Clarke Tanner Baker 1
Lord of the Flies Study Guide
Question 1
The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed pig’s head that Jack impales on a
stake as an offering to the beast and becomes the most important symbol in the
novel. Simon confronts the pig’s head and it seems to tell him that evil lies within
every human heart and it promises to have some “fun” with him. In this way, the
Lord of the Flies becomes both a physical manifestation of the beast and a
symbol of evil who evokes the beast within each human being. Little did they
know, the fear of the Lord of the Flies had already taken them over. The result of
this is chaotic violence that leads to murder at the end of the novel. The Lord of
the Flies is very important and it caused the majority of the problems in the novel.
Quote #1
“You are a silly little boy,” said the Lord of the Flies, “just and ignorant, silly little
boy” Pg 199
-
The quote shows that the Lord of the Flies a figment of imagination
-
Everyone has evil in their hearts including little boys
-
Simon thinks of himself as stupid
“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast” Pg 200
-
The quote shows that Simon wants to battle the beast himself.
-
The Lord of the Flies lies within all the boys
-
Fear overcomes all of them
“You’re not wanted. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island.” Pg
Clarke Tanner Baker 2
201
-
The Lord of the Flies controls all the boys
-
It’s very violent and cruel and controlling
-
It brainwashes all the boys
Dominick Dennis, Julie Caro, Dawn Strodtman
Mr. Carey
English 10
period 1
June 1, 2010
Question #2
In the novel lord of the flies fear is what
makes the boys go crazy, insane, and makes them
see things that dont exist. The fear is controlled
on what you see, hear, and feel around you. The
longer they stay on the island the more the beast
grows bigger, scarier, and stronger. Which
means that fear is overwhelming them more than
anything else on the island. The beast is inside
of the boys and can not be killed externally but
internally. It means the boys have to try to
overcome the situation that they are in and man up
if they want to get rid of the beast. For
example when its dark, fear and your imagination
takes over; such as you are more aware of
things around you when there is light outside. But
at night, since you aren't able to sense the
surrounds, thats when fear takes toll the most. It
all starts with the littleuns because not use to
being stranded alone without a loyal guardian there
imagination is what starts all this trouble. They
cant really be trusted because little kids lie,
have more hallucinations then the bigger kids, and
get
people in trouble. Worse get people killed. With
out control and protection from the adults, fear
will
Clarke Tanner Baker 3
take control of the weak.
“A snake- thing. Ever so big. He saw it.”
The beast scared the kids and brought out fear.
Even though the others may not have heard of the
beast like thing, it frightened them all at first
when they heard about it. The kids imagined it to
be
a large reptile like thing that hides in the tree
even thought it was just a bunch of vines. Being
snuck up on something twice the size of you
frightened the littleuns the most.
“ He says the beatie came in the dark.”
What scares the little kids the most is the dark.
The dark brings up a lot of fear in many people
because you can not see if there is someone or
something lurking around in your room. It scares
kids most of all because they fear that they are
being watched and nobody like the feeling of eyes
glaring at you.
“He says he saw the beastie, the snake-thing, and
will it come back tonight.”
Its bad enough to know you are being hunted , but
knowing that it will come back for you again
makes some feel like having an anxiety attack. They
try there best to keep away from it but
eventually fear never goes away. It may haunt you
for the rest of you life, but it may not always
kill you.
“He says the beast comes out of the sea.”
Every time on of the boys would stand up and tell
their story about the beastie, it would change.
See the imagination takes over you mind and makes
you think that what is normal is horribly
wrong. Everyone has their own sense of imagination
in this story. The best changes as the fear
grows stronger in each kid on the island.
Clarke Tanner Baker 4
Question 3
Jack
Ralph
Dictator
Democracy
Jack feels there is not hope to be
Ralph hopes to be rescued
so
rescued so he feels they should hunt etc.
he wants to
maintain signal
to survive
fires in hope of being
rescued
The two political rivals in the novel “Lord of the Flies” are Ralph and Jack.
They each have their own leadership style. Ralph’s style is more of a republic,
where everyone has a say as to what goes on and they decide who does what.
Jacks leadership syle is more of a dictatorship. He rules by bribery and pleasure,
he is in charge of hunting and that is better than other things that need to be
done on the island. By the end of the story jack and his followers are chasing
Ralph around the island trying to kill him. Even though all of the kids on the island
go crazy, jack is still able to keep the kids under his control. Ralph loses
everyone that was with him.
“Jacks in charge of the choir boys.” page 23
-It shows that jack has automatic authority over some of the tribe
-Its important because it shows jack has and advantage.
Clarke Tanner Baker 5
-It has to do with the question because it shows how jack rules.
“We can use it to call the others” pg 16
-This shows ralphs organization
-important because it shows Ralph is more about involving others.
- Shows the difference between Ralph and Jacks ruling.
“This is my end of my tribe.” pg176
-This shows how jack controls the tribe
-This is how Ralph and jack differ
-It proves that jack is a dictator Ralph is democratic.
“Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” pg 152
-Shows jacks brutality
-shows how what is said can pursuade others
- Shows the difference between Ralph and Jack.
Question 6
Through out the novel the choir boys evolve into hunters following jacks orders.
The first sign of them changing is the irritability amongst the boys when Ralph
states that he “work(s) all day and (when he returns no one) even notice(s) the
huts!”(Golding 54). Another specific point that shows evolution is when jack slices
the pigs throat and tells everyone “proudly” about his defeat (69). The boys soon
become very violent and began chanting “kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his
blood (152). Soon the death of the characters friends seem to have little effect on
them, which shows that each character really has evolved into something
Clarke Tanner Baker 6
different. Piggy then dies from “the rock (striking) from (his) chin to knee” (181).
Changed throughout the novel from a stuck-up choir boy to fearless leader. The
choir boys continued throughout the novel to follow in jacks footsteps. Eventually
being created into fearless people as well. All the characters in the novel
changed drastically. Those were the turning points of the choir boys has to face
in the novel.
“cut the pigs throat said jack proudly”

