Chapter 9: A View to a Death Practice Quiz — Lord of the Flies
by William Golding — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 9: A View to a Death
What does Simon discover at the top of the mountain?
The 'beast' is actually the corpse of a dead parachutist, tangled in parachute lines that make it move with the wind.
What does Simon do after discovering the truth about the beast?
He untangles the parachute lines from the rocks and hurries down the mountain to tell the other boys.
Why do Ralph and Piggy go to Jack's feast?
They are drawn by hunger, loneliness, and the desire for community, since most boys have already joined Jack's tribe.
What chant do the boys repeat during their ritual dance?
'Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!'
How does Simon die?
The boys, in a frenzied ritual dance during a storm, mistake Simon for the beast and beat him to death.
Do Ralph and Piggy participate in Simon's killing?
Yes, both Ralph and Piggy are swept up in the mob frenzy and participate in the dance that leads to Simon's death.
What happens to Simon's body after his death?
The tide carries Simon's body out to sea, surrounded by phosphorescent sea creatures in a luminous, almost sacred scene.
What happens to the dead parachutist at the end of the chapter?
The wind lifts the parachutist's body and carries it over the trees and out to sea, removing it from the island.
What literary device does the storm represent in Chapter 9?
Pathetic fallacy — the storm mirrors the boys' escalating violence and hysteria.
What is the dramatic irony in Chapter 9?
The reader knows Simon carries the truth about the beast, but the boys kill him before he can share it.
How does Simon function as a Christ-like figure in this chapter?
He discovers a truth about evil, descends to share it with his community, and is killed by the people he is trying to save.
What does Simon's death symbolize about the nature of the beast?
It confirms that the true beast is not an external creature but the darkness and savagery within the boys themselves.
What role does Roger play during the ritual dance?
Roger initially pretends to be the pig at the center of the dancing circle before the frenzy escalates.
How does Jack use the feast to consolidate power?
He distributes meat, commands the ritual dance, and positions himself as a tribal chief demanding loyalty from the boys.
What prediction from the Lord of the Flies comes true in Chapter 9?
The Lord of the Flies warned Simon in Chapter 8 that the boys would 'have fun' with him, foreshadowing his murder.
What does the ritual dance represent thematically?
The complete triumph of savagery over civilization, as the boys lose all individual moral responsibility in mob violence.
What weather conditions accompany the events of Chapter 9?
A violent tropical storm with dark clouds, heavy rain, wind, and thunder builds throughout the chapter.
How does Ralph try to reassert order at the feast?
He reminds the boys about the importance of shelters and rescue, but Jack deflects by ordering the ritual dance.
What is the title 'A View to a Death' referring to?
It refers to Simon's view of the dead parachutist (the 'beast') on the mountain, which foreshadows his own death.
How does Golding describe Simon's body in the sea?
With lyrical, sacred prose — his body is surrounded by glowing phosphorescent creatures, creating a transfiguration-like image.