Plot Points
What causes the boys to crash on the island?
A plane crash during a wartime evacuation.
Who is the elected leader at the beginning of the novel?
Ralph
What does the conch represent?
Order, authority, and civilization
"We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages."
Ralph (early in the novel, trying to establish order)
What is the central theme of Lord of the Flies?
The inherent savagery of human nature.
What object do the boys use to call meetings
Who represents intellect and rational thought?
Piggy
What does the 'Lord of the Flies' symbolize?
The manifestation of evil and savagery within the boys
"Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood!"
The hunters chant this during and after their hunts.
What does the novel suggest about civilization?
It is a fragile construct that can easily collapse.
What happens to the boy with the mulberry birthmark?
He disappears after the first fire gets out of control (presumed dead).
What character becomes the leader of the hunters?
What do Piggy's glasses symbolize?
Knowledge, logic, and the power of science
"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!"
The Lord of the Flies (speaking to Simon in a hallucination)
How does fear influence the boys’ behavior?
It drives them to irrational actions and violence.
What is Simon doing when he discovers the truth about the 'beast'?
He finds the dead parachutist
Who is the only character to understand the true nature of the beast?
Simon
What is the 'beast' actually?
A dead parachutist mistaken for a creature
“The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”
Narrator, during Piggy’s death scene.
What role do power and leadership play in the novel?
It shows how different approaches to power (democracy vs. dictatorship) affect society.
What even marks the final descent into savagery?
The murder of Piggy and the shattering of the conch
Who remains loyal to Ralph and is tortured for information?
Sam and Eric (Samneric)
What does the signal fire represent?
Hope of rescue and connection to civilization
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart..."
Narrator, at the end of the novel after the naval officer arrives.
How does Lord of the Flies connect to real-world issues?
It reflects on war, human psychology, group dynamics, and morality.