Name: ___________________________________________________________
(Attach this sheet to the front of your assignment when you turn it in for grading.)
Grading Rubric:
16
14
11
8
-2
-40%
16
All questions are fully answered—the student explains his or her thoughts and makes specific textual
references during the course of his or her answer. If necessary or useful, the student has made marginal
notations during class discussion.
Most questions are fully answered, but one or two answers could be more fully developed. The
questions that are fully answered make specific textual references during the course of his or her
answer. If necessary or useful, the student has made marginal notations during class discussion.
Three to four of the student’s answers are underdeveloped and could use more elaboration—either with
the students’ thoughts or with more textual references.
Nearly all of the student’s answers are underdeveloped and could use more elaboration—either with the
students’ thoughts or with more textual references.
Per question left unanswered
Of earned score if assignment is late.
SCORE
Questions to help process the end of Chapter 8 in LOTF
Questions in bold are to be in lit. response format.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper and in complete sentences, or they will not be
accepted.
1. What are the ways that Jack tries to discredit Ralph when Jack calls an assembly
(125-127). Name at least 3, and explain how those are meant to discredit Ralph!
2. A. Why does Jack finally say, “I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you” (127).
What is it that makes him say this? Explain.
B. What does the word “play” suggest about Jack? Explain.
C. Why does Jack cry as he leaves? Explain.
3. Why does Simon suggest that they “climb the mountain?” (128). Why do you think
that it is Simon who suggest this? Think about how this fits in with his character.
4. When Jack and the boys kill the “largest sow,” there is the undeniable image of rape.
And, as uncomfortable as this scene is to read, it seems the reader must address it because
Golding is so graphic. Explain what reasons Golding might have for portraying the
killing of the sow as such a defilement.
More questions on the back!!!
5. Starting on page 132 until the end of the chapter, there is repeated mention of butterflies
and flies. Explain what you think Golding is doing with the butterflies and the flies? Why
are they there? Why does he switch? Why does one go away and the other appear?
6. At the beginning of chapter 8, the conch is described as a “white blob” (Golding 124),
and later in the chapter, the sow head is describes as a “black blob” (138). Repetition of
this sort is not accidental on an author’s part, whether consciously or unconsciously, and
so, what might this mean?
a. Often times, these two colors indicate opposing energies (considered the yin yang
symbol), so how are these two things, the conch and the sow’s head, opposites?
b. Also, why do you think that Golding refers to both of these items as “blobs?” Be
super sure to explain your answers.
7. There are many theories and questions in this section of the book regarding “what makes
things break up like they do?” (139). When Ralph asks this question of Piggy, Piggy
says, “I dunno Ralph. I expect it’s him.” Referring to Jack.
However, when Simon is alone in the forest and the severed pig head speaks to him, it
says, “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . .You knew,
didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why
things are the way they are?” (143).
A. In the past, Simon has stated who/what he believes is the beast…who or what is it?
(He has come out and said it before, particularly in chapter 5.)
B. In one sentence describe the manner in which the boys kill the sow.
C. Think about your answers to 7A and 7B, and now answer this: what do you think the
sow’s head on the stick, the “Lord of the Flies” represents?
D. It is commonly thought by those who study this book, that the term “Lord of the
Flies” is a translation of the word Beelzebub, which is one of the accepted names for
the devil. Explain why Golding might be making such a clear connection between
“the Beast” and “the devil.” What might Golding be trying to say about humans
and/or human society?
8. Finally, Golding writes:
Simon found that he was looking into a vast mouth. There was blackness within,
a blackness that spread.
“Or else,” said the Lord of the Flies, “we shall do you?” See? Jack and Roger and
Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph. Do you. See?”
Simon was inside the mouth. He fell down and lost consciousness.
Here, there is clear foreshadowing about Simon’s fate. What is it?