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Lord of the Flies - Character
See if you can get full marks in this enjoyable quiz.

Lord of the Flies - Character

This GCSE English Literature quiz will test you on character in Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Lord of the Flies is populated by a large group of schoolboys, although the reader, like the boys themselves, is never sure exactly how many there are. The key characters are Ralph, at twelve, one of the oldest boys on the island; Piggy, whose knowledge is vital to the survival of the others and whose real name is never given; Jack, the leader of the hunters; and Simon, first seen fainting after being made to march in the heat. Each of these four boys is well-characterised, while also symbolising particular human tendencies. Ralph holds to ideals of fair play, collective responsibility and confidence in the world governed by adults. Piggy trusts in evidence, knowledge and rules. Jack revels in the visceral pleasures of hunting and the mechanics of brute survival. Simon is attentive, observant and thoughtful.

The characteristics of the other boys are less detailed, allowing them to stand more generally for groups. Samneric represent the boys who are torn for a while between the two rival camps; the very young Percival represents the mostly unnamed little boys; and Roger embodies the cruelty of the choirboys-turned-hunters. The adults remain unnamed: Ralph’s father, Piggy’s aunt, the pilot, the naval officer.

Whenever you read a work of fiction, pay close attention to the way in which characters interact with each other and how the author reveals their private thoughts. How do the characters change over time? What clues does the author give you to show how a character is developing? The timescale of Lord of the Flies is relatively condensed: we know that the boys are on the island just long enough to grow malnourished; their hair becomes overgrown and their clothes ragged. Even in this short span of time, however, characters appear to change dramatically. Do the characters develop, or are they revealed through the adversity they face?

Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Lord of the Flies.

1.
Which of the following characters demonstrates a taste for physical cruelty?
Roger
Simon
Sam
Ralph
Jack uses Roger's enjoyment of cruelty to frighten the other boys and keep them loyal to his group
2.
What does Ralph regret at the end of the novel?
The loss of his friend, Piggy
The evil of which humankind is capable
The end of innocence
All of the above
When Ralph cries for the very first time since arriving on the island, he weeps for "the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy"
3.
Which of the following adjectives does NOT describe Piggy?
Clever
Cowardly
Loyal
Respectful
Piggy respects the rule of law and shares Ralph's focus on improving the boys' chances of escaping the island. He occasionally shows fear, but is courageous when confronting Jack's tribe
4.
Which of the following is NOT true of Samneric?
They nearly always act together
They are never afraid
They remain loyal to Ralph for longer than most of the boys
They each complete the other's sentences
Sam and Eric, the twins, are so similar and so frequently together that they earn the nickname "Samneric", short for "Sam and Eric". They are terrified of the dead parachutist and consequently abandon the fire on the mountain. The twins are loyal to Ralph until captured and are fearfully subordinate to Jack's tribe by feeding Ralph and warning him of the hunt
5.
When we first meet Ralph, he is known as which of the following?
The fat boy
The fair boy
The cloaked boy
The choir boy
Each of the characters is presented to the reader as a first, physical impression. This technique shows the reader how the boys first perceive one another
6.
What gives Jack his air of authority when he first meets the rest of the boys on the island?
His father is in the army
He is by far the oldest of the boys
He is the kindest boy
He commands the group of choir boys
Jack is head boy and chapel chorister; his command of the choir makes him seem like a good leader. The other boys on the island vote for Ralph, however, when asked to elect a chief
7.
For which of the following does Piggy argue when he lectures the boys at Castle Rock?
The value of hunting
The value of leisure
The value of freedom
The value of rules
Piggy argues passionately for the rule of law and the value of being "sensible". By killing him the boys in Jack's group choose a hierarchy based on violence over a common consent to rules and to Ralph's leadership
8.
Which of the following is correct of Ralph?
He is easily distracted by the promise of adventure
He is happy to spend all day in the lagoon while letting everyone else work
He remains focussed on survival and rescue
He does not show any care for the younger boys
Ralph becomes distressed when the other boys seem to abandon the aim of escaping the island, for example by allowing the fire to go out
9.
Who can no longer repeat his name at the end of the novel?
Percival
Ralph
Merridew (Jack)
Sam
The very young boy, Percival Wemys Madison, announces his full name when he introduces himself. When the boys are rescued at the end of the novel, Percival cannot report his own name to the officer
10.
Who best understands the real source of danger on the island?
Simon
Roger
Piggy
Jack
Simon knows that the beast which everyone fears is really the boys' own potential for violence
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Characters

Author:  Sheri Smith

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