Symbols
First discovered by Ralph and Piggy, this becomes a symbol of authority, power and democracy on the island.
What is the conch shell?
How the boys on the beach decide who is in charge.
What is an election or "taking a vote"?
The word that Piggy uses to describe why he wasn't allowed to swim.
What is asthma?
The signal fire on the mountain represents or symbolizes this to the boys.
What is hope or hope of being rescued?
Ralph choosing to build a fire on the mountain signifies what.
What is Ralph's first order as chief?
They call the smallest boys on the island this.
What is the "littleuns"?
This item symbolizes the reason and/or the ability to "see clearly" what is happening on the island. It also plays a role in starting the fire.
What are Piggy's glasses?
The boys that play most of the day, don't help much and are scared at night.
Who are the "littluns"?
Ralph believes the boys on the island will be rescued by who/what.
Who is Ralph's dad or the Navy?
They call the damage that was done to the vegetation on the island when the plane crashed this.
What is the scar?
This littlun cries frequently and tries to give his full name and address when first introduced.
Who is Percival Wemys Madison?
The boys' first act of "purposeless destruction" on the island.
What is building a fire on the mountain that grows out of control?
A word meaning wild behavior (often describing Jack).
What is savage?
The dark black robes of the choir symbolize this.
What is the darker nature of the choir/hunters?
The idea that humans have a natural tendency toward violence and disorder is called this.
What is savagery?
This represents the microcosm of society.
What is the island?
The name of the twin mischievous boys
"Samneric"
The hunters begin chanting this phrase when they hunt.
What is "Kill the Pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in."?
It is called this when you search or chase for food.
What is forage or hunt?
After discarding his clothes and using the face paint Jack feels free from this.
What is civilization / self-consciousness?
Golding intended this character to be a Christ figure; he is the most spiritual and in tune with nature of all the boys.
Who is Simon?
If Jack had killed the first pig he saw it would have shown this.
What is that he was the better leader?
To speak in a long, rambling way (Piggy often does this).
What is prattle?
The wearing away of their clothes and their unkempt appearance symbolizes this.
What is the loss of civilization?
Who is the boy with the "mulberry-colored birthmark that covers one side of his face"?
In Chapter 4, a ship passes the island, but the boys miss being rescued because of this.
What is the boys choosing to hunt instead of tending the fire?
What is foreshadow?
When the signal fire takes over the mountain it represents this.
What is the symbol of instability and the destruction of hope?
The tension between these characters represents civil unrest within the world.
Who are Jack, Ralph and Piggy.
The breaking of Piggy's glass represents the loss of this type of thinking for the boys.
What is civilized or rational thinking?
This word is used to describe the deceptive, wavy water on the horizon, symbolizing the illusions the boys live under.
What is mirage?
This is what is lost or happens when Jack paints his face in Chapter 4, the mask symbolizes a psychological shift.
What is the loss of identity and descent into savagery?
This boy has a mean streak which we first notice when he is throwing rocks at Henry and the littluns playing on the beach.
Who is Roger?
The conflict between Ralph and Jack in Chapter 4 centers on this larger issue.
What is priorities: rescue vs. hunting / civilization vs. savagery?
“Malevolently” describes someone acting in this way.
What is cruelly or with ill will?