LOTF: autumn homework

LORD OF THE FLIES: WILLIAM GOLDING

FINAL QUESTIONS

Long questions: choose any one.

1.       Analyse the title of the novel.
2.       Analyse the opening chapter and draw a brief comparison with the concluding chapter.
3.       Analyse the concluding chapter and draw a brief comparison with the opening chapter.
4.       Analyse LOTF as an allegory.
5.       Examine the minor character with special reference to atleast two and examine from perspective of characterisation and plot development.
6.       Analyse the character of Jack –is he an anti-hero?
7.       To what extent does the background of the novel affect plot , setting and characterisation. Evidence with specific events.
8.       Identify and analyse the use of symbolism.
9.       Analyse the roles played by Piggy and Simon in the novel.
10.   Ralph and Jack symbolise two kinds of leadership. Evidence with specific incidents and comments made by them.
11.   Identify and analyse the climax of the novel.

Shorter contextual questions: If you choose these , do any two.

12.    Ralph says in Chapter 12 "there was that indefinable connection between himself and Jack; who therefore would never let him alone; never." What is that connection? How does it develop and what does it signify?
13.    When Simon sees the Lord of the Flies, Golding writes that his "gaze was held by that ancient inescapable recognition" (Chapter 8). What recognition is Golding referring to?
14.   5. Why does Simon's role as a visionary make him an outcast in the group? What other visionaries have been outcasts in their societies?
15.    How does Golding use color to link Jack with the Lord of the Flies? Are there other instances of Golding using color to link characters or provide symbolism?
16.    In Chapter 11, when Ralph announces that he's calling an assembly, he is greeted with silence. How do silence and speech function in this novel, and why is silence so threatening to the boys?
17.    In Chapter 3, Piggy asks the boys "How can you expect to be rescued if you don't put first things first and act proper?" What does Piggy mean by "act proper?" Why does he feel acting properly will bring them success in being rescued? Contrast this sentiment to the actual reason a rescue ship spots their smoke signal.
18.    Describe some of the ways the vision of a human "at once heroic and sick" (Chapter 6) is represented in the novel and within the larger context of history as well. Does Golding prescribe a remedy for the "sickness"?
19.   Show how Golding creates a world of increasing violence in the novel, by             considering all or some of the following:
·         the characters themselves
·         the setting of the novel
·         the events of the novel
·         the behaviour of the characters
·         the way the author works out his theme
20.   What do you think Golding has to say about evil in Lord of the Flies? How does he convey his ideas to the reader?
21.   At the end of Chapter Eleven, Roger pushes Jack aside to descend on the bound              twins "as one who wielded a nameless authority." Focusing on this quotation,           discuss Roger's actions in Chapter Eleven in relation to Jack's power and          political system.
22.   Names and naming are important in Lord of the Flies. Many characters have       names that allude to other works of literature, give insight into their character, or      foreshadow key events. Discuss the significance of the names of, for instance,       Sam and Eric, Piggy, and Simon. What does the character's name say about him                 and his significance? Use external sources as necessary.
23.   What role do the littluns play in the novel? In one respect, they serve as gauges               of the older boys' moral positions, for we see whether an older boy is kind or      cruel based on how he treats the littluns. But are the littluns important in and of         themselves? What might they represent?
 
 
 

LoF: SELF STUDY CHAPTER 9

Chapter 9: “A View to a Death”

1. What are the purpose and effect of Jack‟s generosity with the meat he and the hunters obtained?

What do you think his decision to give meat to even Ralph and Piggy is meant to show?

2. Why does Jack command the boys to dance and chant, and why is this an effective leadership tactic?

What psychological effect does dancing and chanting have on the boys? Think back to the effect that

putting on makeup had on them in Chapter 4.

3. What is the “beast” that the boys kill? How is this event ironic and especially tragic (not only for

the “beast,” but for everyone on the island)? How is it symbolically significant?

4. Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the

sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a

psychological sense?

LOF :Questions to be answered between 14 and 19 September

  Follow your numbering. If you are 1, you are expected to attempt all the questions marked as 1 from the three chapters. Yes, that's IT! that's all:)

 

 

 

Chapter 6: “Beast from Air”

1. What is the “beast from air”? How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what

connection does it have with the novel‟s themes, and what does it symbolize?

2. What does Sam and Eric's description of the beast tell us about human psychology?

3. What significant thoughts does Simon have about the beast while the boys are walking to the

“castle”?

4. How do most of the boys react to their discovery of the “castle”? What foreshadowing takes place

at the end of the chapter?

