KEY

Name

Lord of the Flies

Period _____
Mastery ELA 8

Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness

Reading Comprehension
Directions: Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. Hes like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isnt a proper chief. For a moment, he paused and
went on.
Hes a coward himself.
Hes not a hunter. Hed never have got us meat. He isnt a prefect and we dont know anything
about him. He just gives orders and expects people to obey for nothing. All this talk (Golding 126)
a. Who is the speaker of the quote? Who is he talking about?

The speaker of both passages is Jack. He is talking about Ralph..

b. What is the speakers purpose? Why does he compare the other boy to Piggy?

The speakers purpose is to challenge Ralphs authority and make him look bad in
front of the other boys.He compares Ralph to Piggy in order to make him look weak. If
the boys connect Ralph to Piggy, they will feel the same about him as they do Piggy.
They will see him as ineffective and weak. This could allow Jack to take control of the
group.
2. Im not going to play any longer. Not with you.Most of the boys were looking down now, at the
grass or their feet. He cleared his throat again. Im not going to be a part of his lotIm going off
by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come too! (Golding
127)
a. Who is the speaker of the quote? Who is he talking to? Name all parties involved and BE
SPECIFIC.

The speaker of the quote is Jack. He is talking to Ralph.

b. What has just happened that has upset the speaker? In other words, why did he decide to
leave?

Jack is upset because he tried to have a new vote for chief. The boys, including his

hunters/choir members, did not support him or vote against Ralph in order to elect Jack.
He decides to leave so that he does not have to follow Ralphs rules any longer.

Chapter Analysis
Directions: Answer the following questions using complete sentences and blended textual
evidence/citations. Dont forget to restate!

3. How does Ralph describe the beast to Piggy? What does he think the boys would do if they were
confronted by it a second time?

Ralph tells Piggy, The beast had teeth, said Ralph, and big black eyes. (124) When Piggy
asks them what they should do, Ralph says, I dont think wed ever fight a thing that size,
honestly, you know. Wed talk but we wouldnt fight a tiger. Wed hide. Even Jack ud hide.
(124)
4. During the assembly, Jack attempts to make Ralph look bad. List at least three things he tells
the hunters and littluns that make Ralph look like an ineffective chief.

1) Jack tells the assembly that Ralph claimed the hunters were no good.
2) Jack tells them that, Ralph thinks youre cowards, running away from the boar and the
beast. (126)
3) Jack tries to compare Ralph to Piggy; this is a problem since no one listens to or respects
Piggy.
4) Jack makes Ralph look like a coward by claiming that he didnt go to the top of the
mountain to see the beast.
5) Jack states that Ralph is not a hunter and has never helped to provide meat for the camp.
6) Jack says that Ralph isnt perfectno one knows him and all he does is give out orders
with the expectation that they be followed with nothing in return.
5. What does Jack decide to do at the end of the assembly? What does Ralph think about it? What
does Piggy think about it?

Jack tells the assembly that he isnt going to be a part of Ralphs camp anymore. He invites
any of the boys who feel the same way and would like to hunt to leave and join him. Ralph
believes that once the sun goes down, Jack will return. Piggy states, We can do without
Jack Merridew. Theres others besides him on this island. But now we really got a beast,
though I cant hardly believe it, well need to stay close to the platform; therell be less need of
him and his hunting. So now we can really decide on whats what. (128)
6. Which boys make up Ralphs camp? Which boys make up Jacks camp? What is each boys
opinion about how things should be run in his camp?

Ralphs camp: Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Sam/Eric, and the littluns

Jacks camp: Jack, Bill, Roger, Henry, Maurice, and the hunters
Ralphs camp is worried about fire/rescue. When Jack leaves, they attempt to make a list or
inventory of who is still with them. They will use this list to help them keep the fire going after
it has been made. Ralph realizes that his camp will most likely be happier now that Jack and
the others have goneall they were interested in doing was causing trouble. Piggy suggests a
feast and the boys eat ripe fruit.
Jack appoints himself chief in his camp, with no input from the others; this could prove that
he has the potential to be a tyrant. Jacks main concern at his camp is hunting. He also tells
the boys that they will forget about the beast and not bother with it. In addition, Jack tells the
boys, We shant dream so much down here. This is near the end of the island. (133) This
shows that he believes that Ralphs ideas of rescue are childish and unworthy of attention.
Finally, he claims that once they kill a pig, theyll leave a sacrifice for the beast in the hopes
that it wont bother them.
7. What is the Lord of the Flies? How is Simons clearing different now that the Lord of the Flies is
present? What do you think the killing, and eventual impaling of the pig, represents as a symbol?

The Lord of the Flies is the pigs head on a stick, in the middle of the clearing. All of the
beauty in the glade has now left and is replaced by death and terror. The butterflies have
now deserted the clearing and have been replaced by a swarm of black flies, guts, and the
dripping head of the pig. The killing and impaling of the pigs head is a symbol for savagery
and the complete loss of civilization amongst Jack and his tribe. The Lord of the Flies
becomes both a physical manifestation of the beast and a symbol of the power of evil.
8. What is Ralph scared of? What happens at camp during he and Piggys conversation?

Ralph states, nobody else understands about the fire. If someone threw you a rope when
you were drowning. If a doctor said take this because if you dont take it youll dieyou
would, wouldnt you? I mean? (139) Ralph continues discussing the importance of the signal
fire, believing that if they dont make a smoke signal, the boys will die on the island. In
addition, Ralph considers what may happen if he were to stop caring and be like Jack. As
they have their discussion, Jack and his hunters enter and take over the camp. Jack tells the
other boys, Listen all of you. Me and my hunters, were living along the beach by a flat rock.
We hunt and feast and have fun. If you want to join my tribe come and see us. Perhaps Ill let
you join. Perhaps not.(140) Jack also invites Ralphs camp to a feast at their camp on top of
the mountain.
9. The scene between Simon and the Lord of the Flies is arguably the most important in the novel.
What do you think the Lord of the Flies is implying when he tells Simon, You knew, didnt you? Im
part of you? Close, close, close! Im the reason why its no go? Why things are what they are? (143)

The Lord of the Flies it is not a real, physical beast that inspires the hunters behavior but

rather the barbaric instinct that lies deep within each of them. In this scene, where Simon is
hallucinating, his biggest fear is confirmed during his conversation with the Lord of the Flies:
there is no beast and Simon was right all alongthe beast is the innate human savagery that
lies within us all. Goldings purpose in writing this scene is to point out that moral behavior, in
many cases, is something that civilization forces upon the individual rather than a natural
expression of human individuality. When left to their own devices, Golding implies, people
naturally revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism.