- Chapter 3: “Huts on the Beach”
- 1. 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?
- 2. 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?
- Lord of the Flies Study Questions Page 1 © 2001 and 2008 C. Brantley Collins, Jr.
- 3. What is making it difficult for Ralph and Jack to communicate and get along? Where do you think their differences will lead?
- 4. Why do you think Jack and the littluns (and others, probably) have fears about a “beastie,” but Ralph, Simon, and Piggy don‟t? What theme does this suggest?
- 5. What does this chapter reveal about Simon‟s personality, and what importance do you think this will have later in the novel? (How do you think the other boys will react to Simon?)
- Chapter 4: “Painted Faces and Long Hair”
- 1. Describe the behavior of the boys at the beginning of the chapter. What thematic significance does
- this scene have?
- 2. Why does Maurice walk away when Percival starts crying, and why doesn‟t Roger throw the stones directly at Henry? What does their behavior suggest about human nature?
- 3. 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?
- 4. How do the hunters behave in response to the success of the hunt, and what is the significance of this behavior?
- 5. How does Ralph “assert his chieftainship” after the argument with the hunters? Why do you think this gesture is so effective?
- 6. 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?
- 7. Discuss the thematic significance of the title of the chapter.