 

Chapter 7: “Shadows and Tall Trees”

1. What embarrassing thing does Ralph say to himself near the beginning of the chapter that he's afraid someone might have overheard? What does he mean by it? What change in Ralph does the act of talking to himself demonstrate?

2.What disturbing thing do the group of hunters and Ralph do immediately after their encounter with

the pig? How is Ralph‟s behavior surprising? What does this behavior foreshadow?

3. Why do you think Jack insists on going up the mountain to look for the beast even though it‟s

already dark when they arrive? What internal conflict does Ralph feel about the decision to go up the

mountain in the dark?

  4.Why do you think Golding (the author) plotted the story so that the boys would go up the mountain

in the dark?

 

Chapter 8: “Gift for the Darkness”

1.How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”? Why is this so significant to the boys?

2. What suggestion does Simon make, and why do you think he makes it? What does he mean when he says, “What else is there to do?” What are the consequences of the group‟s decision not to follow

Simon‟s suggestion?

3. What foolish decision does Jack make during the hunt, and why is it foolish?

4. What happens to Simon after the hunters leave his clearing? What is the “lord of the flies”? What

does it represent? How does it talk to Simon—what does its speech really indicate?

LOF _ Assignment 2 _ ELIT _2017

Answer the following. Remember to quote from the text.

CHAPTER TWO

1.    1.   What question does the littlun with the birthmark raise?

2.      2.  How do Ralph and Jack answer the question about the beast?

3. What is the significance of the chapter’s title, “Fire on The Mountain”?

4. How do they start the fire?

5. How do the following characters react to the boy’s  revelation about the” beastie” and what does this tell us about them?

a. Ralph

b. Jack

c. other older boys

d. other younger boys

LOF_ assignment 1@ MHS_E LIT_ISC 2017

Welcome to my blog. I hope you have looked up the basic information posted on the first post on this text.

 The following questions need to be answered by 26 May 2015-- 7 pm. If you have any difficulty please e-mail me so that I can help you.

CHAPTER ONE: 

1.Why is the chapter entitled “The Sound of the Shell”?

2. What is Ralph’s attitude toward Piggy in the first chapter?

3. What is the significance of Piggy’s plea to join the expedition?

4. Why is Ralph elected chief?

5. What is the “scar” that is repeatedly mentioned?

October Monthly Test

Due date 14 th October 7 pm

Bonus 2 points if submission reaches me by Sunday 10 pm
Negative 1 point for each day beyond submission deadline, irrespective of technical issues.

Choose any one topic. Write between 600-750 words. Remember to analyse so that you go beyond knowledge and reach understanding. Make sure your language register is formal and you use terms specific to novel study ( you can google—novel study –literary terms)

Crit A and C will be tested.

1. 1.    The characters’ loss of identity is a predominant theme of the book. Discuss each of the main characters’ loss of identity as the book progresses, and how this brings about the devastation that occurs in the book.
2. 2.    Analyse LOTF as a satirical allegory.
3. 3.    Explore the use of symbols and  allusions in LOTF.
4. 4.    Explore Golding’s usage of descriptive language.
5. 5.    Examine the role of the minor characters.

Note : Use the ppt as a quick relook at the novel before you choose your topic.

October HW set 1 & 2

                HW SET 1: BASED ON CHAPTERS 5 TO 8: to be put up on the blog by 04 October

Chapter 5: “Beast from Water”

1. What change has come over Ralph as a result of the signal fire incident? How have his values

changed?

2. What points does Ralph make at the meeting? What general point does he make that he wants

people to discuss? Why are these points so significant?

3. What does Jack say in response to Ralph‟s comments? Why do you think Ralph is shocked?

4. What does Piggy mean by his claim that “life is scientific”? What does he mean when he suggests

that “there isn‟t no fear, either[…]unless we get frightened of people”?

5. What does Percival say when Jack asks him where the beast lives? Why do you think he says this?

6. What does Simon say about the beast, and what do you think he means? How does everyone else

react to what he says?

7. Why are the rules so important to Ralph? What are the consequences of breaking them?

8. Why does Piggy say that Ralph should blow the conch to call everyone back, and why does Ralph decide not to?

Chapter 6: “Beast from Air”

1. What is the “beast from air”? How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what

connection does it have with the novel‟s themes, and what does it symbolize?

2. What does Sam and Eric‟s description of the beast tell us about human psychology?

3. How does Ralph overcome Jack‟s challenge during the discussion about what to do about the beast?

4. What significant thoughts does Simon have about the beast while the boys are walking to the

“castle”?

