“This is our island. It’s a good island. Until the grown ups come to fetch us we’ll have fun” (Golding 35).

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Annie

Dillard

LORD OF THE FLIES

1. Are we innately good or innately evil?

2. What is an individual’s responsibility to a community?

3. What does it mean to be civilized?

4. When is the restriction of freedom a good thing?

5. What makes an individual powerful?

6. How do fear and desire for acceptance influence human behavior?

Complete the character study as you read the novel, rather than at the end. Be thorough in your explanations and choose quotations carefully. Use post-it notes as you read to help you relocate important moments.

William Golding (1954)

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

TIPS FOR READING

READING SCHEDULE

CHAPTER DUE DATE

CHAPTER ONE AUGUST 25TH

CHAPTER TWO AUGUST 27TH

CHAPTER THREE AUGUST 28TH

CHAPTER FOUR AUGUST 29TH

CHAPTER FIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST

CHAPTER SIX SEPTEMBER 2ND

CHAPTER SEVEN SEPTEMBER 4TH

CHAPTER EIGHT SEPTEMBER 5TH

CHAPTER NINE SEPTEMBER 9TH

CHAPTER TEN SEPTEMBER 11TH

CHAPTER ELEVEN SEPTEMBER 12TH

CHAPTER TWELVE SEPTEMBER 15TH

The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the

lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck

to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead. All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was

a bath of heat. He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of

red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry; and this cry was echoed by another.

“Hi!” it said. “Wait a minute!”

The undergrowth at the side of the scar was shaken and a multitude of raindrops fell pattering.

“Wait a minute,” the voice said. ‘ I got caught up.”

The fair boy stopped and jerked his stockings with an automatic gesture that made the jungle seem for a

moment like the Home Counties.

The voice spoke again.

“I can’t hardly move with all these creeper things.”

The owner of the voice came backing out of the undergrowth so that twigs scratched on a greasy wind-

breaker. The naked crooks of his knees were plump, caught and scratched by thorns. He bent down,

removed the thorns carefully, and turned round. He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat. He came

forward, searching out safe lodgments for his feet, and then looked up through thick spectacles.

“Where’s the man with the megaphone?”

The fair boy shook his head.

“This is an island. At least I think it’s an island. That’s a reef out in the sea. Perhaps there aren’t any

grownups anywhere.”

The fat boy looked startled.

‘There was that pilot. But he wasn’t in the passenger cabin, he was up in front.”

The fair boy was peering at the reef through screwed-up eyes.

“All them other lads,” the fat boy went on. “Some of them must have got out. They must have, mustn’t

they?”

The fair boy began to pick his way as casually as possible toward the water. He tried to be offhand and

not too obviously uninterested, but the fat boy hurried after him.

“Aren’t there any grownups at all?”

“I don’t think so.”

The fair boy said this solemnly; but then the delight of a realized ambition overcame him. In the middle

of the scar he stood on his head and grinned at the reversed fat boy.

“No grownups!”

LORD OF THE FLIES OPENING PASSAGE

Establishing Setting and Main Idea of Chapter One As you read chapter one, locate quotations that characterize the island. You need to come to class on Monday with at least four quotations. We will work on completing the remainder of this handout in class together. Model: Quotation with MLA citation What did the author use to

characterize the island? Diction? Imagery?

Explain HOW the author uses the device to reveal the nature of the island and a main idea in the first chapter of the novel.

“The beach between the palm terrace and the water was a thin stick, endless apparently, for to Ralph’s left the perspectives of palm and beach and water drew to a point at infinity; and always, almost visible, was the heat” (Golding 10).

The author uses diction, specifically “endless” and “infinity,” “always.”

The first chapter serves to establish their isolation and their indefinite circumstances on a mysterious island. All of these words are associated with the element of space and time, particularly ones that continue on indefinitely. These words help exemplify the unknown nature of the island and convey how all aspects of their situation are uncertain and limitless.

SYMBOLS As you read chapter four, locate quotations that establish the significance of a symbol in the novel.

Symbol Quotation(s) with MLA citation

Explain HOW the author uses the symbol to develop one of the following: character,

theme, plot, tone.

Glasses

The Conch

Fire

Masks/Paint

The Pig

CHARACTER FOIL

Definition

Character: Ralph Character: Jack Traits:

Traits:

Quotations:

Quotations:

Explanation: In a short, constructed response, explain how Golding establishes the character foil between Ralph and Jack.

“You are a silly little boy,” said the Lord of the Flies, “just an ignorant, silly little boy.” Simon moved his swollen tongue but said nothing. “Don’t you agree?” said the Lord of the Flies. “Aren’t you just a silly little boy?” Simon answered him in the same silent voice. “Well then,” said the Lord of the Flies, “you’d better run off and play with the others. They

think you’re batty. You don’t want Ralph to think you’re batty, do you? You like Ralph a lot, don’t you? And Piggy, and Jack?”

Simon’s head was tilted slightly up. His eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him.

“What are you doing out here all alone? Aren’t you afraid of me?” Simon shook. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast.” Simon’s mouth labored, brought forth audible words. “Pig’s head on a stick.” “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” said the head. “You

knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”

The laughter shivered again. “Come now,” said the Lord of the Flies. “Get back to the others and we’ll forget the whole

thing.” Simon’s head wobbled. His eyes were half closed as though he were imitating the

obscene thing on the stick. He knew that one of his times was coming on. The Lord of the Flies was expanding like a balloon.

“This is ridiculous. You know perfectly well you’ll only meet me down there—so don’t try to escape!”

Simon’s body was arched and stiff. The Lord of the Flies spoke in the voice of a schoolmaster.

“This has gone quite far enough. My poor, misguided child, do you think you know better than I do?

There was a pause. I’m warning you. I’m going to get angry. D’you see? You’re not wanted. Understand? We

are going to have fun on this island. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island! So don’t try it on, my poor misguided boy, or else—”

Simon found he was looking into a vast mouth. There was blackness within, a blackness that spread.

“—Or else,” said the Lord of the Flies, “we shall do you? See? Jack and Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph. Do you. See?”

Simon was inside the mouth. He fell down and lost consciousness.

LORD OF THE FLIES PASSAGE PAGE 143-144

Lord of the Flies : Character Study Name:

As you read the novel, fill in the chart below. Please be sure to include both your own descriptions and quotations to support your ideas. For each quotation, remember to use an MLA citation.

Character Name What does your character’s name mean?

What are your character’s physical characteristics?

What are your character’s mental characteristics?

Describe the relationship(s) your character has with others.

Is there a symbol associated with your character? What do you believe is the significance of the symbol for your character and for the novel?

How is your character a representation of our society?

Circle all that apply

FLAT ROUND STATIC DYNAMIC