Chapter 6- Lord of the flies

Thank you for a good level of participation in the seminar today.

Here are the questions for Oskar (and everyone else!!!!) for next Friday...

Viktor and Elsa, please don't forget to hand in your notes from the seminars

Chapter 6:  Beast from Air

Key Quote

"Ralph took the conch... and held it to his lips; but then he hesitated and did not blow".

 Questions

1. What is the beast from the air?

2. What has Ralph fixed his mind on, that the others seem to think of very little? Why do they not seem to share his concern?

3.  Why is exploring the castle-like rock formation a scary proposition, and who does it? What is Simon's function here?

4.  Why does Ralph go first?

5. Ralph insists they check the mountaintop for the beast and relight the fire. What is it that the other boys want to do?

6.  Everyone wants to be rescued, so why do the other boys not work harder at it?

7.  At the beginning of the chapter, what do Ralph and Simon carry back to the shelter before they go to sleep?

8. As the boys sleep, what is going on in the sky above the island?

9. When Ralph calls for a meeting, what do Samneric tell the others?

10. What excuses does Ralph give to let Piggy stay behind when the other boys go hunt for the Beast?

Quotes

Explain why these quotes are important

"[Simon saw] the picture of a human at once heroic and sick....Other people could stand up and speak to an assembly...without...the pressure of personality; could say what they would as though they were speaking to only one person."

Conch! Conch!" shouted Jack. "We don't need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It's time some people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us." 

Discussion Questions

1. Describe what has happened to Ralph’s control of power in this chapter. How do the other boys seem to be reacting to Ralph and his system of rules?

2. What does Jack ask Ralph in front of the other boys? How does this question affect the balance of power on the island?

3. What is the author’s purpose in adding the dead parachutist to the story? What does this remind us as readers?

4. What is going on in the “outside world” while the boys are on the island? How does this add to the theme of  “Lord of the Flies”