Name: __________________________ Chapter 1

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Scar- a bare rocky place on a mountainside or other steep slope

Wacco-excellent

Wizard- excellent

Motif- single or repeated design

Enmity- deep hatred

Specious- deceptive

Furtive- shy, devious

Strident- harsh and loud

Eccentric- odd

Mortification- shame, humiliation

Indignation- anger aroused by something unjust, mean, or unworthy

Pallor- paleness

Pliant- flexible

Immure- walled in

Hiatus- a gap, break, or pause

Contemptuously- scornful

Literary Terms

Setting- where the story takes place

What is the setting of this story? An island

Point of View- position from which things are viewed or delivered

First Person- narrator refers to self as “I”

Third Person Omniscient- Person is privy to all facts and events of the story

Third Person Limited- Story from the perspective of the focal character

Characterization- Method used by the writer to develop a character

Direct Characterization- writer makes direct statements about what a character is like

Indirect Characterization- writer reveals information about a character through the character’s thoughts, words, and actions

Imply- strongly suggest the truth or existence of something

Infer- conclude from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements

Questions

1. (p7)What major characteristic do we get of the first boy?

2. (p7)What major characteristic do we get of the second boy?

3. (p8)What happened to the plane that made these boys stranded on the island?

4. (p9/11)What are the two boys’ names?

5. (p9)Why can’t Piggy run or swim?

6. (p11)How does Ralph behave when he learns what people called Piggy at home?

7. (p13)What does Ralph’s father do for a living and why does this provide hope for Ralph?

8. (p13)What did Piggy’s aunt do for a living, and why did he live with her?

9. (p14)According to Piggy, why is it likely no one, including the people at the airport, knows where they are?

10. (p15)What does Ralph find?

11. (p16)What does Ralph use this item for?

12. (p19)What are the names of the twins?

13. (p19)Explain the outfits of the last group of boys to arrive at the platform.

14. (p20)Instead of introducing himself by Jack, how does Jack introduce himself?

15. (p22)What does Ralph suggest is necessary for helping out with their rescue?

16. (p22)What does Jack argue?

17. (p22)What does Roger suggest?

18. (p24)What three boys go on the exploration to see if they are indeed on an island?

19. (p31)What item does Jack have?

20. (p25)What job does Ralph give Piggy?

21. (p31)What type of animal do the three boys see?

22. (p31)Why does it get away?

23. (p31)What does Jack promise about “next time”?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 2

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Gesticulated- gestured with one’s hands

Compelled- forced

Errant- disobedient

Martyred- suffering

Ebullience- liveliness

Mime- mimic

Recrimination- an accusation made in retaliation

Tumult- an uproar

Officious- too eager to serve or advise

Leeward- facing the same direction the wind is blowing

Windward- facing the direction the wind is coming

Pall- became less interesting or attractive

Literary Terms

Figurative Language- describing something by comparing it with something else

Simile- uses “like” or “as”

Example- Busy as a bee

Metaphor- states a fact or draws a verbal picture, something IS something else

Symbol- word or object that stands for antoher word or object

Example- a dove stands for peace

Verbal irony- a figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Example- “all the same you need an army- for hunting” (armies don’t hunt)

Terms to Know

Apprehension (n)- suspicious or fear of trouble or evil

Depravity (n)- moral corruption

Profane (v)- to treat with abuse or contempt

Prudent (adj)- acting with care and thought for the future

Sadist (n)- getting pleasure from inflicting pain on others

Questions

(pg 33) 1. What does Ralph establish?

(pg 33) 2. Who is the only one who can interrupt someone speaking?

(pg 34-35) 3. What are two books that are mentioned that remind the boys about the adventure they hope to have on the island?

(pg 35) 4. What description does the narrator give us of the six-year-old boy who tells the older boys what he found?

(pg 35) 5. What does this boy tell the other boys?

(pg 46) 6. What happens to this boy?

(pg 36) 7. What does Jack say he will do if there is a beastie?

(pg 37) 8. What evidence does Ralph give the other boys to persuade them that they will be rescued?

(pg 38) 9. What does Ralph suggest they do to help themselves get rescued?

(pg 40) 10. What does Jack suggest using to start a fire?

(pg 42) 11. Why does Ralph think the fire is no good?

(pg 42) 12. How does Simon defend Piggy?

(pg 44) 13. What did the boys accidentally do?

