1. Jack put the matter of being chief to the vote at the wrong moment.
2. Ralph openly declared his defeat.
3. Where Simon expected Piggy's understanding he met with derision.
4. Piggy was the first to evolve a taboo round Jack's name.
5. In Jack's absence Piggy twice surpassed himself.
6. No one suspected Simon of stealing off.
7. Ralph was developing a nervous breakdown.
8. Ralph as chief was unused to honours.
9. Jack bought his followers with meat. 10. Roger was the worst sadist of all the hunters.
11. Simon's talk with the sow's head was imaginary. 12. The head menaced Simon by death.
13. Jack's followers are referred to as savages by the author.
14. Jack's camp attached little or no importance to the conch.
15. Ralph's laughter at Piggy in Jack's camp was betrayal.
16. Ralph and Piggy witnessed Simon's murder.
10. Say why this happened:
1. The sound of the inexpertly blown conch interrupted them. (p. 196)
2. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye. (pi 199)
3. Piggy and the other two were by him. They were laden with fruit, (p. 205)
4. Fifteen yards from the drove Jack stopped; and his arm, straightening, pointed at the sow. (p. 208)
5. ..Jack grabbed Maurice and rubbed the stuff over his cheeks. (p. 210)
6. Demoniac figures with faces of white and red and green rushed out howling,.... ...Ralph saw Piggy running. (p. 216)
7. The two savages looked at each other, raised their spears together and spoke in time. "The Chief has spoken." (p. 217)
8. The Lord of the Flies spoke in the voice of a schoolmaster. (p. 221)
9. The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible. (p. 224)
10. The beast was on its knees in the centre, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise something about a body on the hill. (p. 232)
III. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Explain the meaning of the titles of chapters 8 and 9.
2. Jack blows the conch. Why did Jack choose that moment to seize power? Go over Jack's arguments against Ralph's being chief. Were all of them true? Why did the boys not vote against Ralph?
3. Piggy makes a contribution to the good of society. Comment upon the change in his spirits after Jack's departure.
4. Jack declares his programme to his followers. Why could Jack solve the problem of "the beast" so easily? Compare Jack's treatment of the beast with savages' treatment of natural phenomena causing fear.
5. Why does the author give a detailed description of the pig hunt? Compare what the hunters had been in the civilized world and what they were becoming under Jack's leadership. How does the author stress the enormity of the proceedings?
6. Which of the former choir-boys felt the enormity most acutely? What made him look for solitude in his shelter? Do you think Simon demented ("batty") or over-sensitive to the wrong? What was Simon's reaction to the sight of the sow's head?
7. Follow the sow's head evolving into a symbol. Note the first mention of "the Lord of the Flies". What does it stand for? Who is referred to as the flies? Why did the head pick out Simon, of all the boys, to preach before? Find proof that "the head" was afraid of Simon. Pay special attention to the use of pronouns showing the creatures "the head" identified itself with. Why did the Lord of Flies insist on Simon's joining the others?
8. The savages' raid for the fire and Jack's speech. What tactics did Jack resort to to win over new followers? What historical parallel can you draw when identifying the tactics?
9. Ralph calls a meeting. Why did the boys find his speech lame? Could Ralph carry away the audience by tempting promises? What did the children value more: meat, fun, companionship or rescue? Could an average child realize the ugliness of Jack's methods or the price of preferring immediate things? Which of the boys knew that the price was degradation?