Plot
How do Ralph and Piggy gather the other boys together at the beginning of the novel?
Ralph blows the conch shell, which gathers the other boys.
What does the signal fire symbolize?
It symbolizes hope for rescue and the boys’ connection to civilization.
What personality traits does Ralph have that lead him to become leader?
Fair, confident, responsible, likeable
What is the main conflict that represents the struggle between civilization and savagery in the novel?
The conflict between Ralph’s leadership, which represents rules and order, and Jack’s leadership, which represents savagery and power.
Who says, “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us” and what does it mean?
Simon says this quote. He means that the real “beast” is not a monster but the evil inside the boys themselves.
What happens to Simon when he tries to tell the boys the truth about the “beast”?
In a frenzied dance/chant during a storm, the boys mistake Simon for the beast and kill him.
What does the conch shell symbolize in the story?
It symbolizes order, authority, and civilized discussion.
What motivates Jack throughout the novel?
Jack is motivated by power, control, and the excitement of hunting.
What events most clearly show that the boys have lost their innocence?
The killing of Simon and Piggy and the boys hunting Ralph like an animal.
“We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.”
Who says this quote, and what idea does it represent?
Jack says this early in the novel. It represents the idea that the boys still value civilization at the beginning of the story.
What happens to Piggy during the confrontation with Jack’s tribe?
Roger pushes a large boulder that strikes Piggy, killing him and shattering the conch.
What does the beast actually symbolize?
It symbolizes the fear and darkness inside the boys themselves.
Why do many of the boys ignore or mock Piggy?
They mock him because of his appearance, asthma, and the fact that he represents intelligence rather than strength.
What does the novel say about human nature and how people can behave?
The novel suggests that people have a natural tendency toward violence and cruelty when rules disappear.
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
Who chants this quote and what does it show about the boys?
Jack and the hunters chant this. It shows how the boys are becoming more savage and violent.
Why do the boys set the island on fire during the final hunt?
They set the island on fire to flush Ralph out of hiding.
What does the Lord of the Flies symbolize?
It symbolizes evil and the darkness within human nature.
What does Simon discover about the “beast”?
He discovers that the beast is actually a dead parachutist and realizes that the real beast is the evil within the boys themselves.
What does the novel suggest about the lack of rules and order?
Society breaks down into chaos, violence, and fear without rules and order.
“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!”
What does this quote reveal about the beast?
The quote (spoken by the Lord of the Flies in Simon’s vision) reveals that the beast is actually the evil inside the boys.
What role does fear of the beast play in driving the plot forward?
Fear of the beast causes the boys to become irrational, leading to Simon’s death and strengthening Jack’s control.
What does Ralph represent?
Fair leadership, civilization, and rules
How is Roger’s behavior different from the other boys early in the novel?
He shows early signs of cruelty but still holds back because he remembers the rules of society.
What does the novel suggest about authoritarian leadership?
Leading through fear, manipulation, and control will result in violence and chaos.
“The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”
What event happens during this quote and what does it symbolize?
Piggy is killed when Roger pushes a boulder. The destruction of the conch symbolizes the complete collapse of order and civilization.