Plot
What event causes the boys to end up on the island?
A plane crash during a wartime evacuation.
What does the conch shell represent?
Order, authority, and civilized communication.
"Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood." What does this chant illustrate about the boys?
It reveals that the boys are becoming consumed by mob mentality and violence, losing their sense of individuality and moral restraint as they give in to their inner darkness.
Who is elected leader at the beginning of the novel?
Ralph
What popular adventure novel does Lord of the Flies parody?
Coral Island
What is the purpose of the signal fire?
To attract passing ships for rescue.
What does the fire symbolize?
Hope and connection to civilization, as well as destruction and chaos.
"The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness." What does this reveal about Jack and the effect of the mask?
It reveals that the mask allows Jack to shed his civilized identity and moral restraint, enabling him to act without guilt and fully embrace his descent into savagery.
Which character represents logic and intelligence?
Piggy
What are the younger boys called?
Littluns
What does Jack fail to do when he first goes exploring with Ralph and Simon?
Jack fails to kill a pig.
What does Piggy's glasses represent?
Intelligence, science, and the power of reason.
"Maybe there is a beast... maybe it's only us." What is Simon suggesting?
The real evil comes from within the boys.
The boy with the mulberry birthmark.
Which philosopher influenced Golding's writings?
Thomas Hobbes
What happens during the boys' encounter with the "beast" on the mountain?
They mistake a dead parachutist for the beast and flee in fear.
What does the "beast" truly symbolize?
The inner savagery and fear within each boy.
'Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law." What is this quotation referring to, and why does it matter?
Roger is throwing stones close to Henry. It reveals that Roger has a desire for violence, but the internalized rules of his home society keep his actions in check.
Which character has a spiritual or moral understanding of the island?
Simon
What major world event is happening during the novel?
A nuclear war.
How does the novel end?
A naval officer arrives and rescues the boys as they attempt to kill Ralph.
What does the Lord of the Flies represent in a deeper, philosophical sense? State the allusion and the meaning behind it.
The Lord of the Flies is an allusion to Beelzebub. It represents the embodiment of evil and humanity's innate capacity for darkness.
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart..." What does this moment represent?
The boys’ complete loss of childhood innocence and recognition of human evil.
How does Jack change over the course of the novel?
He transforms from a choir leader into a violent, power-driven dictator.
In the final chapter, why is the forest fire ironic?
The fire is being used to smoke out and kill Ralph, but it ends up being the very thing that saves him and the rest of the boys. A ship notices the large fire and rescues the group.