Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness Practice Quiz — Lord of the Flies
by William Golding — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness
Why does Jack call an assembly at the beginning of Chapter 8?
Jack calls an assembly to tell the boys about the beast on the mountaintop and to demand a vote to remove Ralph as chief.
What happens when Jack calls for a vote to remove Ralph as chief?
Not a single boy raises his hand to vote against Ralph, publicly humiliating Jack.
How does Jack react to his failed attempt to overthrow Ralph?
Jack announces he is leaving the group and walks away into the jungle, crying with rage and humiliation.
Where do Ralph and Piggy decide to build the new signal fire?
They build the new signal fire on the beach, since the boys are too afraid of the beast to go back up the mountain.
What kind of pig do Jack and his hunters kill in Chapter 8?
They kill a nursing sow that is feeding her piglets, described as being in a state of 'maternal bliss.'
What do the hunters do with the sow's head after killing her?
They mount the sow's severed head on a sharpened stick driven into the ground as an offering to the beast.
What is the 'gift for the darkness' referred to in the chapter title?
The sow's head on a stake, offered as a sacrifice to appease the beast.
What does 'Lord of the Flies' literally translate to, and what is its biblical origin?
It is a translation of the Hebrew word 'Beelzebub,' which is a name for the devil.
What does the Lord of the Flies tell Simon about the beast?
The Lord of the Flies tells Simon that the beast is not something external that can be hunted or killed—it is part of the boys themselves, saying 'I'm part of you.'
What threat does the Lord of the Flies make to Simon?
The Lord of the Flies warns Simon that if he tries to tell the others the truth, 'we shall do you'—foreshadowing Simon's death.
What happens to Simon at the end of his encounter with the Lord of the Flies?
Simon collapses in what appears to be an epileptic seizure or fainting spell.
How do Jack's hunters get fire for their feast?
They raid Ralph's camp and steal burning sticks from the signal fire on the beach.
What biblical parallel is often drawn to Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies?
It parallels Jesus Christ's temptation by Satan during his forty days in the wilderness, reinforcing Simon as a Christ-like figure.
What does the relocation of the signal fire from the mountaintop to the beach symbolize?
It symbolizes the boys' diminishing connection to civilization and their decreasing hope of rescue.
Who remains loyal to Ralph after Jack's departure in Chapter 8?
Piggy, Simon, Samneric (Sam and Eric), and some of the littluns remain with Ralph.
What role does Piggy play in Chapter 8 after Jack leaves?
Piggy becomes more assertive and takes on an advisory role, suggesting they build the fire on the beach and trying to maintain morale.
What is the central theme most explicitly expressed in Chapter 8?
The inherent evil of human nature—the idea that the beast is not an external creature but the darkness within every person.
How does the sow's killing in Chapter 8 differ symbolically from earlier hunts?
It targets a defenseless nursing mother and is depicted with ritualistic, almost ceremonial violence, symbolizing the complete loss of innocence and moral restraint.
What does Jack's failed democratic challenge and subsequent departure reveal about his character?
It shows that Jack cannot accept democratic rejection and will abandon civilized processes in favor of establishing authority through force, intimidation, and primal appeal.
What literary device is used when the pig's head 'speaks' to Simon?
Personification—the inanimate pig's head is given a voice and personality, though it is understood as a hallucination reflecting Simon's inner knowledge.