Lord of the Flies - Themes (CCEA) test questions - CCEA

Read the following extract which takes place just after an argument between Ralph and Jack about letting the signal fire die out. Then answer the questions which follow.

Ralph's final word was an ingracious mutter.

"All right. Light the fire."

With some positive action before them, a little of the tension died. Ralph said no more, did nothing, stood looking down at the ashes round his feet. Jack was loud and active. He gave orders, sang, whistled, threw remarks at the silent Ralph—remarks that did not need an answer, and therefore could not invite a snub; and still Ralph was silent. No one, not even Jack, would ask him to move and in the end they had to build the fire three yards away and in a place not really as convenient. So Ralph asserted his chieftainship and could not have chosen a better way if he had thought for days. Against this weapon, so indefinable and so effective, Jack was powerless and raged without knowing why. By the time the pile was built, they were on different sides of a high barrier.

Which of the themes of the novel is Golding highlighting in this passage?

Why is Jack being so loud and active?

What is meant by 'Ralph asserted his chieftainship'?

Which expression is a metaphor for the breakdown of Ralph and Jack's relationship?

Read the following extract in which Piggy criticises Jack for letting the signal fire go out. Then answer the questions which follow.

Piggy began again.

“You didn't ought to have let that fire out. You said you'd keep the smoke going—”

This from Piggy, and the wails of agreement from some of the hunters, drove Jack to violence. The bolting look came into his blue eyes. He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy's stomach. Piggy sat down with a grunt. Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious with humiliation.

"You would, would you? Fatty!"

Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy's head. Piggy's glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror:

"My specs!"

Which of the themes of the novel is Golding highlighting in this passage?

Why is this act of violence important in the development of the novel?

What does the expression 'bolting look' mean?

Read the following extract in which Ralph observes what is around him. Then answer the questions which follow.

Ralph hauled himself onto this platform, noted the coolness and shade, shut one eye, and decided that the shadows on his body were really green. He picked his way to the seaward edge of the platform and stood looking down into the water. It was clear to the bottom and bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral. A school of tiny, glittering fish flicked hither and thither. Ralph spoke to himself, sounding the bass strings of delight.

"Whizzoh!"

Beyond the platform there was more enchantment. Some act of God— a typhoon perhaps, or the storm that had accompanied his own arrival— had banked sand inside the lagoon so that there was a long, deep pool in the beach with a high ledge of pink granite at the further end.

Which of the themes of the novel is Golding highlighting in this passage?

Which expression shows Ralph not approving of his surroundings?

Why does Golding mention a destructive typhoon or storm in the middle of a positive description?