This handout provides students with six "big picture" questions for them to study and prepare answers for an upcoming in-class fish bowl activity. Students are encouraged to find support quotes to enhance the strength of their argument.

Example question: Some readers of Lord of the Flies have argued that each and every one of the boys’ actions is nothing more than an attempt to survive in difficult conditions. Think about the mounting of the sow’s head, Simon’s ascent up the mountain, and the murder of Piggy in particular, as well as any other key scenes that stand out for you. Is it fair to say that the boys’ actions were merely the result of the human survival instinct? Why or why not? If so, can you use these examples to draw some general conclusions about the human instinct to survive?

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