An exploration of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain and explore the key events of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies'.
Key learning points
- Military airplanes fight above the island and a dead parachutist drifts down onto the island.
- The twins, Sam and Eric, wake and believe that the parachutist is the beast.
- The boys set out to hunt for the beast, with Jack in charge of the expedition.
- Simon does not believe in the existence of the beast.
- The use of dramatic irony creates a distance between reader and characters so we feel sorry for them.
Keywords
Despondent - unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm
Vivid - producing clear, powerful and detailed images in the mind
Anonymous - someone whose name is not known
Humility - freedom from pride or arrogance
Dramatic irony - the situation in which the audience of a play or story knows something that the characters do not know
Common misconception
Students may not understand that Sam and Eric have not actually seen the parachutist.
Unpick the description given by Sam and Eric. Were we (the reader) actually shown the different aspects of the beast?
Teacher tip
Ask pupils to reflect on how what we think (and fear) can affect what we think we have seen. Have they and their friends ever remembered different things from the same event?
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which two of the following did William Golding do for a living?
Q2.In 'Lord of the Flies', why does Ralph constantly stress the significance of the fire?
Q3.On the island, who is most frightened by the idea of the beast in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.By the end of Chapter 5 of 'Lord of the Flies', which of the following is the best description of the relationship between Jack and Ralph?
Q5.Which two things do the "littluns" believe about the beast in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q6.How does Jack's successful hunting of a pig affect the way the boys regard him in 'Lord of the Flies'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
clear
unknown
despairing
humbleness
Q2.What is the literary term for a situation in which the reader knows things that the characters don't?
Q3.Which character leads the boys down the mountain at the end of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q4.How does the parachutist arrive on the island in Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
Q5.In Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies', which two of the following characters definitely do not believe in the beast?
Q6.Which of the following is an example of dramatic irony in Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies'?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: An exploration of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: An exploration of Chapter 6 of 'Lord of the Flies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Lord of the Flies' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.