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Mr. Shroyer's Explanation Video - Yes, you can view!
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Pick 3-5 questions you will answer per chapter entry from this PDF.  Your final padlet will have 12 total entries (a combination of vlog entries and written entries).

They are meant to be open-ended with your ideas and responses providing the meat of the entry as opposed to just saying a "right" answer to be done. You will be graded on the depth and insight of your response (or the quality of it in other words), not just basic accuracy.

Prove to me that you actually read the material by demonstrating the depth of your knowledge with your entry.

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1. What do you think is the significance of the “snake-thing” or “beastie”?  Consider the little boy‟s description of the creature, the discussion of nightmares, Ralph‟s feeling that he is “facing something ungraspable” when confronted with this problem, and his need to repeat loudly that “there isn‟t a beast.”

The snake-thing is a representation of fear in the dark. The creature lurks about in the dark, ready to strike at any moment. It goes into hiding before it strikes. This symbolizes a loss of innocence. Hunting and slaughtering can turn an innocent boy bitter and “barbarian.”

2.What does Jack‟s behavior in this chapter suggest about him (e.g. his attitude toward killing pigs and hunting the beast, his excitement about the rules and the consequences of violating them, his treatment of Piggy etc.)?  In what way(s) might the behavior of the boys during the meeting foreshadow later events?

Jack’s behavior suggests that is intimidating and hostile. He becomes obsessive over slaughtering the pig, constantly torturing and harming it. He often seeks approval from the others. This foreshadows him into becoming a beast of his own; a barbarian.

5.What is ironic about consequences of the boys‟ decision to light a fire?  In light

of these consequences, what do you think it and the “drum-roll” represent?

The fire is supposed to be a signal and a form of communication, but it gets out of control and leads a boy to his death. The drum-roll represents their choice. As of the current moment and part of the story, they chose a future of destruction.

6.What do the events of these first two chapters reveal about the major themes of the novel?

Possible themes to gather include the loss of innocence and its importance. It also includes themes of man against nature.

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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?

Jack changes his priority and becomes more wildlike. He begins to value hunting and makes it a priority. He also does not enjoy violence, so he dictates and acts intimidating.

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?

The diction and the appearances have changed. The boys do not remember their old ways of living, and they live their life differently. They established a system of dressing and started referring to each other as different names. The group becomes more independent.

3.What is making it difficult for Ralph and Jack to communicate and get along?  Where do you think their differences will lead?

They both have different opinions and ideas about what is important. They are both stubborn and believe they are correct. Jack prioritizes hunting while Ralph prioritizes building a shelter.

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1. Describe the behavior of the boys at the beginning of the chapter.  What thematic significance does this scene have?

The writer includes that that the boys who once felt terrified of the island have turned it into a dwelling. Instead of listing all the negatives of the situation, they chose to make the situation better and more positive. However, some of the boys became wild and lose their innocence.

4. How do the hunters behave in response to the success of the hunt, and what is the significance of this behavior?

Jack is very pleased after being in charge of the hunt. The hunters also felt pleased with themselves. Although they were happy, Jack would later face additional challenges.

5. How does Ralph “assert his chieftainship” after the argument with the hunters?  Why do you think this gesture is so effective?

Ralph ordered the hunters to keep the fire going. His gesture was effective because it showed that he was not afraid of giving orders.

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1. What change has come over Ralph as a result of the signal fire incident?  How have his values changed?

Ralph comes to realize that being chief is not simple. He was not able to keep things under control. He learns that the manipulation Jacks puts people through are not easy to subdue. He takes the initiative to call another meeting in order for things to be under control and structural.

2. What points does Ralph make at the meeting?  What general point does he make that he wants people to discuss?  Why are these points so significant?

He addresses the meeting with a serious tone, pointing out that it is not about making jokes. He lets them know that their way of escaping is through the fire, and it is very crucial for them. He admits his frustrations and fear, and assures everyone that there are no monsters or beasts on the island. This is significant because if Ralph loses credibility with the boys, the boys will join Jack, and in turn this could lead to the end of the island’s civilization.

