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Lesson 13 of 24

An exploration of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain and explore the key events of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'.

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Lesson 13 of 24
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An exploration of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'

I can explain and explore the key events of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Ralph hides in the thicket of the forest as Jack's tribe hunt him down.
  2. In an attempt to smoke Ralph out of the forest, Jack sets the jungle on fire.
  3. A British Naval vessel sees the jungle ablaze and rescues the boys.
  4. The officer is surprised and disappointed by the savage behaviour of the boys.
  5. After reading a novel, a good question to ask ourselves is whether the ending is satisfying.

Keywords

  • A covert - bushes growing close together in which hunted animals can hide

  • Expectation - the feeling or belief that something will or should happen

  • Immaculate - perfect and without any mistakes; completely clean

  • Unkempt - not neat or cared for; messy

  • Protagonist - the main and most important character in a book, film or play

Common misconception

Students may see the rescue as wholly positive.

Draw your pupils' attention to the lack of understanding of their ordeal. Also, to the fact rescue comes on a warship and the officer is carrying a revolver.

Encourage pupils to have a personal response to the ending of the novel. One way of dong this is to ask them what might happen to the characters later.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Lord of the Flies', what happens to Piggy at the end of Chapter 11?

He throws the conch at Jack, but misses.
He hides in the forest where he feels safe.
He is attacked with spears by an enraged Jack and his tribe.
Correct answer: Roger pushes a boulder onto him and he falls to his death.

Q2.
In Chapter 11 of 'Lord of the Flies', which of the characters is compared to a hangman?

Jack
Correct answer: Roger
Maurice
Robert

Q3.
Which two characters are forced to join Jack's tribe in 'Lord of the Flies'?

Ralph
Piggy
Correct answer: Sam
Correct answer: Eric
Blll

Q4.
Why is Ralph alone at the end of Chapter 11 of 'Lord of the Flies'?

Correct answer: Jack and his tribe have driven him away with spears.
He wants to follow Simon's example and find solitude in the forest.
Nobody likes or respects him any more.
He wants to build a signal fire and hopes to be rescued.

Q5.
What happened to the conch shell at the end of Chapter 11 of 'Lord of the Flies'?

Ralph has taken it away.
Jack has taken it from Piggy.
Correct answer: It has broken into little pieces.
It has been lost in the jungle.

Q6.
In 'Lord of the Flies', which of the following best describes why Jack is more successful than Ralph at gaining control of the group?

Jack promises that the boys will be rescued.
Jack has better survival techniques, so they feel safer with him.
Correct answer: Jack uses fear and violence to manipulate them.
Jack shows more interest and kindness to the littluns.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words on the left with the words on the right.

Correct Answer:covert,bushes

bushes

Correct Answer:immaculate,perfect

perfect

Correct Answer:unkempt,untidy

untidy

Correct Answer:protagonist,main character

main character

Correct Answer:expect,anticipate

anticipate

Q2.
Starting with the first, put the events of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies' in chronological order.

1 - Ralph hides in the bushes.
2 - Jack's tribe hunts Ralph.
3 - Jack's tribe set the jungle on fire.
4 - Ralph sees the naval officer.
5 - The naval officer asks Ralph what has happened.
6 - Ralph cries about the death of Piggy.

Q3.
If we say that a novel's ending is satisfying, which of the following best describes what we mean?

It is enjoyable and leaves the reader with a strong feeling of contentment.
Correct answer: It seems natural and unforced and ends in ways that seem convincing.
It is somewhat disappointing and leaves us with many unanswered question.
It is puzzling and a little bit annoying.
It makes us wonder about the characters and why they did what they did.

Q4.
Which of the following best describes why Golding may have introduced the character of the naval officer in Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'?

as an example of good behaviour
Correct answer: as a contrast to the untidy boys
as a symbol of disorder
as a new kind of father figure

Q5.
Why does the officer think the boys should have made a better job of living on the island in Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies'?

They are the children of soldiers.
Correct answer: They are British.
They are old enough.
They are well educated.

Q6.
Which of the following losses causes Ralph to cry at the end of Chapter 12 of 'Lord of the Flies?'

Correct answer: Piggy
Correct answer: innocence
the conch
the fire

Lesson appears in

UnitEnglish / 'Lord of the Flies'

English

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