Character
This boy’s reliance on the conch highlights his belief in rules and democracy.
Ralph
The isolated island creates this effect on the boys, forcing them to confront themselves.
The isolation leads to the collapse of civilisation
The boys’ fear of the beast explores which human instinct?
What is fear of the unknown / primal instinct?
Golding’s experiences in WWII made him question this aspect of human nature.
What is humans’ capacity for cruelty?
The conch’s destruction represents more than just an object. What does it symbolise?
What is the end of order and authority?
His intelligence is his greatest strength, but also makes him socially vulnerable.
Piggy
The mountain is both a place of hope and fear; explain why its symbolism changes.
The mountain/signal fire represents hope, but also fear of the beast
Leadership struggles show a conflict between these two approaches to power.
What is democratic order versus authoritarian control?
The post-war era’s fear of societal collapse is reflected in which element of the story?
What is the breakdown of order among the boys?
Simon’s insight into the “beast” suggests what about human nature?
What is evil exists within humans, not externally?
His obsession with hunting demonstrates how fear and power can dominate morality.
Jack
The lagoon is a place of peace that contrasts with violent events, showing what theme?
Civilisation versus Savagery
The deaths of Simon and Piggy highlight which recurring theme?
What is the collapse of morality / loss of innocence?
Golding critiques the “civilised” world by showing how quickly it can fail. Which literary method helps him do this?
What is allegory and symbolism?
Jack manipulates fear to gain followers. What does this show about leadership?
What is the power of fear and peer pressure?
He represents the moral compass of the boys and is sensitive to the true “beast” within.
Simon
The caves are important for strategic and symbolic reasons. What do they represent?
The boys’ descent into savagery and concealment of fear
The conch and the signal fire show competing priorities in human society. What theme does this illustrate?
What is civilisation versus survival instincts?
The novel’s exploration of power and morality can be linked to which real-world historical events?
What is WWII and totalitarian regimes?
The signal fire shows hope but also chaos. How does this reflect human priorities?
What is the conflict between short-term survival and long-term civilisation?
The boys’ treatment of this character demonstrates how easily society can turn on the vulnerable.
Piggy
The setting shifts from idyllic to threatening. How does Golding use this to influence tension?
The island’s changing landscape mirrors the boys’ moral decline
Golding suggests human nature contains an inherent conflict between these two forces.
What is the struggle between order and savagery / civilisation and instinct?
Golding presents the boys’ behaviour as a microcosm of society. How does this reflect broader human concerns?
What is society’s fragility and the potential for moral collapse?
The contrast between Ralph and Jack’s leadership explores a central idea about society.
What is the tension between democratic values and authoritarian control?