Showed determination

Showed leadership

He was proud of his kill

They killed the pig in a inhumane way
“I work all day with nothing but Simon and you come back and don’t even notice
the huts!” (54)

They’re not working as a team like they are supposed too

Everyone else was too preoccupied with killing the pig

Even though Ralph is the chosen leader the boys do not listen to him

Since Simon is the only one helping with the huts, it shows that the other boys
do not have commitment to help out.
Roger kills Piggy( 181)
Clarke Tanner Baker 7

This is a consequence of living without authority

Shows that the kids are not afraid of killing anything

Beginning of them going on a rampage to kill Ralph

Shows that they don’t have fear anymore
“kill the beat! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! (152)

Shows that they are brave

Kids are realizing that they could be invincible and kill anything

Not afraid of the beast

Willing to anything so they could survive.
Question 9
Discuss the opposing symbols which create and amplify conflict on the island.
In the novel, Lord of the Flies, the author William Golding, uses opposing
symbols to show how conflict amplifies on the island. For example, “we can help
them find us…we must make a fire” (Golding 38). Ralph and Piggy wanted to
make signal fire because they represent a civilized society. The importance of
the opposing idea of meat is that the boys worry more about meat and hunting
then being rescued. This leads to many arguments and division amongst the
boys such as savage vs. civilization. Another opposing symbol in the novel, is
hunting vs. shelters. For instance, “we want meat…And we want shelters” (51).
Again, Piggy and Ralph seek a mere organized and stable society. Jack seeks a
more power driven, ruthless society, because Jack obsesses over hunting /
killing and savagery. This leads to the increase for distance between savages
and
Piggy and Ralph. Also, Piggy shows his
civilized nature when he says, “the first thing we ought to have made was
shelters down by the beach” (45). This generates problems because none of the
boys want to listen to Piggy. Piggy is used to show how civilization may not look
very good so people choose not to follow it. Another opposing symbol in the
novel is savagery vs. civilization. The vast increase in savagery and the
destruction of civilization is shown when, “the rock struck Piggy…the conch
Clarke Tanner Baker 8
explode… and ceased to exist” (181). Now any chance of a stable, civil society is
diminished with the death of Piggy and the breaking of the conch. No society can
be both savage and civilized because savagery involves killing and total power
while civilization involves organization and sharing. It is a person’s nature to be
“savage” because people are generally selfish and always seek power. In order
to establish a civilized society people must obtain organization, stability, and
being able to share power. Because of this, people often follow the easier, and
lazier way out because less work and less struggle is required
Question 10
Fire is a persistent and important visual symbol in the novel because in the
beginning the boys want to maintain the fire to show that they want to be rescued
and placed back into society. The signal fire is an instrument that measures the
boy’s connection to civilization. When the fire burns out or goes low, this shows
the boys loss of desire to be rescued. The first fire represents the boys
cooperating together to achieve a common goal. It signifies the return of
civilization and need for rescue and survival. The second fire represents hope for
rescue, sense of security, warmth, and protection from the beast. The importance
of the last fire is used for light to perform a violent attack upon Ralph. Then this
shows the needs to the rescue of the boy’s, this shows the savagery of the boy’s
and their loss of faith in being rescued.
Quote 1: “without the smoke signal we’ll die here?” (Page 154)
•
This shows the significance of the fire, by explaining how it is their chance
of rescue.
•
This quote shows how without the fire they may die and never leave.
•
This shows their dependency on the fire, and how desperately they want
to leave the island.
Clarke Tanner Baker 9
Quote 2: “we saw your smoke…” (Page 221)
• This shows how, if the fire was not lit there would be no smoke and no
rescue.
• This quote also shows the beginning of their recue back into the civilized
world.
• This last fire is symbolized to help kill Ralph, which shows the savagery of
the boys and the fall of civilization.
Quote 3: “...then you go off hunting and let out the fire” (Page 71)
•
This quote shows how letting the fire burnout means the boys gave into
savagery.
•
This shows the boy’s loss of confidence in being rescued.
•
This show’s the boys priorities have changed and that hunting and fun is
more important.
Quote 4: “the fire is most important thing on the island. How can we ever be
recued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going?” (Page 80)
•
This shows the boys sense of fear of the fire going out, with a feeling of
loss of protection.
•
This shows the fires importance by keeping them sane, civilized, and not
well minded.
•
This shows as long as the fire keeps burning, the boy’s will still have the
feeling in being rescued.
Clarke Tanner Baker 10
Daniel Soto, Kenny Barba, Isaac Hoppe
Mr. Carey
English 10B/ Period 1
2 June, 2010
Question 14
The Metamorphosis within Children
Quotes:
1.
“I’m chief then” (23)
2.
“You’re breaking the rules! Who cares” (91)
3.
“He’s like Piggy. He thinks like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief” (125)
4.
“They made us. They hurt us” (188)
5.
“ He swerved as a spear flew past and then was silent, running” (199)
Explanations:
1.
Shows the groups stability.
They want a leader and rules
They want a leader to make decisions.
2.
Begins to show lack of stability
Show that the group is starting to lose hope.
There is tension between people
3. Jealousy begins to spread among the group Jack begins to find a reason to take over. Show how piggy is used as a scapegoat a lot throughout the novel 4. Show how Jack is a dictator Show how Jack will hurt people to keep them in line Shows how Jack isolates his power with fear and pain. Clarke Tanner Baker 11
5. Shows the tribe losing humanity Shows how they are thirstier for blood Shows how Jack has completely brainwashed them into doing everything he wants The boys in the story have made a profound change through the story. The boys certainly wanted to survive
once they set foot on the uninhabited island. They knew that there old lives were better so they based the
fundamentals of their old society into their new one. They first elect a chief and create an assembly. They
also create a signal fire so they can be rescued and reimbursed into their old society. After a while the boys
lose hope of rescue and choose to split the tribe into two different tribes. Those who had hope of rescue
stayed with their old rules and those who lost hope began to run wild. The boys who lost hope turn to
savagery and murder. The idea of the boys being reimbursed back into society will seem difficult because
after they have tasted the sweet pork of a well killed pig they will never go back. I believe it would take
years for them to get used to the rules of their former society or they might never get used to it and might
run wild all their lives. All of the boys that managed to survive on the island will never look at their former
lives as the save and secure as they did before because once the beast has been set free it can never be tied
down the same way again.
Question 15
# 15.) If the island is a microcosms of society, what do the individual characters
on it represent.
Answer.) As individuals each character represents a different aspect of society.
For example Jack represents someone who is a natural leader, but corrupt. A
perfect example of Jack natural leadership is, “ Jack lead the way ( 103).” This
shows that the boys that are on the island want Jack to lead the way and show
Clarke Tanner Baker 12
them where to go. Ralph represents the law, order, and morals that society
carries. For example “ under Ralph’s direction, they picked up a careful way
along the palm tree (103). Piggy represents the intellectual individual that gets
ignored by everyone else, but is always the first to come up with helpful ideas.
For example “ the silence grew oppressive and Piggy held his breath” (102). Sam
and Eric represent the followers of society, who goes along with what everyone
else is doing. For example “Jack calls the twins “Samneric” while they all pig-hunt
together” (120).
Bullet Points for Quotes.)



