“Shadows and Tall Trees” Chapter 7 “Shadows and Tall Trees”

1. What is significant about Ralph’s concern with his appearance as the chapter begins? He thinks he looks sloppy, and it bothers him to realize that he is becoming accustomed to the dirt. This passage confirms his desire to return to a civilized state. In the other boys, however, Ralph sees the same signs of decay and with a heavy heart realizes, “that he did not mind;” it was “normal.”

2. How does the view of the horizon differ on this side of the island? Instead of the filmy enchantments of mirage, the horizon is hard, clipped blue.

3. How does the change in this view affect Ralph’s thoughts? On the other side of the island, “swathed at midday with mirage, defended by the shield of the quiet lagoon, one might dream of rescue,” but, on this side, “the brute obtuseness of the ocean” makes rescue seem impossible.

4. What does the anaphora (look this word up if you need to), “…but here, faced by the brute obtuseness of the ocean, the miles of division, one was clamped down, one was helpless, one was condemned, one was…” contribute to the overall tone of the chapter? This anaphora, following the thoughts of the vastness of the ocean and the hopelessness of rescue, makes the improbability of rescue seem even greater.

4B. Discuss the significance of what Simon says to Ralph as well as the significance of when says it. Though Ralph has not spoken aloud, Simon senses Ralph’s increasing anxiety and fretfulness and is eager to help ease his tension. Notice that Simon does not say “WE will get back alright.” He says, “YOU” directly to Ralph. Could this be some sort of insightful foreshadowing? In some ways it is fortunate, but in other ways it is quite portentous.

5. At this point, what contrast is presented by Ralph’s daydream? The daydream serves to contrast the warmth and security of what was, with his present predicament: the innocence of his past confronts the ugliness of his present.

6. What is significant about Ralph’s response to his encounter with the boar? The fact that Ralph is so pleased with himself after his minor excursion into hunting shows that he, too, partakes of the dark nature that is represented by Jack.

7. What emotions does Robert experience in the game? How about Ralph? Robert is afraid as Jack holds him by the hair, brandishing a knife. He is sniveling at the end of the game, nursing a hurt body. Ralph is overcome with the “desire to squeeze and hurt.”

8. What literary purpose does the hunt serve? Golding uses the hunt to highlight the theme of innate evil. No matter how strong the instinct toward civilization may be, there is an innate drive towards savagery—even in someone like Ralph.

9. Why is it especially horrific and savage when Robert says, “You want a real pig… because you’ve got to kill him,” and Jack replies, “Use a littlun”? Although said as a joke at which everyone laughs, the idea is very primitive, reminiscent of a human sacrifice. One can imagine the boys killing a littlun at some point, either deliberately or driven by a mob mentality. After all, the lust to hurt and kill was stirred up even in Ralph, the best and most responsible of them.

10. How does Golding convey the shift of leadership that is slowly taking place? Ralph is being shown to become the follower: “Ralph was content to follow Jack along it [the pig run],” and later, “Once more Jack led them along.”

11. How does Golding change the mood of the story? Golding changes the sentence and paragraph structure from short comments and dialog to lengthier descriptions that almost mimic Ralph’s dreamlike state.

12. How does Golding show that Ralph is still civilized? First, Ralph’s ability to tell time is based on social convention. Secondly, Ralph is considering the good of others; he considers Piggy and the boys on the beach, and knows that he needs to get back to protect the smaller and weaker ones.

13. What does the hunting party do after Simon’s departure? They decide to break through the forest vines in search of a pig-trail that they think lies just inside the edge of the woods and leads to the mountain.

14. Now that Ralph is leading again, what is Jack’s response? Jack becomes antagonistic toward Ralph, answering curtly and stirring up trouble.

15. What causes Jack to move to the back of the line to brood? Ralph’s question, “Why do you hate me?” exposes Jack’s true motive, “as though something indecent had been said.”

16. After reaching the mountain, Jack and Ralph argue again 16. After reaching the mountain, Jack and Ralph argue again. What is the row about? Why does Jack start another argument? When the boys arrive at the mountain, Ralph decides they will rest on “the platform and climb tomorrow.” Jack, sensing that he can stir up trouble, challenges the leader’s decision, and, after all others decline wanting to climb, says, “I’m going up the mountain” as a challenge to seize leadership again.

17. What do the boys find on the mountain? How do they respond? They find “something like a great-ape...sitting asleep with its head between its knees.” They assume that this is the beast, and they run away, terrified.

18. Why do you suppose the author lets the reader know at the outset that it is a pilot and his parachute, not a beast that the boys find? Would there not have been greater suspense if the reader knew no more than the boys? This is where the allegory eclipses the adventure story. Keeping the reader in suspense about what the boys encounter would possibly be more suspenseful, but Golding’s point is there is no beast.