Lord of the Flies Chapter 9 Worksheet — Grade 9-10 ELA: Themes, Symbolism & Close Reading

Instructions

Read Chapter 9, "A View to a Death," from Lord of the Flies carefully. Complete the following sections to deepen your understanding of the chapter's crucial events, character developments, and underlying themes. Answer in complete sentences where appropriate.

Section 1: Vocabulary Matching

Match the vocabulary word from the chapter with its correct definition. Write the corresponding letter in the blank.

1. ____ Corpulent
2. ____ Parody
3. ____ Demented
4. ____ Phosphorescence
5. ____ Abominable

• A. A comical or distorted imitation of something
• B. Extremely unpleasant; hateful
• C. Suffering from dementia; mad or insane
• D. Fat; bulky
• E. A glowing or emission of light that is not caused by heat

Section 2: Reading Comprehension

Answer the following questions based on the events in Chapter 9.

1. What significant truth does Simon discover at the top of the mountain?
2. Describe the atmosphere at Jack's feast before the storm breaks. How does Jack present himself to the other boys?
3. Why do Ralph and Piggy, who are initially opposed to Jack, join the feast and eat the meat?
4. What chant do the boys repeat as they begin their ritual dance? What does this chant reveal about their state of mind?
5. What happens when Simon stumbles out of the forest to tell the other boys what he has discovered?
6. How does the weather (the storm) coincide with the climax of the chapter? What happens to the dead parachutist during the storm?
7. Describe the final scene of the chapter. What happens to Simon's body?

Section 3: Analysis and Deeper Thinking

Answer the following questions, thinking critically about the themes and symbolism in the chapter.

1. Simon is often interpreted as a symbolic, almost spiritual figure. He discovers the truth about the "beast" and tries to share it with the others, but he is killed. What message might author William Golding be sending about truth, innocence, and society?
2. The "beast" the boys feared was a dead man, but in this chapter, the boys themselves become beast-like and commit a monstrous act. What does this suggest about the true nature and location of the "beast" on the island?
3. Why do you think the boys, including Ralph and Piggy, got caught up in the frenzy of the dance and the murder of Simon? What does this event say about mob mentality and the dark side of human nature?

Answer Key

Section 1: Vocabulary Matching

1. D Corpulent
2. A Parody
3. C Demented
4. E Phosphorescence
5. B Abominable

Section 2: Reading Comprehension

1. Simon discovers that the "beast" is not a monster, but the dead body of a parachutist tangled in the rocks.
2. The atmosphere is celebratory but also tense and primal. Jack presents himself as a powerful, painted idol or king, sitting on a log like a throne and commanding the others.
3. Ralph and Piggy are hungry, and they are drawn to the community, the laughter, and the sense of belonging that Jack's tribe seems to offer. They are tempted by the food and the fun.
4. The boys chant, "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" This reveals that they have descended into a frenzied, savage, and irrational state, losing their individual identities to the mob.
5. In their frenzied state, the boys mistake Simon for the beast and brutally attack and kill him on the beach.
6. The storm breaks at the peak of the boys' violent dance, mirroring the chaos and savagery of their actions. During the storm, the wind lifts the parachutist's body, which flies over the boys and out to sea, removing the physical evidence of their fear.
7. Simon's body is washed gently into the ocean. The waves surround it with glowing phosphorescent creatures, giving his departure a beautiful, serene, and almost holy quality.

Section 3: Analysis and Deeper Thinking

Note: Student answers will vary but should contain similar ideas.

1. Golding may be suggesting that society often rejects or destroys truth-tellers and innocent figures. Simon, who represents spiritual understanding and kindness, tries to bring enlightenment (the truth about the beast) to the boys, but they are too lost in their fear and savagery to listen. His murder shows that when society descends into chaos, it destroys its own potential for salvation.
2. This suggests that the true beast is not an external creature but an internal one. The real beast is the capacity for savagery, violence, and evil that exists within all human beings. While they feared a monster on the mountain, the real monstrosity was unleashed from within themselves.
3. The boys get caught up in the frenzy due to mob mentality. The chanting, dancing, and shared fear create a powerful group dynamic that overwhelms individual reason and morality. Even "good" characters like Ralph and Piggy are susceptible to this pull, showing that the potential for savagery (the "darkness of man's heart") exists in everyone, not just in characters like Jack and Roger.