Here are some questions that I’ve pulled out of the last few years’ AQA, OCR and WJEC exam papers. Some of these are made up based on exam board question styles. Two include notes on what the examiners are looking for.
How does Golding present violence in Lord of the Flies?
How does Golding present Piggy as ‘a true, wise friend’?
The ending of Lord of the Flies is shocking. How is this built up and why is it so effective?
Write about the importance of two of the following relationships in Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Piggy; Ralph and Simon; Ralph and Jack; Jack and the Littleuns; Jack and Roger
Write about the importance of two of the following characters in Lord of the Flies: Ralph; Jack; Simon; Roger; the twins, the littleuns and the choir etc.
In Chapter 4, Painted Faces and Long Hair, Piggy’s glasses break. How does Golding use this to prepare the reader for what is to come in the novel?
You can do this question for any key scene: the first pig hunt, finding the dead soldier, finding the pig’s head, anything to do with Simon, the first appearance of Jack and more.
How do you respond to Golding’s presentation of [any character] in the novel?
How does Golding use the events of Lord of the Flies to get a message across about fascism [or civilization, or the nature of evil]?
How does Golding present his ideas in [any extract], and how are these ideas developed in the rest of the novel?
How does Golding present death in Lord of the Flies?
(30 marks)
Answers might include some of the following:
AO1
Details of the human deaths (the boy with the birthmark, Piggy and Simon; also the airman); may also discuss the pig hunts
The way different boys react to the deaths
The ways readers may respond (shock, pity)
What the deaths represent in the novel
AO2
The structural patterns associated with the deaths – the progression of intent
The language used to describe the deaths and their aftermaths: e.g. Simon described as a beast; the lyrical passage about his body; the brutal description of the sow’s death in ‘Gift for the Darkness’; the boys’ playful description of the hunt in ‘Painted Faces’; Piggy’s death linking him to the pigs; the way the sea receives Piggy’s body and Simon’s body
Choose two of the following places: the beach – the jungle – Castle Rock. Write about the importance of these places and how Golding presents them.
This is a very evil question! You can also practise it for various key objects in the novel (glasses, conch, fire, uniforms) – and talk about their symbolism, and the symbolism of their neglect, degradation and destruction.
Answer may include discussion of:
The uses the boys make of the different settings and their relationship with them:where they feel at home and where they feel threatened
What happens in the places
The significance/importance of the places
Who is associated with the different parts: Ralph, Piggy and the littl’uns on the beach: Jack and Simon (differently) in the forest; Jack and Roger at Castle Rock
AO2
How the focus of the novel moves from the beach to the jungle and rock, and back again to the beach
The language and techniques used to present different places: colours, plants and animals, personification (e.g. the ‘unfriendly’ side), imagery
OCR Extract Question runs from: “You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!”
He charged.
Jack, knowing this was the crisis, charged too. to …The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy,
saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went. The rock bounded twice and was lost in the forest. Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across that square red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed. Then the sea breathed again in a long, slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock; and when it went, sucking back again, the body of Piggy was gone.
Either 3 (a) Or 3 (b)
How does Golding make this such a powerful and significant moment in the novel?
How does Golding vividly portray Ralph’s growing understanding of human nature in the novel?
Remember to support your ideas with details from the novel.
How does Golding vividly portray Ralph’s growing understanding of human nature in the novel?
Remember to support your ideas with details from the novel.
OCR Extract
“We wanted smoke –”
“Now look –”
A pall stretched for miles away from the island. All the boys except Piggy started to giggle; presently they were shrieking with laughter.
Piggy lost his temper.
“Now look –”
A pall stretched for miles away from the island. All the boys except Piggy started to giggle; presently they were shrieking with laughter.
Piggy lost his temper.
to
Ralph muttered the reply as if in shame.
“Perhaps he went back to the, the –” Beneath them, on the unfriendly side of the mountain, the drum-roll
continued.
Either 3 (a) How does Golding’s writing in this passage so powerfully portray the boys and the
“Perhaps he went back to the, the –” Beneath them, on the unfriendly side of the mountain, the drum-roll
continued.
Either 3 (a) How does Golding’s writing in this passage so powerfully portray the boys and the
Or 3 (b)
situation they are in?
How does Golding make Roger such a horrifying figure? Remember to support your ideas with details from the novel.
How does Golding make Roger such a horrifying figure? Remember to support your ideas with details from the novel.