Chapter 1: Chapter 2

Vocabulary Vocabulary

conch ill-omened defiles immured asthma strident gesticulated officious pall tumult errant ebullience
hiatus specious recrimination tirade festooned

Comprehension Comprehension
1. What is the scar? 1. What does the boy with the mulberry birthmark tell the
2. How old is Ralph? assembly?
3. What prevents Piggy from running or swimming? 2. How does Ralph calm the small boys?
4. What does Ralph suggest be done with the “treasure” 3. What does Ralph plan to do to help the boys get rescued?
Ralph has found? 4. Why do the boys need Piggy’s “specs”?
5. What does Ralph do for Jack to maintain peace? 5. For what job does Jack volunteer his choir?
6. What excuse does Jack give for not killing the pig?
Interpretation
Interpretation 1. Golding gives clues as to when this story might take place.
1. Compare Ralph, Piggy, and Jack. What are they like? What are these clues?
What is the dynamic of their relationship? 2. What happens to the boy with the mulberry birthmark?
2. What purpose is served by giving a detailed description of How does Golding set up the events around this boy so
the island? that what happens to him is clear? What effect does this
3. Why do you think Jack didn’t kill the pig? have on the story?
3. What is a “beastie,” and why do the kids fear it?
4. What are the rules to the assembly? Do you agree with
them? Would you change any?
Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Vocabulary Vocabulary

abyss foundered opaque avidly vicissitudes tacit malevolently myriad camouflage belligerence ravenously
pallor susurration declivities contrite perceptible oppressive detritus parody blatant impalpable gyration
tendril inscrutable audible
Comprehension
Comprehension 1. What gives Henry so much pleasure? What gives Roger
1. How is Jack’s appearance changing? pleasure while watching Henry? Why doesn’t Roger hit
2. What is Jack doing in the woods? What is Ralph doing Henry?
while Jack is in the woods? 2. Why does Jack apply clay to his face?
3. What reason does Ralph give for needing the shelters? 3. Why couldn’t the boys signal the ship that Ralph spotted
4. Who first suggest that they might not be on a “good” on the horizon?
island? 4. Where were Jack and his choir when Ralph spotted the
5. Where does Simon go when he leaves the boys? What is it ship?
like? 5. Why does Jack attack Piggy? How does Jack react when
Simon gives Piggy meat?
Interpretation
1. Jack feels as if he’s being hunted when he’s alone. Interpretation
Explain this. 1. Why does Golding have the kids reenact the pig hunt?
2. Why does Golding end the chapter with Simon’s place? In 2. Why does Golding have the big kids label the small kids
what ways does Golding reveal Simon’s character? “littluns”? How does this identify the Golding’s purpose
3. Explain: (Ralph and Jack) “walked along, two continents of for the littluns in this story?
experience and feeling, unable to communicate.”
Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Vocabulary Vocabulary

solemnity, lamentation, decorum, inarticulate, discursive, diffidently, bastion, stupendous, leviathan, chasms, taut
improvisation, speculation, perilous, effigy, incantation
Comprehension
Comprehension 1. What falls to the island during the night?
2. What has happened above the island to make this thing descend?
1. What is Ralph discovering that he dislikes about the way he is
3. Who discovers this thing? What do they think it is?
living?
2. How does Piggy show disapproval as Ralph's assembly is called?
Interpretation
3. What four issues does Ralph bring up at the assembly?
1. What is Golding saying about the outside world by sending the kids
4. What does Phil report?
this "sign"?
5. What does Percival Wemys Madison reveal to the assembly?
2. Why doesn't Piggy hunt at the end of the chapter?
6. Why doesn't Piggy believe in ghosts?
3. Why does Ralph consider the area called the castle to be "rotten"?

Interpretation

1. Analyze the assembly. How do the main characters impact the

assembly? What are their reactions as a result of the assembly? In
what ways was the assembly effective?

2. What does Simon mean when he says, "Maybe there is a beast,"

given what you know of his character to this point?

Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Vocabulary prefect, taboo, demoniac rebuke, sanctity obscene, sensuously

demented, sodden, illusive, iridescent, vexed
coverts, furtively, obtuseness, impervious, ritual, luxuriance
accessible, brandished, taunt, bravado Comprehension

Comprehension 1. How does Jack respond when Ralph calls his hunters “boys armed
1. Ralph feels a longing for what? with sticks”?
2. What does Jack do when the boys don’t respond to his demand to
2. When the boar charges, what does Ralph do?
be chief?
3. Who get hurt in the hunt reenactment? 3. What happens to most of the biguns while Ralph and Piggy are
4. What do Ralph, Jack, and Roger find when they get to the top of busy?
the mountain? 4. What gift does Jack offer to help pacify the beast?
5. What does Jack have Roger do with a stick?
Interpretation
Interpretation
1. How does Ralph act during the pig hunt? What does this say about
him? Civilization?
1. Why does Golding have Simon communicate with the Lord of the
Flies?
Chapter 9 Chapter 10

corpulent, succulent, abominable, cascading, assimilating, theological, befouled, feverish, torrid,

maimed, phosphorescence burrowed

Comprehension
Comprehension
1. What does Simon find at the top of the
1. Who does Piggy blame for the accident?
mountain? 2. Who do Jack and the boys protect Castle Rock?
2. What does Simon try to tell the boys? What
happens? Interpretation
3. What happens to the parachutist? 1. What has "the dance" come to represent?
Interpretation 2. Why do you think Jack wants the boys to believe the
Beast is still alive?
1. What is the significance of the initial
“weather report”?
2. Explain and justify Ralph and Piggy’s
participation in the pig killing ritual.

Chapter 11 Chapter 12

Vocabulary

myopia, luminous, talisman, irony, sniveling, multitudinous, derisive, ululate, cordon

cessation, pinnacles, menace, writhing
Comprehension
Comprehension
1. Why do Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric venture to Castle 1. What do Samneric tell Ralph in reference to Jack’s plan?
Rock?
2. What do they take with them as a symbol of their 2. If Jack forces Samneric to join, why wouldn’t he simply try
authority? to force Ralph?
3. What happens to Piggy and the conch?
4. What happens to Samneric?
Interpretation
5. What happens to Ralph?

Interpretation Do you like the end? In a few paragraphs, explain.

1. How are disorder and the breakdown of civilized
behavior most reflected in this chapter?
2. What is the difference between the way Golding
describes Simon’s death and Piggy’s death? What might
this reveal?