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Lord of the Flies Group Seminar Presentations
Your seminar group will be responsible for orally delivering insightful answers to the assigned questions on two chapters of the novel. Think of yourselves as ‘literary lawyers’ who will ‘S.E.A.L.’ your case by ensuring you do each of the following as each of you presents these answers:
S -- STATE [individual points]
E -- EXAMPLES / EVIDENCE [quotations and references to text]
A -- ANALYSIS [further detailed explanation of relevance of points]
L -- LINK [to the original question – i.e. make focus of response clear]
· In the assigned groups of 4-6 students, you will spend the first portion of the work period discussing each of the questions together, agreeing upon all pertinent points that should be covered in a thorough answer, and finding appropriate links to the text (quotations and examples).
· Then, decide which individual will be responsible for presenting the answer for each question to the class during the actual seminar, and spend the remainder of the class creating very brief point form ‘speaking notes’ for reference during the actual presentation.
· Each person should be able to sustain their answer for approximately 2.5 - 4 minutes, including time spent making links to the text (taking a bit longer is fine if necessary).
· At home, you will need to rehearse your contribution so that you are able to refer to your notes as little as possible (other than reading any necessary quotations for support).
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Group 1 – Ch’s 1 & 2:
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Group 4 – Ch’s 7 & 8:
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Group 2 – Ch’s 3 & 4:
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Group 5 – Ch’s 9 & 10:
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Group 3 – Ch’s 5 & 6:
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Group 6 – Ch’s 11 & 12:
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Group 1 – Ch’s 1 & 2 Questions:
Chapter 1 – “The Conch and the Shell”
1. What is our initial impression of Ralph and Piggy? Find descriptions of these characters to illustrate your view and analyze how Golding conveys their character traits through what they say and do. What are some of the most apparent differences between them? Knowing how the novel concludes, how much different is this earlier portrayal of each of them from the way they are months later?
2. When Ralph blows the conch and all of the boys find their way to the source of the sound, what first impression to we get of Jack Merridew? Compare Ralph and Jack at this early stage in terms of both differences and similarities. Provide at least TWO reasons why the boys elect Ralph as leader instead of Jack. From the reader’s point of view, what are some of the indications that Ralph will be a better leader than Jack.
3. In his first decision as leader, Ralph decides to explore the island – for what purpose? Why does he specifically choose Jack and Simon to accompany him, and why does he exclude Piggy? As they explore, they become distracted from their more serious purpose and become caught up in the excitement and adventure of the moment. Explain the symbolic significance of the scene when they loose the boulder upon the landscape below, noting the words Golding uses to describe it.
Chapter 2 – “Fire on the Mountain”
4. Ralph calls an assembly to let the others know that they are indeed marooned on an unpopulated island. Explain and analyze the rules and priorities Ralph sets out. Why only these rules and not others? Whereas Ralph wants only a few rules, Jack wants many – why? What does this different attitude to rules reveal about Ralph’s and Jack’s characters?
5. The island seems to be another Garden of Eden in some ways, yet is also portrayed as having a less benign side to it. Describe some of its specific features to make this contrast clear. What are the circumstances that lead to the introduction of ‘a beast’ or ‘snake-thing’ in this chapter? Although Ralph does not believe in the beast, he addresses the boys’ fear. How does he handle the situation and why? Jack also says he does not believe in the beast, but, unlike Ralph, he deliberately plays on the boys’ fear – why?
6. The first real assembly ends in chaos as all the boys except for Piggy charge off to build a signal fire. What is ironic about Piggy’s criticism that the others are “acting like a crowd of kids”? What does this reveal about Piggy’s character? Explain how and why the rescue fire fails to achieve its purpose. Why might one say that the way Piggy chastises the boys afterwards is the ‘wrong’ way? He also insists they should build shelters before focusing on being rescued. What are two reasons why this is a good suggestion?
