Lord of the Flies: Ralph

Question 1

Why do the boys make Ralph the leader in the first chapter?

Answer 1

• his size
• attractive appearance
• the conch

Question 2

‘We’ll have to have hands up like at school’

Answer 2

• as a leader he is direct and clear
• his leadership is based on a democratic system

Question 3

‘Ralph had to wave the conch once more’

Answer 3

• conch is a key part of his leadership
• leads for the benefit of others which is showed through his self sacrifice

Question 4

‘I’m chief. I’ll go. Don’t argue’

Answer 4

• takes control when necessary
• but is not confident and looks for approval in Jack

Question 5

What does Ralph focus on throughout the novel?

Answer 5

• signal fire
• being rescued
• shelters

Question 6

‘Eyes that proclaimed no devil’

Answer 6

• is seen as the model boy
• the ideal both socially, physically and morally

Question 7

What part of Freudian’s theory does Ralph represent?

Answer 7

• the ego
  –> balance of id and super ego
  –> elements of good and evil

Question 8

What is Ralph’s background?

Answer 8

• dad is a naval officer
• attractive, tall
• oldest boy
• a natural leader

Question 9

How is Ralph described in chapter one?

Answer 9

‘The boy with fair hair’
‘You could see that he might make a boxer’
‘There was a mildness about his…eyes that proclaimed no devil’

Question 10

What are Ralph’ key quotes from chapter one?

Answer 10

• ‘perhaps there aren’t any grown ups anywhere’
• ‘We’d better all have names’
• ‘he’s not Fatty. His real name is Piggy!’
• ‘We ought to have a chief to decide things’

Question 11

What is the relationship between Ralph and Jack like in the first chapter?

Answer 11

‘Jack and Ralph smiled a each other with shy liking’
–> shared co-operation, respect and understanding

Question 12

What does Ralph represent?

Answer 12

• democracy
• leadership
• honesty

Question 13

What quote shows that Ralph has realised that the power of the conch is weakening in the middle of the novel?

Answer 13

‘If I blow the conch and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it’
–> he is struggling to control the boys even though they voted him as chief
–> the influence of Jack’s savagery has influenced many of the boys

Question 14

What does Ralph think about the beast in the middle of the novel?

Answer 14

‘it does not exist’
–> tries to dispel fears by strongly stating that is not real

Question 15

What is the platform on the beach referred to at the end of the novel and what does it suggest?

Answer 15

‘old camp’
–> time has moved on

Question 16

What does Ralph do at the very end of the novel?

Answer 16

‘Ralph wept for the ned of innocence, the darkness of mans heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy’

Question 17

How does Ralph react to Simon’s death?

Answer 17

‘Simon…gazing with impaired sight at the chief’s seat’
–> feels guilty as if he has failed as chief
‘Ralph, cradling the conch, rocked himself to and fro’
–> the shred of civilisation that the conch represents is comforting
‘I’m frightened. Of us.’
–> full stops add dramatic affect
–> finally realised what Simon was saying

Question 18

What mistake did Ralph make at the beginning of the novel?

Answer 18

‘Jack’s in charge of the choir’
–> given Jack power in the first chapter

Question 19

How does Ralph link to the theme of civilisation and barbarity?

Answer 19

• represents law and order, takes charge of the boys and gives them jobs to make the island a better place to live
• says they will use the conch to take it in turns to speak
• clings to the hope of rescue and returning to civilisation

Question 20

What qualities does Ralph have?

Answer 20

determined: “I’m chief. I’ll go. Don’t argue.”
brave: “Ralph picked up his stick and prepared for battle.”
fair: “The choir belongs to you, of course”
honest: “We’d talk but we wouldn’t fight a tiger. We’d hide.”

Question 21

How does Ralph link to the theme of evil?

Answer 21

• by involving Ralph in acts of evil, Golding shows that there is evil in everyone

Question 22

How does Golding show that Ralph is still a child and cannot always think straight?

Answer 22

tries to plan an important assembly speech but finds himself lost in a “maze of thoughts” that he can’t quite find the words