“Gift for the Darkness”
Questions
1. What
do the others inform Piggy of in the beginning of Chapter 8? How do they describe this discovery?
2. What
effect does this have on the signal fire?
3. What
does Ralph comment on concerning Jack’s hunters? What effect does this have?
4. Who
calls a meeting and why?
5. List
at least 5 topics which Jack brings up at this meeting.
6. What
does Jack decide to do? And what is
Piggy’s opinion of this action?
7. What
do the boys decide to do about the signal fire?
Be specific.
8. What
do they decide about the fire which they make?
Why?
9. Which
boys remain with Piggy and Ralph? Which
have gone? Where have they gone?
10. What
do Piggy and the twins do to celebrate?
11. Where
is Simon?
12. Where
is Jack on the Island? List at least 3
things that he plans to do.
13. What
do Jack and the hunters discover in the woods?
Explain the chain of events which happen after this discovery. Be specific with as many details as possible.
14. What
do they leave for the beast? Why?
15. What
do they take with them along the beach?
How do they take ‘it’ with them?
16. What
is left behind?
PARAGRAPHS
Explain how the beast is a symbol of the boy’s fear. Explain the chain of events which happen after its discovery and what happens to ‘the tribe of the conch.’ How is the overall situation a metaphor for what fear does to a community? Think about the overall effect of the ‘apelike’ thing on the mountain-top. What is the beast blocking the boys from doing?
B. Allegorical Irony
Discuss the sacrifice that Jack
and his tribe offer to the beast. With
the knowledge that we have as readers, the fearfulness that the boys on the
island experience is ridiculous. Use the
term of dramatic irony to discuss the great and unneeded worry and extremes
which the inhabitants of the Island put themselves through. Ultimately, what lesson does this teach us
about fear? In what way is this an
allegory about fear?
