PICTURE METHOD NOTES and picture it! pictures
P- Picture it!
I- INferences
C- Clarify
T- Try it!
U- Use
R- Review
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell
P- I picture the thick, leafy foliage of the forest that the boys are in. 1
P- I picture the thick glasses that the fat boy has been wearing for most of his life. 2
P- I picture the colorful lagoon and the coral reef that lay beyond it. 3
P- I picture the conch shll that Ralph used to call the rest of the boys on the island. 4
I- I can infer that the fat boy is rather annoying to the fair boy, and that he may become a problem later on.
I- I predict that the story will flashback to show why they are already on the 'island'.
I- I can infer that the fact that the fat boy has asthma will become a very important plot point later on in the story.
I- I think that the conch shell will become a part of the way that the boys live on the island, such as a tool to call each other when they venture off.
C- When the narrator refers to the "scar", he/she is referring to the line of damage that the plane casued when it hit.
C- The boys are all taking off their clothes because in the time period, the boys must have been required to wear many layers of clothing. They may have also been traveling to somewhere where more clothes were needed.
C- The boys were on an evacuation plane because bombs were being dropped on their homes.
T- Why were the boys marching behind Meridew?
U- I hate wearing heavy clothes when it is humid, because the feeling of the fabric touching my skin makes me feel gross. I can only imagine what it would be like to have so many layers of clothing, and I think that if I were in their situation I would probably strip down too.
R- Ralph and Piggy meet on the island and it is later revealed that they are British school boys that were evacuated before bombs were dropped on their homes. The boys find out more about each other and eventually discover a conch shell. Ralph blows into the conch shell and many other boys come out from the foliage. They argue about who should be the leader and Piggy is made fun of for his name. Eventually after a vote is held, they decide that Ralph should be the leader of the island. Ralph, Simon, and Jack decide to go exploring to see if they are really on an island and they follow an animal track to find that the path is blocked by a large boulder. The boys are able to push the boulder out of the way and stand on the mountain. Jack hesitates to kill a wild pig and it gets away.
P- I picture the thick, leafy foliage of the forest that the boys are in. 1
P- I picture the thick glasses that the fat boy has been wearing for most of his life. 2
P- I picture the colorful lagoon and the coral reef that lay beyond it. 3
P- I picture the conch shll that Ralph used to call the rest of the boys on the island. 4
I- I can infer that the fat boy is rather annoying to the fair boy, and that he may become a problem later on.
I- I predict that the story will flashback to show why they are already on the 'island'.
I- I can infer that the fact that the fat boy has asthma will become a very important plot point later on in the story.
I- I think that the conch shell will become a part of the way that the boys live on the island, such as a tool to call each other when they venture off.
C- When the narrator refers to the "scar", he/she is referring to the line of damage that the plane casued when it hit.
C- The boys are all taking off their clothes because in the time period, the boys must have been required to wear many layers of clothing. They may have also been traveling to somewhere where more clothes were needed.
C- The boys were on an evacuation plane because bombs were being dropped on their homes.
T- Why were the boys marching behind Meridew?
U- I hate wearing heavy clothes when it is humid, because the feeling of the fabric touching my skin makes me feel gross. I can only imagine what it would be like to have so many layers of clothing, and I think that if I were in their situation I would probably strip down too.
R- Ralph and Piggy meet on the island and it is later revealed that they are British school boys that were evacuated before bombs were dropped on their homes. The boys find out more about each other and eventually discover a conch shell. Ralph blows into the conch shell and many other boys come out from the foliage. They argue about who should be the leader and Piggy is made fun of for his name. Eventually after a vote is held, they decide that Ralph should be the leader of the island. Ralph, Simon, and Jack decide to go exploring to see if they are really on an island and they follow an animal track to find that the path is blocked by a large boulder. The boys are able to push the boulder out of the way and stand on the mountain. Jack hesitates to kill a wild pig and it gets away.
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain
P- I picture the knife that Jack slams into the tree. 5
P- I picture the small flame being lit using the lenses on Piggy's glasses as a magnifying glass. 6
P- I picture the large section of the island that caught fire. 7
I- I can infer that the separation of ideals between Jack and Ralph regarding the existence of the "snake thing" will cause a feud later on, specifically when the boys set out to go hunting for the pigs.
