- Chapter 7: “Shadows and Tall Trees”
- 1. What embarrassing thing does Ralph say to himself near the beginning of the chapter that he‟s afraid someone might have overheard? What does he mean by it? What change in Ralph does the act of talking to himself demonstrate?
- 2. What does Simon say to Ralph that makes them both smile? Think carefully about Simon‟s choice of words—do you think it foreshadows something that might happen later in the novel?
- 3. 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?
- 4. Why do you think Simon is so eager to volunteer to go across the island to tell Piggy and the littluns what they‟re doing?
- 5. Why do you think Jack insists on going up the mountain to look for the beast even though it‟s already dark when they arrive? What internal conflict does Ralph feel about the decision to go up the mountain in the dark?
- 6. Why do you think Golding (the author) plotted the story so that the boys would go up the mountain in the dark?
- Chapter 8: “Gift for the Darkness”
- 1. What does Ralph say that angers Jack? How does Jack express his anger? How does Jack respond to
- his failure to get support from the group, and what does this response suggest about the boys‟ future? 2. How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”? Why is this so significant to the boys?
- 3. Why do you think the biguns wait until the other boys are occupied to leave instead of supporting Jack‟s challenge during the meeting?
- 4. 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?
- 5. 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?