Lotf Chapters 1 To 4

Question 1

What character says this quotation? “‘I don’t care what they call me,’ he said confidentially, ‘so long as they don’t call me what they used to call me in school.’”

Answer 1

Piggy

Question 2

What does this quotation reveal to the reader? “That little ‘un that had a mark on his face – where is – he now? I tell you I don’t see him.”

Answer 2

The “littlun” with the mark on his face disappears during the first fire on the island, starkly establishing the seriousness of the boys’ situation. The fact that no one knows his name underlines the tragedy even more.

Question 3

What word completes the quotation? “Ralph stood there among the skull-like __________.”

Answer 3

coconuts

Question 4

What character is described in this quotation? “He undid the snake-clasp of his belt, lugged off his shorts and pants, and stood there naked, looking at the dazzling beach and the water.”

Answer 4

Ralph The “snake-clasp” on his belt is possibly significant, as a snake in a paradise could be symbolic of the devil in the Garden of Eden. It’s a clue that this might not be a “good island”.

Question 5

What is revealed about Jack when he does NOT kill the trapped pig at the start of the novel?

Answer 5

He hesitates and does not kill the pig. His anger and frustration at this shows that he desires this skill but has not yet shaken off the civilised influences from his world before the island.

Question 6

What technique is being used in this description from Chapter 2? “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid nearer and nearer the sill of the world.”

Answer 6

Metaphor This metaphor juxtaposes the brilliant beauty and dangers on the island. The use of the word “burning” links to the role of fire in the novel.

Question 7

What group of characters is described in this quotation? “Something dark was fumbling along… The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines.”

Answer 7

Choir The choir is dehumanised: the group looks like a “creature”. They march and wear black, more like soldiers than schoolboys.

Question 8

What repeated action emphasises Ralph’s age at the start of the novel?

Answer 8

He does a headstand every time he is exited or happy Ralph’s spontaneous headstands remind the reader of his young age and serve as a stark contrast to his anxious behaviour later in the novel (for example, he later starts to chew and bite his nails).

Question 9

Who says this in Chapter 1? “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all we’re not savages.”

Answer 9

The right answer is “Jack”
This quotation shows how Jack wanted power right from the start of the novel. He has always wanted to be the person making the rules and enforcing them, which is a hint to why the hunters break away from Ralph, Piggy and Simon and become violent.

Question 10

What character is being described in this quotation? “tall, thin, and bony: and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger”

Answer 10

Jack is described as less attractive and appealing than Ralph, which is perhaps why he has to lead through fear and intimidation.

Question 11

What character says this quotation? “You got your small fire all right.”

Answer 11

Piggy is the voice of maturity and reason. He uses “you” to distance himself from the other boys’ reckless behaviour.

Question 12

What slang word do the boys use regularly at the start of the novel?

Answer 12

The boys use the word “wizard” which is 1950s schoolboy slang for “excellent”. This use of language shows their excitement at the start of the novel. As well as their immaturity

Question 13

How is the character of Simon first introduced?

Answer 13

Simon is part of the line of choir boys at the start, but his manner quickly sets him apart from the others.

Question 14

What key event deepens the conflict between Ralph and Jack at the end of Chapter 4?

Answer 14

Ralph discovers the signal fire has gone out This important event establishes that the boys have very different priorities on the island.

Question 15

Why is Ralph frustrated with most of the other boys in Chapter 3?

Answer 15

He wants everyone to build the huts Ralph’s frustration is the first sign of conflict between him and Jack. Jack has very different priorities to Ralph and their earlier warm relationship is starting to break down.

Question 16

How do Roger and Maurice treat the littluns in Chapter 4?

Answer 16

They destroy their sandcastles Maurice and Roger’s minor cruelty foreshadows their behaviour later in the novel.

Question 17

What word completes the quotation? “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the __________ of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.”

Answer 17

Taboo Something that is “taboo” is something that is forbidden or looked down on by society. In this case, the taboo is unjustified violence.

Question 18

How do the littluns behave with each other?

Answer 18

They play together but also pick in the weakest members of the group The behaviour of the littluns shows that even very young children are capable of cruelty and mirror the dynamics of the older boys.

Question 19

Which of these fits the best in the blank? The fire going out and the resulting confrontation between Ralph and Jack is a __________.

Answer 19

Turing point in the action This event is a turning point because it signals when the tension between Ralph and Jack is brought into the open.

Question 20

What do the littluns represent in the novel? Choose the best answer.

Answer 20

The littluns represent innocence that is threatened on the island (by the natural world, by the other boys).

Question 21

What action makes Jack “liberated from shame”?

Answer 21

Painting a mask on his face Painting a mask on his face is a way for Jack to let his real nature emerge. His mask of savagery liberates him from the shame he has previously felt.

Question 22

What word completes the quotation? “He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and __________ that was swallowing him up.”

Answer 22

Kill Jack starts to feel overwhelmed by the instinct to hunt. Perhaps Golding is suggesting that we all have this side to us.

Question 23

What character’s name completes the quotation? “Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight, __________ found for [the littluns] the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands.”

Answer 23

Simon The language in this description sounds almost Biblical. It’s like Simon is being compared to Jesus in how he cares for the weak.

Question 24

What character’s name completes the quotation? “__________ gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.”

Answer 24

Roger At this point in the novel, Roger still feels held back from violence by the force of his old, civilised life. Golding is showing that none of the boys are completely evil to start with, but that most of us have the potential to do terrible things if we think we can get away with it.

Question 25

Who says this quotation his face was dark with violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise

Answer 25

Ralph this shows that he is already captivated by this idea of power

Question 26

Complete the quotation: this toy of voting was almost as _______ as the conch

Answer 26

Pleasing this shows that the boys are very childish and enjoy doing adult things

Question 27

Complete the quotation the small boy held out his hands for the ________ and the assembly shouted with laughter; at once he snatched back his hands and started to cry.

Answer 27

Conch this shows that although the boys say it’s a democracy they only ever let people with power speak

Question 28

What does this quote say about the boys the simple statement unbacked by any proof but the weight of Ralph’s new authority brought light and happiness

Answer 28

They are very immature and just believe Ralph because he is the one in charge

Question 29

How do these two quotes contrast the two characters:he noticed blood on his hands and grimaced distastefully,looking for something on which to clean them.
There was lashings of blood said jack laughing and shuddering you should halve seen it

Answer 29

It shows that Ralph is disgusted by blood and is still civilised and hasn’t gone savage yet while the immediate contrast to jack laughing no shuddering while talking about how much blood there was shows his decent into savagery

Question 30

Who is this quote describing _________ arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and was in ruins

Answer 30

Roger

Question 31

What does this quote show: I got the conch said piggy indignantly you let me speak! The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain said jack so you shut up.

Answer 31

It shows jacks disregard for democracy and piggy showing he doesn’t consider piggy a valued member of the group