Answer to Question #285420 in English for Kelsey Jand

Question

Lord of the Flies Study Guide Questions

Direction: Your answers need to be thorough, and where possible, quote the text (with citation).

Chapter 5-6

Characterization: How is Ralph different than when he arrived on the island? Why has he called an assembly? In other words, what does he want to talk about? What does Jack say to the assembly? What dangerous idea does Simon come up with? What is Piggy’s take on the situation? What is the final straw in Jack and Ralph’s relationship? Why doesn’t Ralph want to blow the conch? What does this say about their new society? Explain what is happening to Ralph in this statement from Chapter 6, “A strange thing happened in Ralph’s head. Something flittered there in front of his mind like a bat’s wing, obscuring his idea.”

Answer 1

From the moment the first littlun claims to have seen a snake-monster, the lads' terror of the beast becomes an increasingly vital part of their existence, particularly at night. Ralph's attempt to restore order to the island is thwarted by the beast's terror, which leads to the final break between Ralph and Jack. The existence of the beast is still unknown at this time. In any event, the beast is one of the novel's most powerful symbols, reflecting both the dread and allure of humanity's primal aspirations for violence, power, and brutality.

All of the boys go to bed after the assembly. Aerial combat is taking place over them. On his opened parachute, a war casualty drifts down to the island. The body is dragged to the top of the mountain by the wind. The parachute inflates and deflates with the breeze, causing the body to appear to sit up and then sink back down. Samneric, who is tending the mountain fire, notices the body moving and hears the parachute inflate. They run to Ralph in a hurry, telling him a story that is inflated by their terror.

Ralph summons a meeting at dawn, and they decide to investigate the island's only unknown spot: the castle-like rock formation at one end. Ralph and the others head to the castle while Piggy and the little ones stay on the beach. Ralph is the first to go alone, followed by Jack a few minutes later. The other boys join them in the castle once they determine that the beast is not present, and they wish to play there for a bit. When Ralph demands that they all go check on the fire, they object, but he insists, and Jack leads the way back up to the fire site.