Question 1: Identify the literary technique used in the phrase 'the conch shell's fragile voice' and explain its effect.

Answer: The phrase employs symbolism to represent civilisation and order, with 'fragile voice' emphasising its vulnerability.

Question 2: What does the phrase 'the growing darkness' suggest about the novel's themes?

Answer: It symbolises the increasing savagery and loss of innocence among the boys.

Question 3: Which stylistic device is most prominent in the extract: imagery, symbolism, or tone? Justify your answer.

Answer: b) Symbolism

Question 4: Explain how Golding's use of tone contributes to the atmosphere of the scene.

Answer: Golding's tone is tense and foreboding, which heightens the sense of imminent chaos and underscores the fragility of civilisation in the scene.

Question 5: Identify a metaphor in the extract and discuss its significance.

Answer: A possible metaphor is 'the darkness encroaching', symbolising the spread of savagery and loss of innocence.

Question 6: Describe how dialogue in the extract helps develop character or theme.

Answer: Dialogue reveals Ralph's attempts to assert authority and reflects the tension between civilisation and savagery.

Question 7: Discuss the importance of the conch shell as a symbol in the novel.

Answer: The conch shell symbolizes order, authority, and democracy. Its fragility mirrors the fragile state of civilisation among the boys.

Question 8: In your own words, summarize how Golding uses setting and atmosphere to reflect the novel’s themes.

Answer: Golding depicts the island as both a paradise and a prison, with changing weather and darkness mirroring the shift from order to chaos, thus reinforcing themes of civilisation versus savagery.

Question 9: Reflect on how the extract demonstrates the conflict between individual and group identity.

Answer: The extract shows characters struggling between personal instincts and the demands of group cohesion, highlighting the tension between individual morality and collective survival.