with the stones?



2&)%ow do the hunters !re!are for another hunt?



2,)%ow do the boys react to Piggy?




2-)Why doesnt the !assing shi! reali4e there is someone on the island?



2.)3escribe the hunters return from the hunt. What do they not reali4e?




3/)%ow do the hunters react to )al!hss angry tirade?



31)3escribe the confrontation between 'ack and Piggy.



Chapter Five Beast From Water

32)Why does )al!h call the meeting in this cha!ter?




33)What brings )al!h into closer sym!athy with Piggy?



3#)5or what does )al!h scold the boys?
6n what ways are they forgetting the rules?




3$)What are the various reactions of the boys to the beast?





3&)3escribe +imons theory about the beast.
3o the boys know what he is talking about? Do you?







BO!"S 1ite evidence in this cha!ter of deterioration of democratic
rule.




Chapter Si# Beast From $ir

3,)What is the sign that comes from the world of adults?



3-)What is the irony of this situation?



3.)Why are +amn7ric so frightened when they are tending the fire?



#/)%ow has the significance of the conch changed?



#1)3escribe the confrontation which takes !lace between )al!h and 'ack.




#2)What bothers +imon?



#3)What does he want to say?



##)Why does )al!h agree to a search of the island?



#$)Why does )al!h become angry with 'ack and his followers?



Chapter Seven Shadows and Tall Trees

#&) What does +imon !redict as he talks to )al!h?



#,) %ow does )al!h react?



#-)3escribe the hunt that takes !lace in this cha!ter.



#.)%ow does )al!h react to the first hunt in which he !artici!ates?
3id his reaction sur!rise you?




$/)What game do the boys !lay after the hunt?



$1)What im!ortant 8uestion does )al!h ask 'ack?



$2)What answer does 'ack give?



$3)Who climbs the mountain to see the beast?



$#)%ow do they react?



Chapter %ight &ift for the 'ar(ness

$$)Who blows the conch for the assembly? Why?



$&)%ow do the rest of the boys react to the suggestion that
'ack re!lace )al!h as leader?



$,)What is the main disagreement between )al!h and 'ack?




$-)What is done about the fire?



$.)%ow do the boys feel about 'acks de!arture?



&/)What does 'ack tell his band of followers?



&1)%ow does the hunt in this cha!ter differ from the other ones?



&2)What did the hunters do with the head of their kill?



63) Why is the head called the lord of the flies?



Chapter !ine $ )iew to a 'eath

&#)Where does +imon go after he leaves the lord of the flies?



&$)What has ha!!ened to +imon?



&&)Why do )al!h and Piggy decide to attend 'acks feast?



&,)What ha!!ens when 'ack asks )al!hs followers to 9oin him?




&-)What tragic mistake is made in the middle of this fren4y?



&.)6s this believable to you? Why or Why not?




,/)What has been +imons function in the novel?




Chapter Ten The Shell and the &lasses

,1)Who are the only 2biguns who have remained with )al!h?



,2)6n what way does Piggy show himself to be su!erior to )al!h?



,3)%ow does 'ack deal with those who disobey his wishes?



,#)%ow does 'ack e!lain +imons death to the boys who are with him?




,$)Why do 'acks boys attack )al!h?













Chapter %leven Castle *oc(

,&)Why do )al!h and Piggy decide to go to 'acks fort?



,,)3o you think Piggy is aware of 9ust how far 'ack and his followers
have degenerated from civili4ation? :riefly 7!lain.



,-)%ow can you be sure 'ack is no longer !laying a game?



,.)Why does Piggy feel he has a right to be heard?



-/)3o you think he believes 'ack will be fair?
What ha!!ens to Piggy?


-1)Why is Piggys death e8uated to the slaughter of the !igs?



-2)%ow does 'ack react to Piggys death?



-3)What do you !redict 'acks reaction to )al!h will be?




Chapter Twelve Cr+ of the Hunters


-#)Where does )al!h go after Piggys death * the twins 2ca!ture?





-$)%ow successful are )al!hs attem!ts to rationali4e what ha!!ened?




-&)Where does )al!h get his wea!ons?




-,)%ow are +amn7ric treated by 'ack and his boys?




--)Who discovered )al!hs hiding !lace?




-.)3escribe )al!hs frantic flight?




./)"o what does it com!are?








.1)%ow is )al!h saved at the last !ossible moment?



.2)7!lain the significance of what the naval officer says to the boys.
What does he think he is seeing?



.3)What are the ;end of innocence< and ;the darkness of mans heart<?




.#) 7!lain the irony of the fact that the naval shi! was signaled to the
island by the fire meant to smoke )al!h out.









BO!"S

William 0oldings novel sends a very strong message about the nature of
mankind. 3o you agree or disagree with the message?
7!lain your answer to back u! your !osition.

6f you had to assume the identity of one of the main characters in the
novel( who would you choose and why?