“ Jack lead the way ( 103).”
This quote is important because it shows Jacks leadership
It also shows that the boys on the island want Jack to lead the way
Jacks is the tribes leader shows his high position
“ under Ralph’s direction, they picked up a careful way along the palm tree
(103).
This quote shows that the boys on island listen to Ralph
Also that they respect Ralph.
Shows that Ralph has morals








“ the silence grew oppressive and Piggy held his breath” (102).
Shows that Piggy is weak
Shows that Piggy has ideas but other people uses them
Show that the boys make fun of Piggy
“Jack calls the twins “Samneric” while they all pig-hunt together” (120).
This quote shows that Eric and Sam don’t really care
Shows that both of the boys do what ever the boys do on the island
Eric and Sam do what ever they want





Question 16
Narrative: Both novels, Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm are microcosm
depictions of dystopian societies. When left to their own devices, characters fail
to create peace within themselves. Although differences can be drawn such as
the obvious human versus animal, each novels main premise focuses on the
Clarke Tanner Baker 13
inability of the characters to form a peaceful, democratic government even when
they have the opportunity to do so. In each novel there is a main dictator (Jack &
Nepoleon), an intellectual (Piggie & Benjamin), a character who represents
democracy (Ralph & Snowball), and a group of followers (the littleuns & Sheep).
Each of these characters contribute to the fall of each of the governments.
Similarities
All ruled by Totalitarian society
•
“we will kill the beast” pg 162
o dictatorship
o beast as scapegoat
o ruled by one person
o citizens have no say in govt.
Microcosm depictions on present day society
•
“Jack stood up…” 126
o creating “hope”
o not telling people the truth
o we are unable to think for ourselves
o we are oblivious to what goes on in govt
Differences
In Lord of the Flies Jack was elected
•
“ I guess you just won the election” 99
Clarke Tanner Baker 14
o sense of democracy
o elections
o people chose “strongest”
o the leader was not just assumed
Killed animals for different reasons
•
“Kill the pig” 96
o Animal farm used death of animal for threats
o LOTF used for food
o LOTF used to show strength
o LOTF for sacrifices