Group 2 – Ch’s 3 & 4:
Chapter 3 – “Huts on the Beach”
7. As the chapter title suggests, it deals with the building of huts and the differing attitudes of Ralph and Jack towards work. Explain these different attitudes and show what they reveal about the personalities of Ralph and Jack.
8. In a rare moment of intimacy, Jack confides to Ralph his uneasy feeling that something is following him on his hunt, yet he cannot see what it is. What might Golding be suggesting about the invisible/internal nature of evil here? Has the reader been given any clues as to why Jack is more attuned to ‘darkness’ than many of the other characters? On the other hand, what behaviours of Simon’s suggest he is more attuned to goodness or ‘light’?
Chapter 4 – “Painted Face and Long Hair”
9. The beginning of this chapter describes the primitive life that the boys are living, and suggests that some time has passed since their arrival on the island. What hints or information are we given to show changes in the lives of the boys? In what ways is it clear that their civilized conditioning has begun to loosen and the journey toward their descent into savagery has subtly begun?
10. Two important incidents take place in this chapter, the first involving Roger and Henry, the second involving Jack and the construction of his mask. Explain clearly why Roger is unable to hit Henry in spite of his obvious desire to do so. What does Golding mean when he describes the stone as “that token of preposterous time”? In Jack’s case, describe his mask and explain what changes occur in his personality when he wears it. What is the mask symbolic of?
11. Discuss the altercation that occurs when Ralph and Piggy confront jack over the fire having been left to go out right when a ship was passing. Why does Jack attack Piggy but not Ralph? Why does Jack apologize? Is he truly contrite or sorry for hitting Piggy or does he have some other purpose? In the scene that follows, both Ralph and Jack establish their authority in a different manner – explain. Why is Ralph determined to call an assembly and why is he growing increasingly alarmed?
Group 3 – Ch’s 5 & 6:
Chapter 5 – “Beast from Water”
12. One of the characteristics of a good ruler is his ability to realize his own limitations while at the same time recognizing the talents of others. What does Ralph acknowledge about himself? What does he acknowledge about Piggy? At the assembly, exactly what rules does he enact “to set things straight”? Explain the purpose of each rule, paying particular attention to his insistence on using coconut shells to drink from, rather than drinking straight from the pool.
13. After Ralph’s speech, Jack grabs the conch and reintroduces the idea of the beast. Why is Ralph both surprised and chagrined as he listens to Jack speak? What is Jack’s purpose in mentioning the beast? How is the idea of a beast given even greater credibility in the eyes of the boys? Explain the significance of the title of this chapter “Beast from Water.” What does Golding want to convey to the reader when Simon says “. . . maybe it’s only us” but then becomes “inarticulate in his effort to express mankind’s essential illness”?
14. As the assembly begins to disintegrate, Jack seizes the opportunity to challenge Ralph’s leadership. Why does he choose this particular moment to do so? What is significant about Jack’s response to Ralph’s accusation of breaking the rules? In turn, what is significant about Ralph’s subsequent response to Jack? Why does Ralph contemplate giving up his leadership? Explain Simon’s and Piggy’s reactions.
Chapter 6 – “Beast from Air”
15.At the end of Chapter Five, Ralph prays for a sign from the civilized world, and the next chapter begins with the arrival of the dead parachutist. What symbolic insights could this ‘sign’ suggest to the perceptive reader? Contrast the description Samneric provide of the parachutist and inward vision Simon has of the ‘beast’. What does Golding mean by this vision of a human at once heroic and sick?
16. How does Jack attempt to undermine Ralph’s leadership in this chapter? When the boys reach Castle Rock, Ralph goes first – why? Why does Jack overcome his hesitation over accompanying Ralph? What is Jack’s real reason for joining Ralph in this hunt for the beast? Jack experiences two great fears in this scene. Identify them and explain which one represents the greatest fear.
