Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees Practice Quiz — Lord of the Flies
by William Golding — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees
What does Ralph notice about himself and the other boys at the beginning of Chapter 7?
Ralph notices how dirty, unkempt, and wild-looking he and the other boys have become, reflecting the deterioration of their civilized identities.
What does Ralph feel when he looks at the ocean on the far side of the island?
He feels a sense of hopelessness and despair, recognizing the vast, indifferent ocean as an impenetrable barrier between them and civilization.
What reassurance does Simon give Ralph in Chapter 7?
Simon tells Ralph, 'You'll get back to where you came from,' expressing a quiet confidence that Ralph will be rescued.
Why is Simon's use of 'you' instead of 'we' significant when he reassures Ralph?
It foreshadows Simon's own death, subtly suggesting that Simon himself will not survive to be rescued.
What happens when Ralph participates in the boar hunt for the first time?
Ralph hits the boar on the snout with his spear and feels an unexpected rush of excitement and pride, experiencing the thrill of the hunt.
How does Ralph feel after hitting the boar with his spear?
He feels exhilarated and proud, basking in the other boys' admiration and thinking that 'hunting was good after all.'
What happens during the reenactment of the hunt with Robert?
The boys use Robert as a stand-in for the boar, chanting and jabbing him with their spears. The game escalates into real violence, and Robert is genuinely hurt before the frenzy subsides.
What chant do the boys use during the mock hunt?
'Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Bash him in!'
What does the mock hunt with Robert foreshadow?
It foreshadows Simon's murder in Chapter 9, when another ritual dance spirals into an actual killing.
How does Jack challenge Ralph's leadership in Chapter 7?
Jack questions Ralph's courage, goading him into climbing the mountain in the dark to search for the beast, which forces Ralph into reckless action.
Who climbs the mountain at the end of Chapter 7?
Ralph, Jack, and Roger climb the mountain in the dark to investigate reports of the beast.
What do the boys actually see on the mountaintop?
They see the dead body of a parachutist whose parachute catches the wind, causing the figure to appear to move and bow toward them.
How do Ralph, Jack, and Roger react to the figure on the mountaintop?
All three boys flee in terror, convinced they have seen a real beast, and run back down the mountain to report their sighting.
What theme does Ralph's participation in the hunt illustrate?
It illustrates the theme of innate human savagery -- that even the most rational, civilized person is susceptible to the primal thrill of violence.
What does the ocean symbolize in Chapter 7?
The ocean symbolizes the boys' isolation from civilization and the overwhelming, impersonal forces of nature that separate them from rescue and order.
What does the title 'Shadows and Tall Trees' symbolize?
The shadows represent the boys' fears and the darkness within their own natures, while the tall trees suggest obstacles to understanding and the obscuring of truth.
What is ironic about the 'beast' on the mountaintop?
The beast is actually a dead parachutist -- a casualty of the adult war the boys were fleeing. The very civilization they long to rejoin has produced the object of their terror.
How does the power dynamic between Ralph and Jack shift in Chapter 7?
Jack gains leverage by manipulating Ralph into acting rashly. By questioning Ralph's courage, Jack forces Ralph to abandon his cautious, rational approach, weakening his authority.
What literary device does Golding use when the boys' game with Robert escalates into real violence?
Foreshadowing -- the escalation of play into genuine aggression prefigures the deadly violence that will occur in later chapters.
What does Ralph's appearance and self-awareness at the chapter's opening reveal about his state of mind?
His recognition of how dirty and unkempt he has become reflects his growing awareness that the boys are losing their connection to civilization and may never be rescued.