Characters
He is elected chief at the beginning of the book.
Who is Ralph?
The primary conflict of the book is often summarized as this "vs." that.
What is Civilization vs. Savagery?
This object represents democracy, rules, and the right to speak.
What is the conch shell?
The physical gash in the jungle made by the plane crash.
What is the "Scar"?
Before becoming a famous author, William Golding worked as this, which gave him plenty of time to observe "boy behavior.
What is a schoolteacher?
This character represents logical, scientific thinking and reasoning and is constantly bullied.
Who is Piggy?
The loss of this quality occurs as the boys spend more time away from society's rules.
What is innocence?
These represent the power of science, reason, and the ability to start fire.
What are Piggy's glasses (specs)?
The name of the rocky, fortress-like area where Jack moves his Hunters to.
What is Castle Rock?
This 1858 adventure novel by R.M. Ballantyne, which also features boys named Ralph and Jack, was the inspiration Golding used for the novel.
What is The Coral Island?
He becomes the leader of the Hunters and prefers hunting to keeping the fire lit.
Who is Jack Merridew?
This theme is shown through Jack's use of face paint to hide his identity and shame.
What is the "mask" or the descent into savagery?
For Ralph and Piggy, this is the most important symbol of their hope for rescue.
What is the signal fire?
This major world event explains why the boys were being evacuated.
What is World War II?
Lord of the Flies was famously rejected by this many publishers before finally being printed in 1954.
What is 21?
This character represents goodness and seeks out the truth about the beast.
Who is Simon?
Simon realizes the "Beast" isn't a physical creature, but is actually located here.
What is "inside" the boys themselves (human nature)?
This character represents the mystic, spiritual, or Christ-like figure among the boys.
Who is Simon?
While looking at the mountaintop, Sam and Eric mistake this for the "Beast".
What is the dead pilot attached to a parachute?
In 1983, William Golding was awarded this prestigious international prize for his "perspicuous narrative art."
What is the Nobel Prize in Literature?
The sadistic, cruel, and bloodthirsty follower of Jack, who kills Piggy.
Who is Roger?
It is ironic that the boys are rescued by a Naval Officer who is also participating in this.
What is an adult war (savagery on a global scale)?
This symbol represents the "inner savagery" and inherent evil within all humans.
What is the Lord of the Flies (the sow's head on a stick)?
These are the two primary reasons Ralph insists on building shelters.
What are protection from rain and to soothe the "littluns" fear of the beast?
This is the specific British military branch that rescues the boys at the end of the novel.
What is the Royal Navy?