Lord of the Flies Flashcards
1
Q
Biblical Allegory or Anti-Religious critique?:
- Comparison of the boys on the island with Adam and Eve. Simon is Christ.
- The island represents Eden in early chapters.
- They believe of a beast - not realising it’s themselves.
- Boys kill and delve into greater sin.
A
- ‘The Beast’
- ‘Snake thing.’
- ‘queer’
- ‘paradise’
- ‘land of love’
- ‘head is for the beast.’
- ‘exotic tropical island.’
2
Q
Civilisation vs. Savagery:
- Human impulse towards savagery and rules of civilisation which are designed to contain it.
- Ralph resembles civilisation + Jack resembles savagery.
- Savagery is perhaps an inescapable fact of human existance.
- Conch shell - democracy and order Beast - evil and savagery
A
- ‘maybe there is a beast … maybe it’s only us.’
- ‘What are we? Humans? Or animals? or savage?’
- We’ve got to have rules’
- ‘to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?’
- ‘Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.’
- ‘Jack and Ralph looked at each other with a shy liking.’
- ‘Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them.’
3
Q
Individualism vs. Community:
- Many of the boys’ failures come form their lack of teamwork.
- Jack’s tribe represents individualism vs. Ralph’s represents Community.
- The boys’ movement to Jack’s tribe shows their increasing individualism.
A
- ‘have fun’
- ‘They’re off bathing’
- ‘Who will join my tribe?’
- ‘We got to find the others’
- ‘contribution to the good of scoiety’
4
Q
The Nature of Evil:
- Innate within the human spirit?
- beast- embodiment of evil similar to Satan - this interpretation is ironically the motivation for the boys’ cruel behaviour.
- evil’s universality among humans - most ethical characters come to recognise capacity for evil.
A
- ‘The desire to squeeze and hunt was over - mastering’
- ‘And I’m the beast’
- ‘I’m part of you’
- ‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence’
- ‘the darkness of man’s heart’
5
Q
Man vs. Nature:
- The boys’ relationship with nature falls into 3 catagories:
- Subjugation of Nature. (i.e. Jack)
- Harmony with Nature (i.e. Simon)
- Subservience to nature(i.e. Ralph)
- Lord of the Flies introduces the question of man’s ideal relationship with the natural world.
- The boys interaction with nature reflect their distinct personalities + ideologies.
A
- ‘I’d like to catch a pig’
- ‘Brilliant world of hunting’
- ‘Maybe it’s only us’
- ‘Butterflies’
- ‘Hunting was good’
6
Q
Dehumanisation of War:
- Jack and the others casual act of killing another being represents how they no longer think about war as wrong.
- There is a constant war, even if it ebbs and flows, between Jack and Ralph.
A
- ‘Hunting was good’
- ‘Don’t argue.’
- ‘I’m chief.’
7
Q
Ralph:
- The elected leader.
- He’s brave even if he doesn’t feel it.
- Determined, Brave, Fair, Honest.
- Can be misled, unlike Simon.
- Can’t always think straight.
- Emotions change from adventurous to terrified.
A
- ‘A boxer’
- ‘I’m chief. I’ll go’ - Determination
- ‘prepared for battle.’ -Brave
- ‘The choir belongs to you.’ -Fair
- ‘We wouldn’t fight a tiger. We’d hide.’
- ‘Maze of thoughts’
- ‘shy-liking’
- ‘wearisomeness’
8
Q
Piggy:
- He is an outsider. Appearance. Bullying.
- He cares about behaviour. He tells Jack to give his glasses back.
- Acts like an adult.
- He is kind to the littluns.
- He is loyal and supportive.
- He is logical. Suggestions of a sundial. Important insights about people.
A
- ‘intelligence … was traceable to Piggy’
- ‘The first thing we ought to have made was shelters.’
- The true, wise friend’
- ‘I tell you, I got the conch!’
- ‘Crowd of kids’
- Jack could hurt people.
