Happy St. Valentine's Day, Bookies! New Reading Goal

Okay folks, this time we're going to p. 264, Chapter 17.  An interesting twist happens in this section, so have fun reading over the long weekend!  Hopefully I'll see you guys for our meeting Thursday.

:)
Mrs. P

P.S. Questions?  Comments?  Insights?  Predictions?  Post here, and let's chat about it!

New Page Goal!

Sorry I haven't made it to the meetings lately, guys!  Blame Mr. Mehsling.  :)  Somebody comment about the book so I know what you guys think.  I want to talk about it with you!

Next page goal is to page 199, the start of chapter 14.  Hopefully I'll see you at the next meeting...

:)
Mrs. P

3rd Page Goal-- Chapter 11!

It's a snowy, cold weekend coming up... What better time to grab your fantasy book, a cup of hot cocoa and a blankie and snuggle up on the couch?  Yay!

Let's all get to page 153, chapter 11, by Thursday.  If you have any questions/comments/etc., post them here!  Of course, we'll chat Thursday as well.

Happy Weekend!
:)
Mrs. P

1st page goal for Shadow and Bone

Since you only have two days with this book, let's keep it short.  How about page 34?  It goes fast, I promise!

:)
Mrs. P

New Book Coming Monday-- Shadow and Bone!

I'm having a hard time putting this one down to wait for you guys.  :)  It's good brain candy!

Come see me Tuesday after 3rd period and I'll get a copy checked out to you.  And don't forget-- we start up the LotF movie again Tuesday at 11:25ish!

Happy weekend, and GO BRONCOS!!
:)
Mrs. P

Discussion Questions to wrap up LotF

Hi Bookies,
Meeting this Thursday!  Here are some questions to discuss to get ready for the meeting:

 Chapter 10
1. How do Ralph and Piggy view Simon‟s death? How does each of them react to it? Why does Ralph
laugh as he says, “I got the conch,” and why does Piggy react so strongly to his laughter? What
explanations do they have for their behavior, and what excuses do they come up with? What do these
reactions show about them and about human nature?

2. What feelings, beliefs, and speculations do Jack's biguns have about what happened the night

before at the feast? Can you explain why they did what they did? Why are they “half-relieved, half-

daunted by the implication of further terrors”?  Consider the significance of the quotes below, 

especially the second one. What unspoken words complete the first sentence? 

“But didn't we, didn't we—”  “No!”
“How could we—kill—it?”
Each savage flinched away from his individual memory.
“I expect the beast disguised itself."

3. What signs of stress and fear can we see in Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric‟s behavior in this chapter?

Chapter 11

4. Why do you think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff? 

 

5. How is the destruction of the conch symbolically significant? 

Chapter 12

6. What do Samneric mean when they tell Ralph that Jack has “sharpened a stick at both ends”? What 

do you think the reason for Jack‟s hatred is? 

 

7. What foolish method do the boys use to ensure that they find Ralph? What does this decision suggest 

about the power of hatred and violence versus the power of reason? 

8. Explain the significance of this quotation: “Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an 

incantation that had faded clean away.” 

 

9. What is ironic about how the boys are saved? What is ironic about the fact that the boys, who have 

become savages, are British, and why do you think Golding chose to write about a group of British boys? 

Consider what the naval officer says: “I should have thought that a pack of British boys would have 

been able to put up a better show than that.” 

Review Questions:

1. Discuss the deterioration of the “society” on the island. What circumstances, events, and 

psychological forces cause this deterioration? 

 

2. Discuss the extensive use of symbolism in the novel. Examples of important symbols are the conch, 

the fire, the beast, Piggy's glasses, and the “lord of the flies,” as well as Piggy, Ralph, Simon, and Jack 

themselves. 

 

3. What is your opinion of the novel—is the story convincing? Does it present a realistic vision of human 

nature? Have you experienced or observed things that would either support or contradict Golding's 

ideas? 