3. What does Jack say in response to Ralph's comments?  Why do you think Ralph is shocked?

As Ralph paused during his speech, Jack whispered something to Robert, but was ignored. When it seemed as though Ralph finished speaking, Jack made a scene and scowled at Ralph, and he tried to defend himself when Ralph directed his anger towards the hunters. Ralph was not done speaking, and he reminded Jack that he had the conch. Jack angrily sat down, and Ralph continued to address his concerns.

When he was finished speaking, Jack took the conch and began to speak. He was talking about the beast with the little ones, telling them not to behave like babies and to stop being frightened. He tells them all they do is sit and complain about the “beast”, and continues to say there is no beast to be worried about. Ralph realizes that the beast is not something that can be hunted or killed, but is rather a fear instilled and created in the minds of children. He is likely shocked because he understands their fear, and has the sense that it is not wrong to be afraid. Yet, Jack was being very rude to them. Ralph realizes this as he matures.

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1. What is the “beast from air”?  How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what connection does it have with the novel's themes, and what does it symbolize?

The beast in the air is the body of a pilot that landed on the island. His parachute was flapping which led Eric and Sam to believe that it was another beast, and they became frightened. They thought that the figure was furry with wings. This demonstrates and symbolizes their inner fear since they are afraid of what they cannot recognize. They do not scream, but they become tense and tighten their arms.

2.What does Sam and Eric's description of the beast tell us about human psychology?

Both Sam and Eric carry unrealistic descriptions of what they witnessed. It went hand in hand with their fear of the beast. Their ideas of the "beast" were shown in their descriptions of what they saw. Instead of the description being accurate, they portrayed their own ideas onto the unknown figure.

3. How does Ralph overcome Jack's challenge during the discussion about what to do about the beast?

Ralph overcomes Jack’s challenge by gathering the boys and reminding them of the incident with the fire that happened earlier. Because of this, Jack was forced to go along and he was not given many options.

4. What significant thoughts does Simon have about the beast while the boys are walking to the “castle”?

Simon has thoughts about the beast in relation to the boys. He suggests that perhaps they are the beast. Their fear was reflected through their thoughts. Although Piggy made the same observation, Simon’s thoughts about it were more in depth. He shows his wisdom, and in a way, is the answer to their fears of the "beast."

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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?

While thinking about certain parts of himself and his habits, he says that he will suck on his thumb next. Although he has no intention behind it, if someone were to hear him, they may think differently of him. For instance, they may think that Ralph is weak.

If others were to hear about it, they might tease Ralph. The act of talking to himself demonstrates that he feels lonely. Talking to oneself can also be used to cope with difficult and stressful things. Perhaps that aligns with feelings of loneliness and doubt.

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?

Simon says Ralph will get home and he will be okay. Ralph makes a joke and asks Simon if he has a ship in his pocket. Throughout the novel, Simon shows his wisdom and makes prophecies. He is the author’s version of Jesus, and he goes around with a good heart and makes predictions about the future.

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?

After their encounter with the pig, they pick at Robert with their spears and pretend that he is the pig. They begin chanting to kill the pig and open his throat. Robert was distressed and he shouted at them to stop. Even Ralph wanted to get near.

Finally, they do stop and leave Robert on the ground. Ralph’s surprising behavior shows that slowly by slowly, he too may become a “Jack” and a savage. As the story progresses, he may eventually become like the hunters and follow in their footsteps.

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2. How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”?  Why is this so significant to the boys?

Piggy shows intellectual daring by making a suggestion about the fire. Piggy said the fire does not have to be created on the mountain, showing his brilliance and smarts. He said it could be built on the rocks where they were. This is significant because the boys further realize Piggy’s intellect. They act disrespectful towards him due to his appearance, but because of his brains, he is a crucial component of the group.

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?

The biguns likely waited to leave because they felt ashamed and embarrassed of Jack. When Ralph’s leadership and authority was questioned, the biguns expressed their feelings of shame towards Jack by not raising their hands. He tried to instill in them that Ralph was a coward who did not really care about them. He insults Ralph and constantly belittles him. They needed time to think about who their true leader was. Since a large portion of them were Jack’s hunters, they chose Jack as their leader.

This was not good because instead of following in the more practical footsteps of getting rescued, they chose the path of hunting and fun.

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?

