1. Lord of the Flies Common Core 9-12 By William Golding
This unit includes:
Author Background
Close Reading Activities
Vocabulary
Assessments

2. Common Core State Standards
RL5. Analyze author’s choice concerning text structure and sequence.
RL6. Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience in a piece of literature.
RL9. Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work.
RI1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says as well as draw inferences from text.
RI3. Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of events, etc.
RI4. Determine meaning of words, figurative, connotative and technical meanings, and word choice.
RI5. Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed or defined.

3. William Golding Born: September 19, 1911 in Cornwall, England
Education: Science and English at Oxford University
Military experience: Royal Navy (WWII including Invasion of Normandy)
Career: Teacher and British novelist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature

4. Name_____________________ Pre-reading Activity
You have been stranded on an island after your plane crashes during the night. You are only with a few others. They are the people sitting at your tables with you.
You are only able to save 6 of the following items from the plane:
• Tarpaulin
• Rope (4 metres)
• 3 litre bottle of water
• 6 plastic buckets
• Box of 50 Matches
• Axe
• Pack of cards
• First aid kit
• Safety flare
• Box of 1000 Bullets
• Mountain bike
• 6 Dinner Plates
• Pen and paper

5. What if you chose the wrong items?
Your team comes down with strange sores oozing with yellow fluid.
If you do not have a First Aid kit then your team dies screaming of this horrible plague.
There is a terrible storm with hailstones the size of volleyballs.
Without a tarpaulin to protect you, your team members have their brains compacted.
It rains for two days solid, but then goes dry for two weeks.
Groups with the buckets do well, as they sit around drinking water as other groups get heat stroke and in their feverish state walk off cliffs to their death.
Things get boring. Nothing really happens.
Groups with the cards get some 500 cranking, while the other groups start a fight club. It turns ugly, accidents happen, until one guy is left. He beats himself to death with own foot.
Some of your team catch a chicken and find some potatoes. They serve a fantastic roast meal. Yum yum!
Groups without plates burn their hands severely. When climbing a tree they lose their grip and fall, eventually bleeding to death.
There is a strange electrical storm.
Groups with bullets get massacred as the bullets spontaneously combust. There is also a strange accident with the flare, leaving everyone on that team writhing with fatal internal injuries.

6. What makes a good leader?
Name_______________________ Pre-Reading
Brainstorm characteristics of good leaders. Think about those models from history, but also think about traits that make you want to follow someone’s lead. Write them in a web below and be prepared to discuss.
What makes a good leader?

7. Character Description Textual Evidence
Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell Due Date: _________
Characterization: As each of the main characters are introduced, Golding uses imagery and character description to paint a picture of the boys for the reader. Complete the chart below for the main characters introduced in chapter 1.
Character
Description
Textual Evidence
Ralph
Piggy
Jack
Symbolism: Find textual evidence to support the concept of “innocence” demonstrated symbolically within chapter 1.

8. Content & Comprehension Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
Why was is good to have Simon walk between Jack and Ralph when they went exploring? What could Simon represent?
What does Piggy’s glasses symbolize about him?
When Ralph “accidentally” tells everyone Piggy’s nickname, Golding writes: “Ralph, looking with more understanding at Piggy, saw that he was hurt and crushed. He hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult.” Based on this textual evidence, predict what type of leadership traits Ralph will demonstrate as the story continues (foreshadowing).
Describe the type of land that the boys find themselves inhabiting. Don’t just give a one word type of answer. Use what is in the text to give details!
What basic need of humans is the first one the boys must satisfy? How did they attempt to provide for that need?
During the search, Jack’s leadership qualities begin to appear. What type of leader do you think Jack will become?

9. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain Due Date: _________
Comprehension and Analysis: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
Who came up with the idea of how the conch would be used? Explain the privilege that the conch holder would have.
William Golding alludes to (makes reference to) other pieces of literature in this chapter. Research the titles and predict why they are relevant to either the author or this specific story.
Treasure Island
Coral Island
Which “rules” and priorities does Ralph want the group to have?
In comparison, which “rules” and priorities does Jack think the group should have?
The boys want to be rescued and come up with a plan to get noticed. Explain the plan and the materials used.

10. Name________________________ Class #_____
Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach Due Date: ________
Literary Terms: Find examples from the text of the following literary terms. Write out the examples and the page on which the examples are found.
Alliteration:
Symbolism:
Imagery:
Defining words: Using the context clues provided from the text or looking the word up in a dictionary, define each word in bold below as well as tell what part of speech it is being used as.
“Except the hunters. Well, the littluns are-” He gesticulated, sought for a word. “They’re hopeless. The older ones aren’t much better.”
He snatched up his spear and dashed it into the ground. The opaque, mad look came into his eyes again.
Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, out-stretched hands.
When he had satisfied them he paused and looked round. The littluns watched him inscrutably over double handfuls of ripe fruit.
Opinion: At this stage of the book, which character do you think makes the best leader and why? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

11. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair Due Date: _________
Masks are important to the boys. Why? What do they symbolize?
Based on the imagery and descriptions of the mask in the text, draw Jack’s war mask below.
Ralph and Jack are fighting again. Why is Ralph so upset? On the other hand, why is Jack proud?
The way all the boys are viewing Piggy is changing. Explain how Ralph is feeling about Piggy now as well as at least one other boy’s view of Piggy.
Which do you feel is more important – shelter or food? Based on your answer, which leader would you be following at this point in the story?
Which leader (Ralph or Jack) do you feel like most of the boys are siding with at this point? What textual evidence supports your opinion?

12. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 5: Beast from Water Due Date: _________
What is the most important thing on the island according to Ralph? Cite the page number on which you find proof of this.
Ralph becomes more assertive as a leader in this chapter. Find and cite an example of this demonstrated in the chapter.
How does Jack react to and treat the littluns in this chapter? Find and cite an example of this demonstrated in the chapter.
Find and cite an example of potential foreshadowing from this chapter.
Why is it fitting for Piggy’s character to think that life’s scientific?
What are the theories of what was seen moving in the trees?
An important scene happens involving the conch, the main characters, and a breaking of the rules. Describe what happens and analyze its importance to the plot.

13. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 6: Beast from Air Due Date: _________
The twins, Sam and Eric, are featured in this chapter. Describe each of them and how they affect the progression of the plot.
The conch is continuing to become more and more unnecessary. Who is still holding on to hope that the conch will help him maintain order and power? Who says that it is not important anymore?
Who is left in charge of the littluns? Why?
What does Simon think about the beast? Do others believe him or have a different opinion?
The tone of literature is the emotional quality of the words that the author chooses. It is the point of view and opinion of the author. The mood of a piece of literature describes the expressions of feeling and emotion created by the tone. Find and cite examples from this chapter of both the author’s tone and the mood of this piece.

14. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 7 Shadows and Tall Trees Due Date: _________
Why does Ralph hunt? Why is it important to Ralph that the others know that he wounded the boar?
What is symbolic about the boys gathering in a circle around Robert? Why is that important?
Which three boys head up the mountain? What do they discover?
The longer that the boys stay on the island, the more adult-like they are becoming. In this chapter, the boys occasionally remember what life was life as a “child” before getting stuck on the island compared to their current responsibilities. Find and cite an example of this contrast from the text.
Reassess the leaders in this story. Have you changed your opinion on who you would like to be your leader? Explain your answer and cite a specific example to support it.

15. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness Due Date: _________
Describe how the boys describe the beast to Piggy.
What “facts” does Jack present as an argument to the others as to why Ralph is not a good chief? Cite examples.
Who successfully killed during the hunt? What did he kill? What does he do with his kill?
How did Jack plan on making fire for his group?
Describe the interaction between Simon and “the beast”. Is the beast real? A dream? What does “the beast” mean when it is said, “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”

16. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 9: A View to a Death Due Date: _________
Simon continues to suffer alone in the woods. Meanwhile, what are Ralph and Piggy doing? What change in attitude does this demonstrate about these characters?
“Piggy once more was the center of social derision so that everyone felt cheerful and normal.” What is revealed about the characters through this quote?
“Evening was come, not with calm beauty but with the threat of violence.” and “Come away. There’s going to be trouble. And we’ve had our meat.” These quotes are examples of a literary term. What is the term and how are these examples of it?
Describe what happened to Simon as he came out of the woods to tell the other boys about the beast.
Define the following terms from this chapter:
Festooned
Inaudible
Derision
Furrowing
Phosphorescence

17. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 10: The Shell & the Glasses Due Date: _________
“Piggy eyed the advancing figure carefully. Nowadays he sometimes found that he saw more clearly if he removed his glasses and shifted the one lens to the other eye; but even through the good eye, after what had happened, Ralph remained unmistakably Ralph.” This is the beginning passage of this chapter. Explain how it is symbolic of the changes that have occurred in the characters of Piggy and Ralph since they were first introduced at the beginning of the story.
What realization does Ralph recognize about the recent events with Simon? How does Piggy see participation in the same event differently?
“I’m frightened. Of us. I want to go home. Oh God, I want to go home.” Which character makes this statement? What does this statement tell us about him?
What is Jack’s plan for getting fire on his side of the island? Who is going to go with him?
Piggy whispers, “If we don’t get home soon we’ll be barmy.” Barmy means foolish or crazy. This statement is foreshadowing for Piggy. Predict what you think will happen to Piggy as the story continues.

18. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 11: Castle Rock Due Date: _________
Who is in Ralph’s camp when this chapter begins?
Define myopia.
Ralph is convinced that he would have let Jack have fire if only he had asked. There was no need to steal it. Do you agree that Ralph would have easily shared fire with Jack? Defend your answer.
What did Jack order his team to do to Sam and Eric?
Piggy asks, “Which is better- to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?” Answer this question for yourself. Which would you rather have and why?
Who sets the boulder in motion and who suffers because of it?

19. Name _____________________ Class #_________
Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters Due Date: _________
Why did Ralph cry in this chapter? Cite textual evidence as well.
Fill in the chart below for the two main characters who remained.
3. Pretend you are the psychologist that one of the main characters must visit upon his return home from this traumatic event. Write a dialogue that you would have with him. Write out what you would say and what his response would be as well. Make sure to stay in character.
Character
Static or Dynamic?
How did this character change over the story? OR Why didn’t they change?
Ralph
Jack