‘Lord of the Flies’: Chapter 8 Lesson Objectives: to consider how the chapter represents a turning point in the novel

Exploring the structure of the novel Look at the extract from the end of chapter 7: Describe how Ralph, Roger and Jack behave in this extract. Look at the extract from the beginning of chapter 8: Describe how Piggy reacts to the news the other boys bring.

The hunt for the sow – a key symbolic moment! What is a sow? What does it represent? What does killing it mean? What happens after it is killed?

What does Simon say? Write down 3 quotes which you think are important in terms of the novel as a whole. Choose one of your quotes found for homework and use it in a PEE paragraph which answers the question: what is Simon’s role in Chapter 8? Remember: nothing he says is unimportant!

What is happening to Simon? What does this mean? “[His] half-shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life.” What is happening to Simon? What does this mean? “Run away, said the head silently, go back to the others... Go back, child said the head silently.” “The pile of guts was a black blob of flies that buzzed like a saw. After a while those flies found Simon. Gorged, they alighted by his runnels of sweat and drank... in front of Simon, the Lord of the Flies hung on its stick and grinned.”

What is the significance of this chapter? In your own words, explain why this chapter is so important in terms of developing the reader’s understanding of the novel as a whole.