Ralph is upset and disappointed that many of the biguns have disappeared and left. He feels abandoned, and tries to make himself feel better. He tries to justify that they always caused trouble. He sits down and takes time to reflect, not focusing on his environment but rather takes the time to ponder. He is very concerned, and the significance of his reaction is that he shows a lost sense of hope.

He has a desire to be rescued, but at the same time, he starts to believe it might not happen. This represents one of the themes in the book. Ralph doubts his ability as a leader from the beginning, and starts to doubt other things. He did gain confidence when the boys voted for him, but his leadership introduced other challenges. This enforces a sense of questioning, and the fact that many of the biguns left made him question the situation more.

7. What foolish decision does Jack make during the hunt, and why is it foolish?

Jack leaves the pig, and it may attract another animal. It could attract flies, predators, scavengers, but it won’t make the beast go away.

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1. What are the purpose and effect of Jack's generosity with the meat he and the hunters obtained? What do you think his decision to give meat to even Ralph and Piggy is meant to show?

The purpose of Jack’s kindness and generosity is to further establish and built trust with the hunters. This can allow Jack more power and authority as he gains their loyalty through his actions. The boys, as a result, may pay Jack more attention rather than to what is truly important.

2. Why does Jack command the boys to dance and chant, and why is this an effective leadership tactic? What psychological effect does dancing and chanting have on the boys? Think back to the effect that putting on makeup had on them in Chapter 4.

The boys act more like animals and less like people. They follow tribal ways, and begin to form a tribe of their own with customs separate from other civilizations. Because of this, Jack appears more like an authority figure to them. His command makes them more likely to follow him, and maybe idolize him as their leader.

This boosts jack’s confidence and ego. The increase in a sense of leadership may only lead to Jack becoming more powerful as time goes on, and things become sinister. The boys become irresponsible of their own actions as they further adapt this new mentality.

3. What is the “beast” that the boys kill?  How is this event ironic and especially tragic (not only for the “beast,” but for everyone on the island)?  How is it symbolically significant?

The “beast” that the boys kill is Simon. Simon’s appearance was frightening to the others, and it is symbolic because the “beast” is around them all. His character was a representation of the answer to their madness, and the answer to help them. This is ironic because they chose to take it out on Simon, but they did not realize the beast inside of themselves. The boys have become so fearful that they removed and destroyed their one hope.

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2. What does the narrator mean to suggest when he says, “Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively”?

The narrator meant to suggest that the four boys tried to forget the dance where Simon passed away. They felt ashamed to see Simon die, but they described it as an accident. They will try to hide the fact they were there, but their memories will not hide. It will likely haunt them.

3. How do the biguns seem to define a “proper chief”?  What does this criterion suggest about human psychology?

The biguns define a “proper chief” as someone who provides a sense of security. Jack, whom Roger and Robert referred to as a “proper chief,” came up with a plan to protect themselves.

This shows that one of the needs of people is security and safety. It appears that happiness is achieved through feeling comfortable and safe. Otherwise, if people remain afraid and anxious, they will have trouble leading happy lives.

4. What does Jack do that causes Roger to have doubts about his leadership?

Jack ties up Wilfred to a tree and beats him up without reason. Roger thinks this is irrational and irresponsible of Jack, and of someone in authority in general. According to the book, he views it as an illumination.

If someone is unnecessarily cruel and they seek power, giving them the authority may only worsen the situation. Throughout the book, Jack became more and more like a savage. Unfortunately, as he displayed more animal-like behavior, his control over the group increased.

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1. In what way are the twins “seeing Ralph for the first time” before they all set off for Castle Rock?

They first observed Ralph as a strong authority figure who had a connection to the adult world. However, as time went on, they saw him for he really was deep down. He was a boy who was terrified of the situation, not knowing what would happen. He wanted to go back home and be rescued. This places significance on the theme of family.

Ralph once believed his father would come rescue them, especially considering the fact that he was a commander in the navy. This suggests that Ralph likely had a positive relationship with his father. Although the boys were a little bit of a family of their own, many turned more and more like savages. This introduced conflict between Ralph and Jack. The twins seeing Ralph’s inner mentality and nature was important because it showed a desire to be rescued and reunited with family. However, they were not very hopeful.