- ‘frightened of people’ - His views on being scared
- Simon’s murder expresses to him the boy’s savagery.
9
Q
Jack:
- Wants power.
- Prefers fun to responsibility.
- Bullies others
- Naturally violent and aggressive. Smacks Piggy. Rules as a dictator.
- Strong sense of pride.
- Obsessed with hunting.
A
- ‘ugly without silliness’
- ‘I ought to be chief’ -Arrogant
- ‘I cut the pig’s throat’ -Violent
- ‘What d’you mean by not joining my tribe’ -Controlling
- ‘Fatty’
- ‘The chief has spoken’
- ‘Madness’
- ‘compulsion … to kill’
- ‘I’d like to put on war paint and be savage’
10
Q
Simon:
- Christian allegory = Jesus:
- Percieves future.
- Hands out food.
- No harm.
- Kind, perceptive and solitary.
- Gives Piggy meat.
- Supports Jack.
- Simon’s death means they can’t return to civilised ways. Boys kill first for food then laugh as they do it, then finally murder.
A
- ‘Maybe it’s only us’
- ‘Skinny, vivid’
- ‘batty’ by Ralph
- ‘butterflies’
- Secret place full of ‘candle buds’
11
Q
Chapter 1 name
A
The Sound of the Shell
12
Q
Chapter 2 name
A
Fire on the Mountain
13
Q
Chapter 3 name
A
Huts on the Beach
14
Q
Chapter 4 name
A
Painted Faces and Long Hair
15
Q
Chapter 5 name
A
Beast from Water
16
Q
Chapter 6 name
A
Beast from Air
17
Q
Chapter 7 name
A
Shadows and Tall Trees
18
Q
Chapter 8 name
A
Gift for the Darkness
19
Q
Chapter 9 name
A
A View to a Death
20
Q
Chapter 10 name
A
The Shell and the Glasses
21
Q
Chapter 11 name
A
Castle Rock
22
Q
Chapter 12 name
A
The Cry of the Hunters
23
Q
What do ‘Piggy’s specs’ represent?
A
- Represent science and technology.
- Being able to see clearly.
- Altruism.
- Fire.
24
Q
What does ‘the conch’ represent?
A
- Law and civilisation.
- Power.
- Democracy.
- Freedom of speech.
25
What does 'Jack's knife' represent?
- Dangers in society.
- Violence.
- Masculinity.
26
What does 'the fire' represent?
- Hope of rescue.
| - Power.
27
What does Ralph represent?
- Leadership.
| - Role model.
28
What does Jack represent?
- Savage side of humanity.
- Lust for power.
- Red hair = fiery temper.
29
What does hair length represent?
-The longer the hair the more savage.
30
What does Piggy represent?
- Science and interlect.
| - Rational thinking.
31
What does Simon represent?
- Jesus.
- Kindness.
- Innocence.
- Pure goodness.
32
Jack's hunting approach
'hurled the spear with all his strength'
33
Jack's attitude to murder
'compulsion to track down and kill'
| 'I thought I might kill'
34
Jack's feelings when wearing a mask
'liberated from shame and self-conciousness'
35
Hunters' reaction after murder
They had 'taken away its life, like a long satisfying drink'
36
Description of hunters' games
'pretend to beat' a littlun, 'Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in.' Even Ralph was 'envious'
37
Quotes about chieftenship
Ralph decides on having a chief but. Jack thinks he 'ought to be chief' and says it with 'simple arrogance'
38
The friendship between Jack and Ralph
'smiled at each other with shy liking'
39
Jack as chief
'Jack, painted and gnarled, sat there like an idol. There were piles of meat... and fruit, and coconut shells full of drink.'
40
Ralphs view of the choir
'something dark'
41
Piggy's specs
'use them as burning glasses!'', Piggy was surrounded.'
42
Simon's meeting with the Lord of the Flies
'grinned', 'the blood - and his gaze was held by that ancient, inescapable recognition.'