Looking forward to reading/hearing your responses to these!

:)

Mrs. P

Lord of the Flies-- Page Goal for Thursday!

First, a confession:  I am at the beginning of Chapter 4.  I will, however, be caught up by our meeting next week.  Second, our new reading goal is to finish chapter 9.  Look at the questions below.  Answer the ones you feel strongly about here, and be ready to discuss any and all next Thursday!

Chapter 1
1.  Describe the major characters: Ralph, Piggy, and Jack.
2. What instances of foreshadowing occur in this chapter? What predictions can you make about what sorts of things might happen later in the novel?
 3. What do the boys‟ attitudes and actions (e.g. Ralph‟s joy at being free of “grownups,” the vote for leader, Ralph‟s telling the other boys about Piggy‟s nickname) reveal about human nature?
Chapter 2
4. What does Jack‟s behavior in this chapter suggest about him (e.g. his attitude toward killing pigs
and hunting the beast, his excitement about the rules and the consequences of violating them, his
treatment of Piggy etc.)? In what way(s) might the behavior of the boys during the meeting
foreshadow later events?
5. What do you think Piggy's glasses might represent? Consider their normal function, the use they are
put to in this chapter, Piggy's intelligence, and Piggy's helplessness without them.
6. What hypocritical irony is there in the boys' treatment of Piggy in contrast with their treatment of

Ralph and Jack? What does this fact suggest about human nature?

Chapter 3
7. Discuss the change in Jack's personality that is described at the beginning of the chapter. What is
Jack's highest priority, and what does this tell us about him?
8. How are the all of the boys except Ralph and Simon (and Jack) behaving? What is Golding telling us
about human nature? What important qualities do Ralph, Simon, and Piggy have that the other boys
seem to lack?

Chapter 4
8. Why do the hunters decide to “paint” themselves with clay and charcoal? What effect does doing
this have on their behavior, and why? Does this “makeup” have any symbolic meaning?
9. How do the hunters behave in response to the success of the hunt, and what is the significance of
this behavior?
 10.   How does Ralph “assert his chieftainship” after the argument with the hunters? Why do you think
this gesture is so effective?
11. What do you think will result from the open conflict between Jack and Ralph and from Jack's
success at getting meat? What is the significance of the boys‟ reaction to being able to eat meat, and
how does this compare to their reaction about having missed a chance to be rescued?

Chapter 5
12. What does Percival say when Jack asks him where the beast lives? Why do you think he says this? What does Simon say about the beast, and what do you think he means? How does everyone else
react to what he says?
13. Why are the rules so important to Ralph? What are the consequences of breaking them?

Chapter 6
14. What is the “beast from air”? How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what
connection does it have with the novel's themes, and what does it symbolize?
15. What does Sam and Eric's description of the beast tell us about human psychology?
16. How do most of the boys react to their discovery of the “castle”? What foreshadowing takes place
at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 7

17. What disturbing thing do the group of hunters and Ralph do immediately after their encounter with the pig? How is Ralph‟s behavior surprising? What does this behavior foreshadow?

18. Why do you think Golding (the author) plotted the story so that the boys would go up the mountain 

in the dark? 

Chapter 8

19. How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”? Why is this so significant to the boys? 

20. What unusual thing happens to Ralph after Jack leaves and after he realizes most of the biguns have 

left? What is the significance of his reaction? 

21. What suggestion does Simon make, and why do you think he makes it? What does he mean when he 

says, “What else is there to do?” What are the consequences of the group‟s decision not to follow 

Simon‟s suggestion?

Chapter 9

22. Why does Jack command the boys to dance and chant, and why is this an effective leadership tactic? 

What psychological effect does dancing and chanting have on the boys? Think back to the effect that 

putting on makeup had on them in Chapter 4. 

23. What is the “beast” that the boys kill? How is this event ironic and especially tragic (not only for 

the “beast,” but for everyone on the island)? How is it symbolically significant?