Group 4 – Ch’s 7 & 8:
Chapter 7 – “Shadows and Tall Trees”
17. Provide at least TWO reasons why the relationship between Ralph and Jack becomes even more strained. For the first time, Ralph establishes himself as a hunter when he succeeds in wounding a wild boar. What types of emotions or reactions of Ralph’s are conveyed during and after this event? In the re-enactment of the pig-hunt when Jack orders a circle to be formed, how does this foreshadow the events that occur in Chapter 9. Describe the re-enactment. What ritualistic elements are associated with it?
Chapter 8 – “Gift for the Darkness”
18. Just after the boys flee down the mountain after assuming they have seen the beast, Jack chooses this moment to undermine Ralph’s meeting, to challenge his leadership, and to invite the others to join his tribe. Why might Jack have chosen this particular moment to challenge Ralph’s authority? Why do none of the boys immediately accept Jack’s invitation? What happens next and why? Why do the littluns stay behind? Why do most of the boys reject Ralph and accept Jack as leader?
19. In this chapter, we learn the meaning of the title Lord of the Flies when Jack and his tribe offer a gift to the beast. Describe this ritual and explain its purpose. How might the reader’s view of this ritual be different than the boys’ view? After the boys leave, Simon discovers the pit’s head and has an hallucinatory conversation with it as he feels another epileptic seizure coming. Summarize this conversation and explain its significance. What is being foreshadowed? What theme is Golding reinforcing here?
20. When Ralph, in a moment of despair, asks Piggy why things are beginning to break up, Piggy argues that Jack is to blame. To what extent is this true? Jack is now acknowledged as chief by the members of his tribe and his title is always spelled with a capital “C”. Why? When the Ralph’s camp is raided for fire, Piggy assumes Jack is going to steal the conch, but Jack is not interested in it. Why? If the conch is the symbol of Ralph’s leadership, what is the symbol of Jack’s?
Group 5 – Ch’s 9 & 10:
Chapter 9 – “A View to a Death”
21. What is the significance of Simon finding the dead parachutist’s body after his hallucinatory conversation with the Lord of the Flies? What does he do with the body and why? Why is the timing of this discovery and his disposal of the body important? What is ironic about what happens to Simon when he goes to share his knowledge with the boys? What characteristics of Simon are demonstrated in this chapter? How do these qualities compare with those of the other boys in this chapter?
22. Why do you think Jack invites Ralph and Piggy to the feast and why do they accept? At the feast, they are surprised to see how much Jack has changed. Find any key quotations that show what these changes are, and explain their significance. What impression of Jack do we get from them? Explain the significance of the title of this chapter, noting the death that occurs and the circumstances that prompt it.
Chapter 10 – “The Shell and the Glasses”
23. The morning after the terrible events of the night before, how do Piggy and Ralph each handle their own thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.? What excuses does Piggy make and why? To what extent do you agree with these excuses? What is Ralph’s reaction to what Piggy says?
24. Explain the significance of the title of this chapter. Why do Jack and his tribe orchestrate a raid against Ralph’s camp? What does Piggy assume the raid is for at first? What does this tell us about Piggy and his priorities? How does Piggy react when he learns their true goal? Explain how this event arouses pathos (sympathy) in the reader and how it serves to forward the plot.
Group 6 – Ch’s 11 & 12:
Chapter 11 – “Castle Rock”
25. When Ralph and Piggy journey to Jack’s fortress at Castle Rock to retrieve Piggy’s glasses, what is the significance of Piggy taking the conch with him? Could the fact that Piggy is virtually blind at this point have any symbolic meaning? When Roger begins throwing stones, how is this reminiscent of an earlier scene? What are the key differences between the two scenes? Describe what has happened to these boys during the interval between these two scenes in terms of their conditioning.
26. Just before he is murdered, Piggy offers the boys a series of alternatives or moral choices and Ralph concurs. What are they and what is significant about them? Also, why is it significant that Piggy does not include himself or Ralph in the first one? Describe the murder of Piggy, noting the significance of Golding’s statement: “High overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever.” What role does Piggy’s behaviour before his murder play in providing Roger with a ‘motive’ for the killing? Why is the conch destroyed along with Piggy?