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Year 9

An exploration of Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain and explore the key events in Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'.

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New
New
Year 9

An exploration of Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain and explore the key events in Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Jack creates a breakaway group and some of the boys sneak away to join him.
  2. Jack and what he now calls his "tribe" kill a pig and leave her head as a present for the beast.
  3. Simon goes into the jungle alone and speaks with the head of the pig.
  4. The head of the pig appears to him as the beast.
  5. The beast tells him that he exists in all people and is the reason that everything is wrong.

Common misconception

Students may be confused about what is actually happening in the encounter between the beast and Simon.

Remind them that Simon has a tendency to lose consciousness. They need to be able to interpret this encounter on multiple levels.

Keywords

  • Patronising - speaking to or behaving towards someone as if they are stupid or not important

  • Misguided - unreasonable because of being based on bad judgement or on wrong information or beliefs

  • Threatening - expressing a threat of something unpleasant or violent

  • To dismiss - to decide that something or someone is not important and not worth considering

  • To reveal - to make known something that is surprising or that was previously secret

Ensure there is enough time for the discussion about groups. Students' understanding of groups and group dynamics is key to understanding this chapter.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If you are part of a group you are...
Correct answer: a member of a bigger collection of people.
an individual outside a collection of people.
an activity done by a collection of people.
a shared goal devised by a collection of people.
Q2.
In 'Lord of the Flies', Jack is a chorister. What is a chorister?
Correct answer: a member of a church choir
a member of a band
a member of a school community
Q3.
What happens to Piggy's glasses in 'Lord of the Flies'?
They have broken into tiny pieces.
He has lost them.
Correct answer: One lens has been broken.
He can't get the dirt off the lenses.
Q4.
What is Jack's primary goal in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Correct answer: to gain power
to be rescued
to keep the "littuns" safe
to find the beast
Q5.
What is Ralph's primary goal in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Correct answer: to be rescued
to assert his power over Jack
to understand Piggy's ideas
to make sure there is enough food
Q6.
Which of the following is a synonym for disagree?
consent
Correct answer: dissent
disperse
converse

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
Correct Answer:patronising ,condescending

condescending

Correct Answer:misguided,incorrect

incorrect

Correct Answer:reveal,disclose

disclose

Correct Answer:threatening,menacing

menacing

Correct Answer:dismiss,minimise

minimise

Q2.
Starting with the first, put the events of Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies' in chronological order.
1 - Jack breaks away from the group.
2 - Some of the boys sneak away to join Jack.
3 - Jack and his hunters kill another pig.
4 - Simon sneaks away to be alone in the jungle.
5 - Jack leaves the head of the pig as a gift for the beast.
6 - Simon hallucinates a conversation with the head of the pig.
7 - Simon appears to faint.
Q3.
What are the shared interests of Jack's group in Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
becoming familiar with the jungle
pleasing the beast by giving it the head of a pig
Correct answer: enjoying the excitement of hunting
finding ways to make Ralph angry
Q4.
Which of the following is not true of Simon in 'Lord of the Flies'?
He was one of the choristers.
He is prone to fainting fits.
He enjoys solitude in the jungle.
Correct answer: He is supportive of Jack.
He thinks the beast is something human.
Q5.
What word beginning with 'H' describes an experience where someone imagines that something is happening?
Correct Answer: hallucination , hallucinating, hallucinate
Q6.
What happens to Simon at the end of Chapter 8 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
He falls over and is injured badly.
Correct answer: He is described as falling into the beast's mouth.
He finds his courage and realises that it is just the head of a pig.
He goes back to the beach and tells Ralph what the beast said.