Step 1: How does William Golding introduce Jack and the choir boys? What are they wearing? What is their attitude?
Step 2: Give descriptions of the boys.
- eg. cautious, dazed;
Step 3: Learn new words and phrases: use in a sentence.
Learn four new expressions (words and phrases). Write these phrases in your own sentence.
- In the haze they notice “something dark was fumbling along”; to use hands clumsily
- “They laughed at such cheery duplication” ; exactly like or corresponding to something else
- “The boy vaulted onto the platform”; to spring over
- “The intentness of his gaze”; attentively occupied
- “They were dressed in eccentric clothing”; odd appearance.“
- They were incredulous”; showing disbelief
- “Complexions of newly washed plums”: appearance of the skin colour
Step 4: Analyse the author’s narrative devices: notice the symbolism of the play of light and darkness throughout to foreshadow Jack’s descent into darkness. When he confronts Ralph, Golding notes that he is affected by “sun-blindness”. This foreshadows his inability to remain clear – especially from a moral perspective.
Note the description of the choir boys: they are dressed, at first, immaculately. Their clothes are a symbol of proper, clean, orderly, civilised boys who seem to be following the rules and obeying Jack’s commands. The walk in “two parallel lines” – suggesting order. They wear black caps and black cloaks: they are the first to turn to hunting. As the leader, Jack stands out. He wears a “golden badge” . Their “complexion of a newly washed plum” (a metaphor) draws attention to their freshness.
Other Exercises
- Exercise 13: Lord of the Flies, the twins
- Exercise 14: Lord of the Flies, the hunters
- Exercise 15: Lord of the flies: Simon
- Return to Extension Activities