Lord of the Flies exam questions and answers

What is the significance of "The Sound of the Shell"? (chapter 1) The conch shell represents democracy and unity What is Ralph's attitude toward Piggy when he first meets him? (chapter 1) indifferent but superior What is the significance of Piggy's plea to join the expedition? (chapter 1) Piggy was unable to go because of his physical defects; shows the differences in Ralph's and Jack's characters Why is Ralph elected chief? (chapter 1) He is more athletic and better looking than Jack. He had the conch, which made him a symbol of authority What is the "scar" that is repeatedly mentioned? (chapter 1) It's the ditch the plane had dug out and the trail of trees. It represents man destroying nature and the boys bringing destruction to the island. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig? (chapter 1) The enormity of it. It wasn't in his civilized nature. What do Piggy, Simon, and the littlun with the birthmark have in common? (chapter 1) They are all "defective". How is Jack presented to the reader? (chapter 1) Read-headed: hot tempered, angry; Wearing black: ominous Why did Golding use British schoolboys? (chapter 1) They are supposed to be proper and from elite families. It emphasizes their transition from civilized to savage. How is Piggy revealed as most closely tied to the world of adults? (chapter 1) He talks about his "auntie" and tells the boys to "Quit acting like kids". This indicates he's around adults more often than kids, possibly because he's been rejected. How is Piggy indirectly responsible for the blowing of the conch? (chapter 1) He tells Ralph how to blow the conch shell. This suggests his intelligence What questions does the littlun with the birthmark raise? (chapter 2) He asks them what they're going to do about the "beast". How do Ralph and Jack answer the question about the beast? (chapter 2) Ralph denies there is a beast (denies evil)/ Jack said if there was a beast, his hunters could kill it. What is the significance of the chapter's title "Fire on the mountain"? (chapter 2) The boys' destruction of the island. How do they start the fire? (chapter 2) They use Piggy's specs (last remains of society). What is the significance of "Huts on the Beach"? (chapter 3) Established society on the island Why does Ralph reproach Jack? (chapter 3) He's angry that Jack has been hunting while he has been working on the shelters. What two groups with differing goals are emerging? (chapter 3) Ralph's side: shelters, rules, order. Jack's and the hunters: hunting, having fun. What is the significance of "Painted Faces and Long Hair"? (chapter 4) Savagery and the passage of time on the island Why does Roger aim just to miss? (chapter 4) He's been affected by civilization and still has the rules and consequences at the back of his mind. What definite stand does Ralph make? (chapter 4) He takes a stand against Jack, who let the fire go out as a ship passed by the island. What is the significance of "Beast from Water"? (chapter 5) Humans are made mostly of water, meaning the beast could be coming from the boys themselves Why does Ralph call a meeting? (chapter 5) He wanted to emphasize the necessity of the rules Why does Piggy dissuade Ralph from giving up his position as chief? (chapter 5) He feels like Ralph is their only hope to get rescued and thinks that if Ralph is out of the way, Jack would hurt him. What is the paradox of the boys' attitude toward the beast? (chapter 5) The boys fear the beast, yet they seek it out. What is the irony of the dead parachutist landing on the mountain? (chapter 6) dramatic: the audience knows that the beast is just the parachutist, but the boys think it's a monster. Why is Simon the only one to doubt the existence of the beast? (chapter 6) Simon understands that the beast comes out of the boys' human nature and fear. Why do Ralph and Jack both insist on going after the beast? (chapter 6) They both want to prove they are brave and earn the boys' respect. Why does Jack say that they don't need the conch any longer? (chapter 6) He's rejecting the rules and civilization. Why is the action of the story increasingly taking place in the near darkness? (chapters 7-8) It symbolizes the boys' fear and their descent into savagery. How does Ralph's confidence in himself show in his words and actions? (chapters 7-8) He doesn't want to blow the conch and has trouble speaking in front of everyone. How does Jack manage to overthrow Ralph's authority, although he doesn't become chief? (chapters 7-8) The boys were enticed by the chance to live without rules and joined Jack. How does Jack keep the beast happy? (chapters 7-8) He puts the head of the pig they killed on a stick sharpened at both ends as a gift. Describe Simon's strange encounter with the Lord of the Flies. (chapters 7-8) The LOTF told Simon he lived inside of him and would never be able to escape him. Who or what is the LOTF? (chapters 7-8) Evil and chaos that lives inside humans. (Beelzebub?) What does Simon find when he finally reaches the Beast? (chapters 9-10) He sees that it is just a dead parachutist. What happens to simon when he returns to the group?(chapters 9-10) Jack's tribe mistakes him for the beast, and they kill him. What happens to the bodies of Simon and the parachutist? (chapters 9-10) They fall into the ocean. Now no one will know what the beast really was. What does Jack plan to steal from Ralph and Piggy? (chapters 9-10) Piggy's glasses to make fire. What will he do if anyone interferes with him? (chapters 9-10) He'll torture or kill them.