Lord of the Flies: The Novel Study

Synopsis

Ralph spends the evening roaming the island, pondering his options in the face of Jack’s tribe. He spots Samneric guarding Castle Rock, so climbs up to speak with them. They give him some meat, and warn him to stay away. Ralph hides in a nearby thicket, but is forced to flee when a fire is lit to smoke him out. Ralph retreats into the forest. With the boys in pursuit and the island burning up, Ralph finally rushes to the beach. There, he discovers a British navy officer whose ship was attracted to the island by the smoke.

Discussion
1. The twins were forced to join Jack’s tribe.
a) Do you think Samneric had any choice but to join?
b) Do you think it was appropriate for Jack to use force to make them join?
c) When is the use of force justified? Or can it ever be fully justified?

2. Why did Roger sharpen a stick at both ends?

3. Before the final pursuit, Ralph hid in a thicket near Castle Rock. He believed that:
Here—and his hands touched grass—was a place to be in for the night, not far from the tribe, so that if the horrors of the supernatural emerged one could at least mix with humans for the time being, even if it meant... (p. 210)
a) Do you think if an external “supernatural” threat emerged, the boys would learn to reconcile their differences?
b) What does Ralph’s belief tell us about the commonality of all people?

4. Think back to how Jack had Castle Rock fortified against outsiders.
a) Could this fortification successfully defend Castle Rock against the British navy that arrived on the island?
b) What does this suggest about the shortcomings of relying solely upon force as a means for security?

5. The fire meant to smoke out Ralph destroyed the island, reaching the fruit trees and incinerating the huts on the beach. How does this fire show the irrationality of Jack’s leadership?