(pg 45) 14. What does Piggy say they should have done before starting a fire?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 3

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Batty- crazy

Crackers- crazy

Inscrutable- not easily understood

Seductive- tempting

Vicissitudes- difficulties or hardships

Compulsion- irresistible impulse or force

Opaque- light cannot pass through

Declivities- descending slopes

Rapt- completely absorbed

Tacit- unstated

Perceptible- able to be seen or noticed

Riotous- public disorder

Abyss- bottomless gulf or pit

Baffled- confused

Contrite- sincerely sorry for shortcomings

Literary Terms

Diction- style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words

Plot- plan or scheme- arrangement of events

Parody- humorous imitation of a serious person or event

Questions

1. Describe Jack. What is he wearing? What looks different now from when he first arrived on the island?

2. What is Jack doing?

3. What is the first thing Jack asks for when he comes out of the forest?

4. What are Ralph and Simon doing?

5. What is Ralph upset by?

6. What are Ralph’s feelings on meetings?

7. Describe the conflict between Jack and Ralph after Ralph says, “When the meeting is over they’d work for five minutes, then wander off or go hunting.”

8. Jack says he could have killed a pig if they could make what?

9. There are two reasons why Ralph thinks it is really important to have shelter. What are they?

10. Of what are the children still afraid?

11. What are Jack’s thoughts on rescue?

12. Where must the pigs be hiding during the hot day?

13. Where do Jack and Ralph assume Simon is?

14. Where is Simon really?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 4

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Dazzle Paint- British term for camouflage. Used to describe troops, ships, and guns.

Bloody (Vulgar; Slang)- cursed, damned

One for his nob- a hit on his head

Give him a fourpenny one – hit him on his jaw

Blatant- noisy, clamorous

Belligerence- an aggressive, stubborn attitude

Chastisement- punishment

Impalpable- not capable of being felt

Myriad- innumerable

Appalled- horrified, disgusted

Malevolent- hostility

Ravenous- greedily

Opalescence- reflecting rainbow-colored light

Incursion- a breakthrough into enemy territory

Preposterous- ridiculous

Taboo- rule that makes something forbidden

Swarthiness- darkness (of skin)

Mooning (64)-

Errant- away from standards

Obscurely- indistinct

Literary Terms

Imagery- formation of mental images or figures

Questions

1. What do the first two paragraphs describe? (pg 58-59)

2. How is this description important symbolically to the story? (58-59)

3. What have the litluns grown used to because of their eating habits? (59)

4. Who are the three boys building sand castles? (60)

5. Who is the leader of the three? What reason is given for him being leader? (60)

6. Who cries, and why? (60)

7. Of what duty have Roger and Maurice just been relieved? (60)

8. Of what does Maurice feel a bit guilty? (60)

9. What catches Henry’s interest on the beach? (61)

10. What almost hits Roger? (62)

11. What keeps Roger from throwing the stones at Henry? (62)

12. What is Jack doing to himself and why? (63)

13. Who all is with Jack in the forest?

14. What is a strange detail of Piggy’s hair? (64)

15. What does Piggy suggest making that Ralph ignores? (64)

16. What does Ralph see in the distance? (65-66)

17. What happened to the smoke on the mountain? How does Ralph react? (66-67)

18. What does Jack return with? (68)

19. What do the boys chant upon their return? (69)

20. What happens to Piggy after he yells at Jack for letting the fire go out? (71)

21. Who gives Piggy his piece of meat? (74)

22. What does Jack do in response to this? (74)

23. What does Maurice pretend to be? (75)

24. What does Ralph decide to do at the end of the chapter? (75)

Name: __________________________ Chapter 5

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Taken short- informal phrase for having diarrhea

