Sec 2 Lord of the Flies Chapters 6 to 8 Name:_______________

Thought Questions
1. What is the Lord of the Flies? Why does it appear in this form now to
Simon? What are some hints that Simon is quite different from the other
boys?
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2. Why does Jack’s fury come to a head at this meeting? What events
preceding could provoke him to this bold move?
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3. What is the significance of the parachute corpse?
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4. Why don’t the hunters openly defy Ralph and follow Jack
immediately, instead of waiting and slinking away later?
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5. How is Piggy’s character continually evolving?

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Vocabulary
Chapter 6
woodlice:
tremulous:
diffident:
stupendous:
leviathan:
guano:
Chapter 7
filmy:
snivel:
rugger:
enterprise:
nausea:
paralyzed:
Chapter 8
incomprehension:
sodden:
tinder:
demented:
blunder:
formulate:
anonymous:
frond:
parody:
cynicism:
taboo:
1. What is the Lord of the Flies? Why does it appear in this form
now to Simon? What are some hints that Simon is quite different
from the other boys?
Time:
7-10 mins
Discussion:
Physically, the Lord of the Flies comes to life through the pig’s head that
is staked to the ground by the
hunters. The pig’s guts and corpse attract a mass of flies near Simon.
The Lord of the Flies is the beast
incarnate, though it has previously only been a figment of the little boys’
imagination, an unknown
entity. Though Simon is clearly hallucinating, Golding hints that perhaps
he suffers from epilepsy or
perhaps another type of affliction that gives him “episodes" of a possibly
mystical nature.
2. Why does Jack’s fury come to a head at this meeting? What
events preceding could provoke him to this bold move?
Throughout the hunt for the beast, Jack and Ralph continually butt
heads. In fact, Ralph asks Jack outright why he hates Ralph so much,
finally recognizing what Piggy perceived earlier. Furthermore,
Jack is miffed that Ralph volunteers to go ahead when the trail becomes
difficult. In response, he directly challenges Ralph’s authority by
taunting him into going up the mountain, despite the darkness.
Finally, the fear incurred by the sight of the parachute man no doubt
fuels Jack’s anger at feeling as though he has no control. In a brutish and
unwise effort to take control, he acts out against Ralph.
3. What is the significance of the parachute corpse?
The parachute is in fact simply a corpse, which would probably not
frighten the boys if they recognized its true nature. However, fear of the
unknown is paralyzing. Have the students discuss some instances of
fearing the unknown that they have experienced. Have they subsequently
faced those fears to conquer them? Why is the unknown so frightening?
What types of hasty conclusions does the parachute corpse cause the
boys to make?

4. Why don’t the hunters openly defy Ralph and follow Jack
immediately, instead of waiting and slinking away later?
The last vestiges of civilization and decency are intact, when Jack issues
his challenge in a vote against Ralph. As such, the boys remain hesitant
to openly challenge Ralph, although their growing mutiny is apparent.
However, without Jack’s bold nature and desire for violent
confrontation, the remaining boys feel more comfortable abandoning
Ralph in a less confrontational manner.
5. How is Piggy’s character continually evolving?
In the face of growing adversity and Ralph’s waning authority, Piggy
grows more confident. This may also be attributed to his clear friendship
with Ralph. The two boys mutually support one another; as
Ralph falters before Jack’s obvious challenges, Piggy steps up in
Ralph’s stead to maintain order in the group of non-hunters. He is quite
different from the stammering, uncertain, and indignant boy at the start
of the novel
Chapter 7
filmy:
covered with a haze, gauzy
snivel:
to cry or whine
rugger:
slang for rugby, a sport
enterprise:
complicated project
nausea:
stomach discomfort characterized by desire to vomit
paralyzed:
unable to move
Chapter 8
incomprehension:
lack of understanding
sodden:
dripping wet
tinder:
something that helps to incite flame
demented:
crazy, insane
blunder:
mistake
formulate:
to create, to develop
anonymous:
of unknown identity
frond:
a large leaf
parody:
a ridiculous imitation, meant to ridicule
cynicism:
attitude marked by basic distrust in human nature
taboo:
a forbidden act, behavior that is frowned upon