Vocabulary Vault
Words in Context
Who Am I?
Island Events
Symbols and Struggles
100

A large spiral shell that Ralph uses to summon the boys.

What is a conch?

100

The boys began to shout noisily and insistently when Ralph announced that they needed a fire.

What is clamor?

100

I am elected chief, possess the conch, and remain focused on rescue.

Who is Ralph?

100

The boys use this object to focus sunlight and start their first signal fire.

What is Piggy's glasses?

100

This object represents order, authority, democratic leadership, and the right to speak.

What is the conch?

200

This word means to thoughtfully agree or express approval.

What is assent?

200

The brilliant radiance of the tropical sunlight reflected off the water.

What is effulgence?

200

I have asthma, wear glasses, and frequently offer intelligent ideas that the others ignore.

Who is Piggy?

200

This is why Jack fails to kill the piglet at the end of Chapter 1.

What is his hesitation over killing a living creature?

200

This symbol represents the boys’ desire for rescue and their connection to civilization.

What is the signal fire?

300

This word describes behavior that is polite, restrained, and appropriate.

What is decorous?

300

Jack’s explanation sounded believable at first, but it was actually misleading.

What is specious?

300

I lead the choir, become chief hunter, and grow increasingly obsessed with killing pigs.

Who is Jack?

300

This boy disappears after the uncontrolled fire spreads across the mountain.

Who is the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark?

300

This object symbolizes intelligence, reason, science, and the power of technology.

What is Piggy's glasses?

400

This word refers to the natural or unexpected changes that occur throughout life.

What is vicissitudes?

400

Simon’s quiet personality and private thoughts made him hard for the other boys to understand.

What is inscrutable?

400

I help Ralph build shelters, give fruit to the littluns, and discover a peaceful clearing in the jungle.

Who is Simon?

400

A ship passes the island without rescuing the boys because this important responsibility was neglected.

What is maintaining the signal fire?

400

As these become torn, dirty, and abandoned, they symbolize the boys’ weakening connection to civilized life.

What is the boys’ school clothing?

500

This word describes something that cannot be physically felt or touched.

What is impalpable?

500

Roger stared at the littluns in a manner suggesting vicious hatred.

What is malevolently?

500

I throw stones near Henry but deliberately miss because the rules of civilization still influence me.

Who is Roger?

500

This happens to Piggy after Jack becomes angry during their argument about the extinguished signal fire.

What is Jack strikes Piggy and breaks one lens of his glasses?

500

Ralph’s concern with shelters, rules, and rescue conflicts with Jack’s growing obsession with hunting. This central conflict is represented by the two boys.

What is civilization vs. savagery?