Jeer- mocking

Ludicrous- ridiculous, absured

Effigy- representation

Lament- weep, cry

Reverence- respect, honor

Derisive- ridiculing

Decorum- proper manners and good taste

Improvisation- doing something in the moment

Expansively- with eagerness to expand on the topic

Sough- moaning, whispering, or rushing sound

Perilous- full of danger or risk

Tempestuously- like a tempest; stormingly

Discursive- rambling

Inarticulate- unable to speak

Incantation- formula of words with the power of a spell

Literary Terms

Foreshadow- suggesting certain plot elements that may happen in the future

Conflict- struggle between two forces

External- Man vs Man

Man vs Nature

Man vs Technology

Internal- Man vs Self

Questions

1. What does Ralph decide about the meeting that he is about to have? (76)

2. What does this say about how Ralph is changing?

3. What does Ralph start to realize about his appearance?

4. What did Ralph, Jack, and Piggy not have the “wit” to do? (77)

5. What does Ralph realize a chief needs to be able to do? (78)

6. Where does Piggy stand at the beginning of the assembly? (78)

7. What is the first thing Ralph lists as something that the boys have failed to do? (79)

8. What is Ralph’s second complaint? (79)

9. What is Ralph’s third complaint? (80)

10. What do all the littluns laugh about while Ralph is talking? (80)

11. What is Ralph’s fourth command? (80)

12. What does Ralph say about fires for cooking? (81)

13. What is the last thing Ralph tries to talk about before he loses control? (82)

14. What does Jack have to say about the littluns fear? (82)

15. What did the boy named Phil think he saw? (85)

16. What did the boy really see? (85)

17. How does Mauriece get the littluns to stop crying? (87)

18. According to Percival, where does the best live? (88)

19. What does Simon suggest about the beast? (89)

20. What do the boys vote on? (90)

21. Why does Ralph not blow the conch? (92)

22. Why is Piggy afraid of Ralph giving up control? (93)

23. Piggy said that there is nothing to fear except people and Simon said that if there is a best it may be themselves. Do these two comments have anything in common? Why do these comments make sense?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 6

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Interminable- seemingly without end

Embroil- involve deeply in conflict

Diffident- with hesitation and respect

Chasm- deep clefts or gores

Leviathan- a great sea monster

Exulting- joyful

Mutinous- rebellious

Tremulous- timely

Exasperation- irritation, annoying

Incredulity- unwilling or unable to believe something

Constraint- restricting

Plinth- base or platform on which a structure rests

Guano- bird “doo”

Somberly- dark and gloomy

Literary Terms

Dramatic irony- words/actions that have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters

Theme- main idea, moral, or message

Motif- recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that help develop themes

Motifs in LOTF- Biblical parallels, fire, pigs, betrayal

Questions

1. What is happening in the air while the boys sleep?

2. What sign is sent to the boys that they don’t get to read?

3. What do Sam and Eric think they see?

4. What do they really see?

5. How do Sam and Eric exaggerate what they saw?

6. When Jack follows Ralph up the rocks, what does he think the castle rock would be good for?

7. About what do Ralph and Jack argue?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 7

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Sage- wisely

Daunting- dismaying

Impervious- without feeling or response

Bravado- foolhardiness

Obtuseness- lacking quickness of mind

Moors- grasslands

Brandishing- waving about in a threatening manner

Funk- nervousness

Literary Terms

Foil- character whose personality and attitude are opposite one another (Jack and Ralph)

Questions

1. What does Simon say to Ralph? (111)

2. What sarcastic remark does Ralph have in response? (111)

3. What is discouraging Ralph in regard to being rescued? (111)

4. What does Ralph accomplish that he is quite proud of? (113)

5. What happens to Jack during the pig hunt? (114)

6. Who hurts his butt during the game of pretend pig hunt? (115)

7. What does Simon offer? (117)

8. What does Ralph ask Jack that makes the boys uncomfortable? (118)

9. All but what three boys remain to go up the mountain? (119-120)

10. What do the three boys see on the mountain? (123)

Name: __________________________ Chapter 8

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Prefect- student monitor in a private school

Sanctity- holiness

Demure- modest

Fervor- intensity

Sufficient- adequate, enough

Contemptuously- scornful

Derisive- Expressing content or ridicule

Demented- insane

Iridescent- appears to change colors

Parody- meant to mock

Literary Terms

Climax- greatest point of intensity

Personification- giving human traits to nonliving objects

Questions

1. What two things does Ralph say that insults Jack? (124-125)

2. Who calls the meeting? (125)

3. List two reasons that Jack offers for why Ralph is not a proper chief. (126)

4. What kind of vote does Jack call for? (127)

5. What childish thing does Jack say after the vote doesn’t go his way? (127)

6. What does Simon suggest doing? (128)

7. Where does Piggy suggest building the fire? (129)

8. Where do Maurice, Bill, and Roger go? (131)

9. Where does Simon go? (132)

10. What does Jack rub all over Maurice? (135)

11. What do they do with the sharpened stick? (137)

12. What’s the pig’s head name? (138)

13. Why does Ralph take his group to the platform? What problem is Ralph having at this meeting? (143)

14. When Jack comes for the fire, what is he wearing? (140)

15. How does Jack try to tempt the boys who have stayed with Ralph? (140)

16. What does the Lord of the Flies say to Simon about having fun? (144)

Name: __________________________ Chapter 9

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Interspersed- interwoven

Corpulent- with a large, bulky body

Looming- dark, indistinct, and deceptively large

Derision- ridicule

Succulent- juicy

Saunter- stroll

Demented- insane

Abominable- unpleasant, causing disgust or hatred

Literary Terms

Tone/Mood- how the author feels about the characters

Questions

1. What does Simon find on the mountain? (146)

2. What does Simon do after smelling the dead body? (146)

3. Which side of the island had a little bit of smoke? (147)

4. What does this imply about who most of the boys are following?

5. What is Piggy sure is going to happen?

6. What does Piggy suggest doing? (148)

7. What does Jack wave when he speaks? (149)

8. After the boys have eaten all they want, Jack and Ralph try to persuade the boys to do what? (150)

9. What does Jack say about the conch? (150)

10. Whose side do most of the boys choose? (151)

11. What is the chant? How has it changed from previous chapters? (152)

12. What does Simon try to tell the boys? (152)

13. What happens to Simon? (153)

14. What happens to the man on the parachute? (153)

Name: __________________________ Chapter 10

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Barmy- {British} [adj] crazy

Befoul- made foul

Illumination- process of clarifying or explaining something intellectual, spiritual enlightenment

Assimilate- taking in, integrating

Theology- Relating to the study of God

Purge- to clean, free

Loathe- intense dislike or disgust

Conviction- unshakable belief in something without proof

Literary Terms

Falling Action- sequence of events that follow the climax and end in resolution

Protagonist- leading character

Antagonist- rival character

Allusion- reference to something

Questions

1. Who is left on Ralph’s side of the island? (155)

2. About what is Ralph feeling guilty? (156-157)

3. What injuries did Samneric suffer from the night before? (158)

4. What is Robert’s job? (159)

5. What weapon does Jack’s tribe have to protect the entrance of the Castle Rock? (159)

6. What does Robert tell Roger that Jack is going to do? (159)

7. What does Bill ask that makes Jack blush? (161)

8. What does Ralph recall hearing from Simon and seeing in the sky? (162)

9. What do Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric decide about the fire? (164)

10. What happens while Piggy, Ralph, and Samneric sleep in the shelter? (167)

11. What does Jack steal? (168)

12. Why is this theft especially cruel? (168)

13. What could he have done instead? Really?

Name: __________________________ Chapter 11

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Luminous- glowing

Myopia- nearsightedness

Multitudinous- consisting of innumerable parts

Unquenchable- unstoppable, can’t be satisfied

Impenetrable- unable to be entered

Quaver- with a voice that trembled

Ludicrous- ridiculous

Saber- curved sword

Cessation- stop

Talisman- trinket, piece of jewelry

Delirious- filled with a frenzied excitement

Propitiationingly- appealing, in order to regain favor

Pinnacle- peak

Truculently- with aggressive savagery

Literary Terms

Allegory- representation conveying meaning that’s not literal

Fable- deliberating false account

Questions

1. Although it is totally ineffective, what does Piggy urge Ralph to do? (169)

2. What reason does Piggy say he is going to give Jack for why he should give him back his glasses? (171)

3. What does Piggy suggest they can do with their hair? (172)

4. What is Ralph’s response to this suggestion? (172)

5. What does Ralph do once at the entrance of the Castle Rock? (175)

6. What does Roger do to the twins when they first arrive at the Castle Rock? (175)

7. What does Ralph call Jack that angers him? (176-177)

8. What happens in response to Ralph calling Jack this name? (177)

9. What happens to Samneric? (179)

10. What happens to Piggy? (181)

11. What happens to Ralph? (181)

Name: __________________________ Chapter 12

Lord of the Flies: Reading and Study Guide

Vocabulary

Inimical- hostile

Ululation- howling

Ensconce- conceal

Cordon- a line of people set up to prevent passage into an area

Obscurity- state of being unknown

Elephantine- moving with clumsiness

Pax- kiss of peace

Antiphonal- responses alternating from one group to another

Diddle- fool

Excruciating- extremely painful

Drill- durable cotton twill used for military uniforms

Epaulettes- shoulder ornaments on a military uniform

Gilt- coating of gold

Literary Terms

Irony

Situational Irony

Dramatic Irony

Verbal Irony

Resolution

Questions

1. What happened to Samneric to make them join up with Jack’s tribe and guard the entrance of Castle Rock? (188)

2. What do they tell Ralph all the boys are going to do the next day? (188)

3. What can you infer Roger and Jack intend to do with the stick that sharpened at both ends? (190)

4. What does one of the twins give to Ralph as he leaves? (190)

5. What happens to Samneric after Ralph leaves? (191)

6. How do the chief and Roger know where Ralph is hiding? (192)

7. What are the two methods the boys use to get Ralph out of the hiding spot? (195)

8. How were the boys communicating? (192)

9. What two options did Ralph think he had for escape? (195/196)

10. What happens to the island that turns out to be good? (201)

11. Who says he is boss when the officer asks? (201)

12. The British officer says, “I should have though that a pack of British boys….would have been able to put on a better show than that.” What does he mean? How is this hypocritical? (202)