5. Why do you think Ralph doesn‟t really expect to encounter the beast?

6. How do most of the boys react to their discovery of the “castle”? What foreshadowing takes place

at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 7: “Shadows and Tall Trees”

1. What embarrassing thing does Ralph say to himself near the beginning of the chapter that he‟s afraid someone might have overheard? What does he mean by it? What change in Ralph does the act of talking to himself demonstrate?

2. What does Simon say to Ralph that makes them both smile? Think carefully about Simon‟s choice of words—do you think it foreshadows something that might happen later in the novel?

3. What disturbing thing do the group of hunters and Ralph do immediately after their encounter with

the pig? How is Ralph‟s behavior surprising? What does this behavior foreshadow?

4. Why do you think Simon is so eager to volunteer to go across the island to tell Piggy and the littluns what they‟re doing?

5. Why do you think Jack insists on going up the mountain to look for the beast even though it‟s

already dark when they arrive? What internal conflict does Ralph feel about the decision to go up the

mountain in the dark?

6. Why do you think Golding (the author) plotted the story so that the boys would go up the mountain

in the dark?

Chapter 8: “Gift for the Darkness”

1. What does Ralph say that angers Jack? How does Jack express his anger? How does Jack respond to his failure to get support from the group, and what does this response suggest about the boys‟ future?

2.How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”? Why is this so significant to the boys?

3. Why do you think the biguns wait until the other boys are occupied to leave instead of supporting

Jack‟s challenge during the meeting?

4. What unusual thing happens to Ralph after Jack leaves and after he realizes most of the biguns have left? What is the significance of his reaction?

5. What suggestion does Simon make, and why do you think he makes it? What does he mean when he says, “What else is there to do?” What are the consequences of the group‟s decision not to follow

Simon‟s suggestion?

6. What do Jack and the biguns first decide to “do” about the beast, and what does this say about

human nature? Think back to question # 2.

7. What foolish decision does Jack make during the hunt, and why is it foolish?

8. What happens to Simon after the hunters leave his clearing? What is the “lord of the flies”? What

does it represent? How does it talk to Simon—what does its speech really indicate?

HW SET 2: BASED ON CHAPTERS 9 TO 12: to be put up on the blog by 07 October

Chapter 9: “A View to a Death”

1. What are the purpose and effect of Jack‟s generosity with the meat he and the hunters obtained?

What do you think his decision to give meat to even Ralph and Piggy is meant to show?

2. Why does Jack command the boys to dance and chant, and why is this an effective leadership tactic?

What psychological effect does dancing and chanting have on the boys? Think back to the effect that

putting on makeup had on them in Chapter 4.

3. What is the “beast” that the boys kill? How is this event ironic and especially tragic (not only for

the “beast,” but for everyone on the island)? How is it symbolically significant?

4. Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the

sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a

psychological sense?

Chapter 10: “The Shell and the Glasses”

1. How do Ralph and Piggy view Simon‟s death? How does each of them react to it? Why does Ralph laugh as he says, “I got the conch,” and why does Piggy react so strongly to his laughter? What

explanations do they have for their behavior, and what excuses do they come up with? What do these reactions show about them and about human nature?

2. What does the narrator mean to suggest when he says, “Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively”?

3. How do the biguns seem to define a “proper chief”? What does this criterion suggest about human psychology?

 4. What does Jack do that causes Roger to have doubts about his leadership?

5. What signs of stress and fear can we see in Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric‟s behavior in this chapter?

Chapter 11: “Castle Rock”

1. In what way are the twins “seeing Ralph for the first time” before they all set off for Castle Rock?

2. Why is the boys‟ attempt to get back Piggy‟s specs and get the other boys to maintain a signal fire

bound to fail?

3. Why do you think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff?

4. How is the destruction of the conch symbolically significant?

Chapter 12: “Cry of the Hunters”

1. Why does Ralph think that the boy he sees is “not Bill”?

2. Why does Ralph hit the pig‟s head?

3. Why do you think Samneric decide to join Jack‟s tribe? Why do they tell Jack where Ralph is hidden?

4. What do Samneric mean when they tell Ralph that Jack has “sharpened a stick at both ends”? What

do you think the reason for Jack‟s hatred is?

5. What foolish method do the boys use to ensure that they find Ralph? What does this decision suggest

about the power of hatred and violence versus the power of reason?

6. Where does Ralph decide to hide? What does this hiding place symbolize?

7. Explain the significance of this quotation: “Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an

incantation that had faded clean away.”

8. What is ironic about how the boys are saved? What is ironic about the fact that the boys, who have

become savages, are British, and why do you think Golding chose to write about a group of British boys?Consider what the naval officer says: “I should have thought that a pack of British boys would have been able to put up a better show than that.”