LORD OF THE FLIES

Chapter 4 – “Painted Faces and Long

Hair”
 CHAPTER 4
• “The mask was a thing on its own, behind
which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-
consciousness.”

• What was this “mask” that was mentioned in

the chapter?
CHAPTER 4
 CHAPTER 4
• Did Jack look like the person in the prior slide?

• NO! Instead he looked more like this…

CHAPTER 4
 CHAPTER 4
• What kind of “masks” have people had to
wear throughout history?

• How might American society encourage or

create the wearing of “masks”?
 CHAPTER 4
• Read the following poem by Paul Laurence
Dunbar

• After reading, answer the study questions.

Try to make the connection with Jack’s “mask”
and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem.
 “WE WEAR THE MASK”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
…
 “WE WEAR THE MASK”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
Why should the world be overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs,
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
…
 “WE WEAR THE MASK”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
 “WE WEAR THE MASK”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
• What is the tone of the poem? Find two lines
to prove this.

• Why does the author mention his eyes being

hidden behind the mask? What can eyes
symbolize in society?

• How should we interpret lines 6-7 in the

poem?
 “WE WEAR THE MASK”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
• In society today, who needs to wear a
“mask”? Why? What does the mask
symbolize?

• What real-life social ills does the poem

reflect?
 CHAPTER 4
• Why do people wear this item?
• Are there any “effects” besides safety that
come from wearing this item?
 CHAPTER 4
• After discussing Chapter 4, write a response to
Prompt “B” concerning “Masks”. You may
include AS MUCH or AS LITTLE detail about
yourself as needed.