Lord of the Flies Essay Questions
Directions: You will be writing a précis on The Lord of the Flies. Choose one of the
essay prompts below as the topic for your paper. If you would like to write about a
different topic, you must get it approved by me before you begin.
1. Develop an explanation of why some critics feel that Golding's main themes are
that there is no hope for mankind, or that evil is an inborn trait of mankind. Be
sure to use examples from the book.
2. Identify the most significant symbol in the novel and justify your choice.
(Symbols to choose from: the conch, Piggy’s glasses, the fire, the parachute
man, the pig’s head/Lord of the Flies)
3. State one possible theme of the novel, and support your position.
4. In his introduction to William Golding's novel, novelist E.M. Forster suggests
that Golding's writing "lays a solid foundation for the horrors to come." Using
Forster's quote as a starting point, discuss how the novel foreshadows the
murders of Simon and Piggy. Focus on two events or images from the novel's
earlier chapters and describe how they anticipate the novel's tragic outcome.
5. Simon says: “Maybe there is a beast.”
Ralph says: “But there isn’t a beast.”
Jack says: “We’ll make sure when we go hunting.”
How does William Golding use the “beast” in the novel as a whole?
You should write about:
what the “beast” may symbolise
the way the boys’ ideas about the “beast” change
what effect the “beast” has on the boys.
6. What do you think Golding has to say about evil in Lord of the Flies? How does
he convey his ideas to the reader?
7. How is Ralph changed by his experiences on the island?
You should write about:
what he is like when the boys are first stranded on the island
what he tries to do and how he responds to events and other characters
how the writer shows us the character of Ralph
what you think the writer wants Ralph to represent.
