Vocabulary From Literature

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

Written by Sherri McCarthy

Copyright 2003 by Prestwick House, Inc., P.O. Box 246, Cheswold, DE 19936.
18009324593. www.prestwickhouse.com Permission to copy this unit for classroom
use is extended to purchaser for his or her personal use. This material, in whole or part,
may not be copied for resale. Revised 2008.


ISBN 978-1-58049-212-6

Item No. 200650

Vocabulary from Literature

Chapter 1
Activity I
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match each of the words below with its definition based on the context in which the
word appears in the book. Use the page numbers in parentheses to locate the word. Then, look up
the word in the dictionary and change any answers that are not correct.
enormity (31)
suffusion (23)
pliant (26)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

efflorescence (12)
motif (12)
twining (29)

bastion (29)
mortification (23)
effulgence (14)

_______________ blossoming
_______________ flush; blush; color
_______________ shame; humiliation
_______________ hugeness; importance
_______________ single or repeated design
_______________ brilliance
_______________ structure supporting a fort
_______________ able to bend or flex
_______________ curving; twisting
_______________ image produced by distortion of air

astern (29)
flailed (30)
mirage (25)

conch (15)
garment (19)
petered (29)

waxen (30)
communion (27)
prominent (10)

11. _______________ dwindled; diminished

12. _______________ backwards; to the rear
13. _______________ an article of clothing
14. _______________ thrashed about
15. _______________ a large, spiral shell
16. _______________ yellowish like wax
17. _______________ sticking out; extended
18. _______________ sharing of thoughts and emotions

Copyright 2003, Prestwick House, Inc.

Vocabulary from Literature

Chapters 2-3
Activity I
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match each of the words below with its definition based on the context in which the
word appears in the book. Use the page numbers in parentheses to locate the word. Then, look up
the word in the dictionary and change any answers that are not correct.
pall (45)
rapt (54)
pendant (48)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

opaque (53)
trodden (49)
tendril (48)

_______________ a dark cloud

_______________ hanging
_______________ a threadlike part of a climbing plant
_______________ short distance runner
_______________ eagerly; greedily
_______________ flattened by walking
_______________ not allowing light through
_______________ giving complete attention to

evacuation (32)
silhouette (43)
windward (41)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

avidly (49)
sprinter (48)

officious (40)
tiling (50)
differentiated (41)

leeward (41)
conspiratorial (37)

_______________ withdrawal from

_______________ the direction from which the wind blows
_______________ the direction the wind is blowing
_______________ self-important
_______________ dark shape seen against a light background
_______________ covering or flooring
_______________ distinguished between
_______________ sharing in a secret

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12

Lord of the Flies

Chapters 4-5
Activity I
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match each of the words below with its definition based on the context in which the
word appears in the book. Use the page numbers in parentheses to locate the word. Then, look up
the word in the dictionary and change any answers that are not correct.
sombre (70)
solemnity (78)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

sinewy (64)
swarthiness (62)

preposterous (62)
opalescence (58)

_______________ tightly stretched

_______________ muscular
_______________ darkness, especially of complexion
_______________ contrary to reason
_______________ submerging
_______________ iridescence

fibrous (62)
incantation (94)
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

engulfing (67)

_______________ seriousness
_______________ circular or spiral motion
_______________ maliciously
_______________ gloomy; melancholy
_______________ swallowing up

taut (65)
whelming (58)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

gyration (72)
malevolently (71)

effigy (87)
belligerence (60)

tempestuously (91)
mimicry (91)

_______________ aggression
_______________ containing threads or strings
_______________ representation or likeness of
_______________ furiously
_______________ mocking imitation
_______________ magic spell

21

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V
V oo cc aa bb uu ll aa rr yy ff rr oo m
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L ii tt ee rr aa tt uu rr ee

Chapters 6-8
Activity I
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match each of the words below with its definition based on the context in which the
word appears in the book. Use the page numbers in parentheses to locate the word. Then, look up
the word in the dictionary and change any answers that are not correct.
causeway (106)
flailing (98)
polyp (105)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

coverts (109)
plinth (106)
wallow (109)

______________ square rock serving as a base

______________ raised path or road across wet ground or water
______________ covered or protected hiding places
______________ to roll about or lie relaxed in
______________ a gathering place
______________ troubled
______________ an invertebrate marine animal
______________ waving or swinging wildly
______________ with scorn

embroiled (102)
sniggered (97)
tremulously (99)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

contemptuously (101)
haunt (116)
vexed (139)

fitful (96)
exulting (106)
bravado (122)

______________ with wisdom

______________ deep valley or gorge
______________ with hesitation or fear
______________ laughed; giggled
______________ forcefully or strongly done
______________ uneasy; with interruptions
______________ false bravery
______________ with joy or triumph
______________ involved in; in the middle of

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28

chasm (105)
sagely (118)
emphatic (101)

Lord of the Flies

Chapters 9-12
Activity I
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match each vocabulary word in the list with its correct definition. For unfamiliar words,
consult a dictionary, but keep in mind that dictionary definitions are more complete than those
below, and you may need to interpret them.
sulphurous (152)
garlanded (149)
phosphorescence (153)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

toiled (146)
corpulent (146)

_______________ to drive; force; hit

_______________ decorated
_______________ fat
_______________ worked wearily
_______________ violent fiery
_______________ luminescence
_______________ trembled
_______________ inability to see far

pinnacle (174)
eclipsed (186)
inquisitive (154)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

myopia (169)
buffet (146)
quavered (167)

cessation (178)
parried (179)
wary (200)

felled (179)
cordon (191)
propitiatingly (173)

_______________ peaks
_______________ discontinuation; stopping
_______________ knocked down
_______________ deflected
_______________ obscured; covered
_______________ a line of troops
_______________ cautious; circumspect
_______________ curious
_______________ in an appeasing or pacifying way

35

Copyright 2003, Prestwick House, Inc.