Lord of the Flies: Chapter Three and Four -

Notes
As you read chapters three and four of Lord of the Flies, take notes by adding details to the spaces below. Once you
are finished taking notes, respond to the discussion question and identify 5 or more vocabulary words you have
learned in these chapters. Refer back to our chapter 3-4 Quizlet study set as needed.

I. Chapter 3 discussion questions:

A. Piggys glasses are used to start the fire. What might be their symbolic significance?
How does the significance of the glasses change or deepen after Jack breaks them?
The glasses may symbolize:
- They symbolized fire because the glasses are the only thing that they can use to make fire
- They could represent fear because they are in the dark and the glasses can mean the light of
hope
- Hes importance of a group; without his glasses there would be no fire
- Technology: they use the glasses to start a fire for food warmth and a rescue symbol which
could represent technology.. Without technology a society may crumble
- Science: it lit the fire in the first place

If Jack were to break them, this symbol changes because:

- It would show that Jacks personality /attitude and that hes destructive and does not honor
the value of this object
- It could show theyre breaking away from society and building their own version
- They wouldn't have fire, warmth, or a way to cook food or signal for help
- It could foreshadow that their society could fall and crumble to its death

B. What order of business is most significant to Ralph? What is most important to Jack?
What does Piggy believe to be most pressing? How might these different motivations affect their future
interactions?
What does the conch represent and why is it so important to Piggy?
- Ralph:
- Building shelter ( which means he wants to keep people protected from the
elements)
- Jack:
- Hunt, kill animals, eat meat (which means he wants to prove that he is brave
and is willng to take someone's life to show it)
- Hes jealous of Ralph and hes hoping that the others will choose to follow him
instead (POWER)
- Could the piglet that Jack wants to kill be a symbol for Jacks disregard for
Piggy?
- Piggy:
- The conch represents authority and order
- Helps call people to come together
- Whoever holds it is allowed to talk and express their option

C. Add additional notes about the SETTING, CHARACTERS, and CONFLICT that
emerge in chapter three here:
They were in the mountain and then they went towards the beach.

II. Chapter 4 discussion questions:

A. What labels emerge in this chapter? What do the boys call each other (group names,
etc.)? Why?
The boys give the small children a group name which is called the littluns. The other group are the biguns
which stands for the big kids.

It represents their social classes-the biguns have more responsibility and the littluns have less responsibility
and more free time to play. It shows that the boys honor they are used to at home in their usual society.

B. What does Roger want to do to Henry? Why doesnt he do it?

Henry starts playing in the water and starts making little barriers to direct the creatures in the tide pool. It
shows that he wants to control them. Roger throws nuts at Henry but chooses not to hit him. The throwing
of the stones shows that Roger wants to be mean, bully, and have power over Henry. Roger chooses not to
actually hurt Henry because he's afraid of being punished. It shows that Roger is still connected to his
humanity.

C. What item from civilization does Piggy want to make? Why?

Piggy wants to make a clock (sun dial). Hes holding on to order and society.represents the logic of
science and technology.

D. What is Jacks focus throughout chapter four? Why does he paint his face?
Jack wants to kill the pig. He paints his face to camouflage his appearance. It shows that Jack is leaning
towards a more savage, primitive existence.

E. What happens when the boys spot a ship on the horizon? Why does Ralph become
angry?
They see a ship that could save them but realise that the fire was not burning. They rush up to the top of the
mountain to start it up again but the ship was gone when they got up there. Ralph becomes angry because
Jack was supposed to be on fire duty but instead went hunting.

F. Add additional notes about the SETTING, CHARACTERS, and CONFLICT that
emerge in chapter four here:
On the beach at night calling for a meeting
.
III. After reading: Vocabulary learned: List 5 of the words you learned in these chapters. Include the word,
definition, and a sentence which demonstrates your understanding of the word.

A. Word #1
1. Word: batty
2. Definition: crazy
3. Example Sentence: Patrick was batty
B. Word #2
1. Word: trot
2. Definition: to walk faster than a walking pace
3. Example Sentence: he was trotting towards her
C. Word #3
1. Word: clench
2. Definition: closed to a tight ball
3. Example Sentence: the thing was clenched
D. Word #4
1. Word: sway
2. Definition: to move back and forth
3. Example Sentence: he was swaying
E. Word #5
1. Word: gaping
2. Definition: wide open
3. Example Sentence: it had a gaping
F. May-do: Word #6
1. Word:
2. Definition:
3. Example Sentence:
G. May-do: Word #7
1. Word:
2. Definition:
3. Example Sentence:
H. May-do: Word #8
1. Word:
2. Definition:
3. Example Sentence: