Lord of the Flies Analysis: Descent into Savagery

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Questions and Answers

What effect does the chant 'Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!' have on the boys?

It allows them to remember their previous lives.

It acts as a ritual that leads to their descent into savagery. (correct)

It encourages them to work together in a civilized manner.

It makes them feel guilty about their actions.

The chant reflects the boys' gradual loss of innocence.

True (A)

What literary device is primarily used in the phrase 'kill and spill'?

alliteration

The use of _______ verbs in the chant conveys a sense of brutality and aggression.

imperative Signup and view all the answers

Match the words from the chant to their connotations:

Kill = Dehumanization Cut = Purposeful action Spill = Metaphorical for evil Do him in = Euphemism for death Signup and view all the answers

How does the use of monosyllabic words in the chant affect its impact?

It builds power and aggression. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The boys were completely unaware of their actions when they killed Simon.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Who initially initiated the chant that led to Simon's death?

Jack Signup and view all the answers

The addition of the phrase 'do him in' suggests that the boys were ________ about who they were killing.

aware Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Lord of the Flies' foreshadow in relation to Simon?

The inevitability of Simon's death. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does Simon's portrayal as a 'beast' reflect about the boys' understanding of fear?

The boys see the beast as something external and scary. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Ralph shows signs of remorse after participating in Simon's murder.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does the death of Simon symbolize the loss of civilization among the boys?

Simon's death represents the complete descent into savagery and the loss of moral and social order. Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'maybe it's just us' suggests that the true beast lies within _______.

the boys Signup and view all the answers

Match the characters with their responses to Simon's death:

Ralph = Regret and guilt Jack = No remorse Piggy = Recognizes the gravity of the situation Simon = Acknowledges the internal beast Signup and view all the answers

Which body part is notably significant in Simon's murder?

Throat (B) Signup and view all the answers

Jack shows an increasing reluctance to kill throughout the novel.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does peer pressure have on Ralph during Simon's murder?

Ralph becomes swept up in the moment, driven by the group mentality and fear of the beast. Signup and view all the answers

The transformation of the boys from civilized children to savages represents the theme of _______ within humanity.

savagery Signup and view all the answers

What does Simon's insight about the beast contribute to the overall narrative?

It highlights the irony of their beliefs. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Golding's Lord of the Flies - Analysis of the Boys' Descent into Savagery

Golding depicts the boys' descent into savagery through a ritualistic chant initiated by Jack. This chant, "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!", embodies the boys' collective power over Simon.
The imperative verbs ("kill," "cut," "spill," "do") are precise and dehumanizing. The repetition of harsh consonants ("k," "c," "b") and the rhyming reflect the boys' increasing violence.
The use of the chant reflects the boys' loss of innocence. The initial chant's purpose was to hunt for food, but now it's about killing for the sake of killing.
The change in language from hunting to killing demonstrates a move from a more primitive need to a more violent, graphic act.
The monosyllabic nature of the chant adds a heightened sense of shock and cruelty. It suggests the boys' actions are almost automatic, not fully considered.
The chant, "do him in," echoes the title Lord of the Flies and foreshadows Simon's demise. It further symbolizes the boys' loss of civility.
The repetition of "his" highlights the boys' awareness of their action but also their lack of morality (killing a fellow human).
The image of the beast evolves throughout the novel. Initially a bogeyman, it transforms to represent the boys' inner savagery.

Evaluation

The island setting facilitates the boys' descent into savagery. The loss of rules (e.g., the conch) reflects this progression.
Jack's gradual adoption of power and desire to kill signifies a clear turning point from hunting to savagery.
Piggy's participation and eventual death highlights the pervasive power of peer pressure and the vulnerability of those who stand for order.
Ralph's experience of the boys' savagery showcases the strength of their savagery and the susceptibility of even moral individuals to succumb to the pressures of the group.
The chant reveals an escalation of the boys' brutality and their loss of moral restraints.
The change in language, from the hunting motif of the first chant to the brutal imagery of the later chant, accentuates the progression of the boys' savagery through the story.

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Description

This quiz explores the themes of savagery and loss of innocence in Golding's Lord of the Flies. Analyze the boys' descent into violence, focusing on the ritualistic chant that embodies their collective power and dehumanization. Understand how language shifts from a primal need for food to graphic acts of killing.