3.1.5

Simon

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Simon

Simon is introduced as a strange character. He faints a lot and is isolated from the others. He does not fear the beast, but realises that the beast exists only within the boys.

Character

Character

  • Simon is considered very odd by the other boys.
  • They describe him as “batty” “funny” “queer” because they do not really understand him.
Support

Support

  • Simon constantly supports Ralph and helps him to build shelters and do the right thing.
  • He even tells Ralph to “Go on being chief” when Ralph begins to question his suitability.
Solitude

Solitude

  • Simon goes off into the jungle to be on his own.
  • He is the only boy to seek out solitude on the island, so this action separates him from the other characters:
    • “He turned his back on this and walked into the forest with an air of purpose”.
The beast within

The beast within

  • Simon is the only one of the boys who really understands what is happening on the island.
    • There is no physical beast, but that all of the boys have “beasts” within them.
    • It is their own actions which are causing them to descend further into evil and darkness: “Maybe it’s only us”.

Simon cont.

Symbolically, Simon is often compared with a Christian prophet or saint. He is one of the first boys to be killed at the hands of the others. His death shows the first big slide into savagery.

Physical weakness

Physical weakness

  • Whilst Simon seems mentally and intellectually strong, his body is weak.
  • He was “always throwing a faint”.
Saintly

Saintly

  • Symbolically, Simon is often compared with a Christian prophet or saint.
  • He is the one who confronts the Lord of the Flies (a product of Jack’s evil nature) and who tries to bring the truth back to the other boys, but is murdered in the process:
    • “The beast was harmless and horrible, and the news must reach the others as soon as possible”.
Death

Death

  • The Lord of the Flies itself warned Simon that he would be killed if he revealed the truth, but he chose to risk it anyway because he saw it as a moral duty to tell the truth.
  • Simon’s death is caused by the evil nature he was attempting to warn the boys about.
Immortalisation

Immortalisation

  • After he dies, he is described as: “The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculpted marble”.
  • This could link him to a religious figure who is immortalised as a statue after death.
Murder

Murder

  • Simon is one of the first boys to be killed at the hands of the others.
  • His death shows the first big slide into savagery.
    • He was innocent, only trying to warn the boys about danger, and was killed in cold blood.
  • His death illustrates just how far the boys have sunk into evil.
    • They do not even recognise him as a human but kill him in the middle of their crazed chanting and dancing.
Summary of Simon

Summary of Simon

  • Simon is strange and vulnerable.
  • He is innately good and moralistic.
  • He is the only boy who wants to spend time on his own.
  • He hallucinates that the Lord of the Flies is talking to him.
  • He discovers the parachutist at the top of the mountain.
  • He is killed by the other boys, who think he is a wild pig.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1The Title1.1.2Historical Context1.1.3End of Topic Test - Context
2

Story Analysis

2.1

Chapter 1

2.1.1The Sound of the Shell2.1.2The Sound of the Shell 2
2.2

Chapter 2

2.2.1Fire on the Mountain
2.3

Chapter 3

2.3.1Huts on the Beach
2.4

Chapter 4

2.4.1Painted Faces & Long Hair
2.5

Chapter 5

2.5.1Beast from the Water2.5.2Beast from the Water 2
2.6

Chapter 6

2.6.1Beast From the Air
2.7

Chapter 7

2.7.1Shadows & Tall Trees
2.8

Chapter 8

2.8.1Gift for the Darkness2.8.2Gift for the Darkness 22.8.3Gift for the Darkness 3
2.9

Chapter 9

2.9.1A View to a Death
2.10

Chapter 10

2.10.1The Shell & the Glasses
2.11

Chapter 11

2.11.1Castle Rock
2.12

Chapter 12

2.12.1Cry of the Hunters
3

Key Characters

3.1

Profiles

3.1.1Ralph3.1.2Piggy3.1.3Jack3.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Jack3.1.5Simon3.1.6Roger3.1.7End of Topic Test - Ralph, Piggy & Jack3.1.8End of Topic Test - Simon & Roger3.1.9Grade 9 - Key Characters
4

Key Concepts

4.1

Themes

4.1.1Human Nature4.1.2The Beast4.1.3Savagery4.1.4Location & Setting4.1.5Democracy & Dictatorship4.1.6Power & Control4.1.7End of Topic Test - Themes
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Allegory5.1.2Foreshadowing5.1.3Pathetic Fallacy5.1.4Naming5.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Ralph - Quotations6.1.2Piggy - Quotations6.1.3Jack - Quotations6.1.4Simon - Quotations6.1.5Roger - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1The Sound of the Shell - Quotations6.2.2Fire on the Mountain - Quotations6.2.3Huts on the Beach - Quotations6.2.4Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations6.2.5Beast from the Water - Quotations6.2.6Beast From the Air - Quotations6.2.7Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations6.2.8Gift for the Darkness - Quotations6.2.9Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 26.2.10A View to a Death - Quotations6.2.11The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations6.2.12Castle Rock - Quotations6.2.13Cry of the Hunters - Quotations

Practice questions on Simon

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  1. 1
    Summary of Simon:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Summary of Simon (1):True / false
  3. 3
    Summary of Simon (2):True / false
  4. 4
    In what particular way is Simon physically weak?Multiple choice
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Exam-Style Questions - Jack

Roger