2. Why is the boys’ attempt to get back Piggy’s specs and get the other boys to maintain a signal fire bound to fail?

It is bound to fail because Jack has a larger group, and they were unwilling to compromise. Readers can learn the importance of peace from this, because abrupt states where people do not work together can end poorly.

3. Why do you think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff?

Roger pushes the rock off the cliff likely because it gave him a sense of power and superiority. Destroying and harming things brought him this odd sense of authority, which shows how much of a savage he is. In reality, people often forget what is truly important and become too entwined with their fantasies and desires.

This shows a lack of empathy and understanding, and although having those things are not required, they are important to move forward in a positive way. Roger placed his focus on what made him feel good about himself, but in a way, he put others down. Roger started as a quiet individual, but he slowly showed his cruel and immoral nature. In a certain sense, this additionally backtracks on the theme that some people are not always what they seem. In general, anyone could have the appearance of kindness and seem calculated at first, but deep down, they do not display the characteristics. Nobody is perfect, but some individuals take joy in being cruel.

4. How is the destruction of the conch symbolically significant?

The conch represented structure and maintenance of order. Because it was destroyed, this showed how broken the boys became. They started out innocently, but over time, they became more and more like animals. The breaking of the conch emphasizes the transition from goodness to savagery. Order begins to lose its meaning and importance, and in their own way, they scatter around like wild dogs, hungry for power.

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3. Why do you think Samneric decide to join Jack’s tribe?  Why do they tell Jack where Ralph is hidden?

Sam and Eric were limited and restricted with options. Joining Jack’s tribe was the only thing that could provide them food. They were desperate to live and survive, and becoming part of Jack’s tribe allowed them the opportunity.  They are forced to reveal Ralph’s hiding place after torture.

Surviving by itself became important to the extent that other matters were ignored. Individuals are sometimes caught up into their own lives that they forget about others. Although survival is important, sometimes people push others away to bring themselves up. However, as seen in this case, they were coerced to answer. Standing up, especially when there are limited options, is not always so simple. Fear can drive poor decisions and cloud judgment.

4. What do Samneric mean when they tell Ralph that Jack has “sharpened a stick at both ends”?  What do you think the reason for Jack’s hatred is?

It means that the sharpened ends are meant for Ralph’s head to be placed on just as the head of the pig was. Ralph was unable to add a meaning to the saying, and according to the book, he used all the bad words he could to possibly explain the meaning.

Jack likely feels hatred for Ralph because he desires more and more power. He views Ralph as a threat to his desire. He wants to be completely in charge and turns into a violent authority figure and dictator. His motivation stems from evil and he even organizes torment of other boys. His selfish ways only progressed throughout the book.

This is similar to Hitler’s dictatorship. He was an effective public speaker, and he told Germans things they wanted to hear. He used this tactic to become a powerful, but cruel leader. Jack was successful in leading because he was able to end with a larger tribe than Ralph, and he was more able to please his tribe. Jack could also be compared to Satan. Satan, who was once known as Lucifer, started out as a beautiful angel and was made a leader. Unfortunately, jealously took his heart and he fell into evil ways. Jack fell into a pit of evil, and as time went on, he fell deeper and deeper.

5. What foolish method do the boys use to ensure that they find Ralph?  What does this decision suggest about the power of hatred and violence versus the power of reason?

The boys try to light a bush on fire where Ralph was hiding. This was a foolish choice because they risked burning the island again. They were unable to learn from their past mistakes and showed little care concerning the situation. This shows how much they have taken a turn for the worse. They would rather run like wild animals and be savage-like than to eat and coexist.

Power driven from hatred can lead to unpredictable and horrible problems that could otherwise be prevented. Hatred is often associated with anger, and acting with anger and contempt is unlikely to improve situations. On the other hand, acting with reason allows for the chance to understand other points of view. This is more likely to end in a positive, peaceful manner.

6. Where does Ralph decide to hide?  What does this hiding place symbolize?

Ralph decided to hide in a thicket, and then he decided to hide in a mat where there was no sunlight. Both of these places could represent society sheltering him from the harm and danger the world brings. He is able to grow and be protected instead of becoming more like a savage and following Jack’s ways.