Jack

Question 1

Jack quotes - beginning

Answer 1

‘he shouted an order and they halted, gasping, sweating, swaying’

‘the boy who controlled them’

‘head of the choir boys’

‘ready to turn to anger’

Question 2

‘he shouted an order and they halted, gasping, sweating, swaying’

Answer 2

• ‘shouted’ and ‘order’ hints at militaristic behaviour
• the choir fears him
• denotes Jack as a tyrannical leader

Question 3

‘the mask compelled him’

Answer 3

• the thought of being completely different encourages the rest of the boys to follow and paint their faces as well
• shows the boys loss of society + loss of themselves
• becoming corrupted strangers
• losing their hold on civilisation and slipping into savagery

Question 4

Jack quotes - middle

Answer 4

‘the mask compelled him’

‘no longer himself but an awesome stranger’

‘the bloodied knife in his hand’

Question 5

‘the mask compelled him’

Answer 5

• ‘compel’ means to force someone to do something
  -> the mask gives Jack control
• Jack is liberated from the constraints of society so can now become the power hungry person he truly is

Question 6

‘no longer himself but an awesome stranger’

Answer 6

• the mask has unleashed Jack’s base instincts
• he is no longer held back by shame, morality or guilt
• ‘awesome’ tells the reader Jack is enjoying his newfound personality and way of life

Question 7

‘the bloodied knife in his hand’

Answer 7

• Jack will never be able to clear the blood on his hand
  -> never be able to get rid of the thought he took a life

Question 8

Jack quotes - end

Answer 8

‘the newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background’

‘the chief’s blush was hidden by the white and red clay’

Question 9

‘the newly beaten and untied wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background’

Answer 9

• Jack cared strongly about the rules in the beginning (“we’ll have rules!” he cried excitedly)
• now, he has completely lost his original identity
• his disregard for the rules is what lead to the breakdown of society

Question 10

Jack theme beginning

Answer 10

leader/ dictator
(head of choir boys)

Question 11

Jack theme middle

Answer 11

descent into savagery (mask + killing of pig)

Question 12

Jack theme end

Answer 12

loss of identity - was excited to have rules in beginning to mimic the civilisation they came from - now he has dragged the whole island into savagery + is doing everything against the rules in the real world

Question 13

‘madness came into his eyes again’

Answer 13

• eyes are seen as windows to the soul
• madness in this eyes shows his soul is genuinely evil and
• however, ‘madness’ could be seen as meaning there was something mentally wrong which we came to see nearer the end of the novel when he ordered the torture of Sam and Eric
• ‘madness’ could also mean he lacked control, which we know was true at this point in the novel as democracy was still a powerful force on the island

Question 14

‘the chiefs blush was hidden by the white and red clay’

Answer 14

• paint allows Jack to be hidden and maintain his façade of a fearless character
• masks his real feelings and identity which further enable him to become a savage
• referred to as ‘the chief’ not Jack anymore -> loss of identity, can no longer be recognised from when he first came to the island

Question 15

‘ready to turn to anger’

Answer 15

first glimpse at Jacks nature

frustrated easily and quick to turn to anger

evident that he has the power to lead, but his short temper makes the reader questions whether he will be the right type of leader

Question 16

‘the boy who controlled them’

Answer 16

‘controlled’ implies power to make decisions and demand obedience -> already hinting at tyrannical qualities

this disciplined facade of a leader initially aligns Jack with civilisation but contains hints at his aggressive nature

Question 17

‘head of the choir boys’

Answer 17

• illustrates his need to dominate
• Jack is at the top of the pecking order in the schools hierarchal organisation of the boys and is used to being in charge

Question 18

intro

Answer 18

• briefly introduce LotF by William Golding
• mentions Jack’s role as one of the key characters whose personality and transformation showcases the novels themes, such as the loss of innocence and the conflict between civilisation and savagery
• Jack embodies the descent into savagery, symbolising the darkness within human nature

Question 19

conclusion

Answer 19

• jack developed from a disciplined boy into a tyrannical leader, illustrating Golding’s theme of inherent human evil
• jack symbolises the dangers of absolute power and the ease with which civilisation can descend to savagery
• Golding’s message - without rules and structure, the darkness within humanity prevails