1. In Lord of the Flies, the schoolchildren are left on the island without any adult supervision. Does this explain the shift in their behavior? Elaborate.

2. The group consists solely of boys. Do you think a group of girls would have behaved differently under similar conditions?

3. Initially, Ralph is elected as the group's leader. Was he a poor choice from the start? Why does the group eventually ignore him? Why do the boys start following Jack as their new leader?

4. Why do the boys become less enthusiastic about maintaining the fire as time goes on?

5. Who is "The Beast" actually? Why does the nightmare that haunts the "littlun" become a reality?

6. People sometimes engage in actions—especially wrong ones—when they are part of a group that they wouldn't do alone. Why is this the case? Can you recall any examples from your own life or reading?

7. Why do the children bully Piggy? Is their behavior in school connected to how they act on the island in any way?

8. Nowadays, some young people join gangs. Do they do this for the same reasons the boys join Jack's tribe?

9. If you were the adult responsible for the boys after their rescue, how would you handle them? Would you punish them? If so, how? If not, why not?

10. Some contemporary young people blame their drug and alcohol abuse on "peer pressure." How does this "peer pressure" manifest in today's society and on the island?