I- I think that there is going to be something unique about the island that will make it difficult or even impossible for Ralph's father to find them and rescue them, and that they will be stranded on the island forever.
I- I predict that the boys will shortly run out of wood to burn and their signal fire will be rendered ineffective.
I- I predict that Piggy's arrogance and stupidity will cause the other boys to harm him or enforce some kind of repercussion on him at some point.
C- Ralph, Jack, and Simon have decided that during their stay on the island, they are going to make the most of it and have a good time. When Ralph says this at the beginning of the chapter, it gets the other boys on the island riled up.
C- Ralph is very adamant that there is no snake or beastie on the island, so much so that he actually yelled at the kids who thought it was a possibility.
C- Ralph's father is in the Navy and he continuously reassures the boys that they he will be able to find the island and rescue them.
T- Why is it that Ralph feels so strongly about the existence of the snake?
U- The way that Gooding portrays Jack reminds me of this sort of rambunctious, know-it-all, tough-kid type. At the beginning of the chapter, Jack slams his knife into a tree and he looks around, giving the vibe that he thinks he is stronger or better than the other boys on the island. In this same fashion, I think of Sawyer on LOST, as he fills the role of the would-be protagonist, had a more fitting character (Jack on LOST, Ralph in LOTF).
U- I believe that the "snake thing" that the little boy was talking about may be a reference to the garden of Eden story in the bible, because the island is representative of Eden and the snake may be The Lord of the Flies, which is another name for Beelzebub, or Satan.
U- Something about the circumstances surrounding the island reminds me of LOST, or even some of the other examples that Mr. Miller showed us in his power point presentation, such as the Sponge Bob episode and Castaway.
R- Ralph, Jack, and Simon return from their trip to the mountain and Ralph calls another meeting. They discuss things like Ralph's father being able to rescue them and about how they plan to make the best of their time on the island. Eventually Ralph suggests that they make a signal fire and the boys run up to the mountain to look for wood to start the fire. After a little while they gather enough, and they use Piggy's glasses and the sun to light the wood on fire. Later on they realize that the fire did not prduce any smoke, and was therefore useless. Piggy constantly brings up how he has the conch and that he should be able to speak and at the end he goes on a tirade about how the boys are all acting like animals instead of English boys. The fire ends up spreading to a large chunk of the island and Piggy makes Ralph realize that one of the little boys is missing.
P- I picture the knife that Jack slams into the tree. 5
P- I picture the small flame being lit using the lenses on Piggy's glasses as a magnifying glass. 6
P- I picture the large section of the island that caught fire. 7
I- I can infer that the separation of ideals between Jack and Ralph regarding the existence of the "snake thing" will cause a feud later on, specifically when the boys set out to go hunting for the pigs.
I- I think that there is going to be something unique about the island that will make it difficult or even impossible for Ralph's father to find them and rescue them, and that they will be stranded on the island forever.
I- I predict that the boys will shortly run out of wood to burn and their signal fire will be rendered ineffective.
I- I predict that Piggy's arrogance and stupidity will cause the other boys to harm him or enforce some kind of repercussion on him at some point.
C- Ralph, Jack, and Simon have decided that during their stay on the island, they are going to make the most of it and have a good time. When Ralph says this at the beginning of the chapter, it gets the other boys on the island riled up.
C- Ralph is very adamant that there is no snake or beastie on the island, so much so that he actually yelled at the kids who thought it was a possibility.
C- Ralph's father is in the Navy and he continuously reassures the boys that they he will be able to find the island and rescue them.
T- Why is it that Ralph feels so strongly about the existence of the snake?
U- The way that Gooding portrays Jack reminds me of this sort of rambunctious, know-it-all, tough-kid type. At the beginning of the chapter, Jack slams his knife into a tree and he looks around, giving the vibe that he thinks he is stronger or better than the other boys on the island. In this same fashion, I think of Sawyer on LOST, as he fills the role of the would-be protagonist, had a more fitting character (Jack on LOST, Ralph in LOTF).
U- I believe that the "snake thing" that the little boy was talking about may be a reference to the garden of Eden story in the bible, because the island is representative of Eden and the snake may be The Lord of the Flies, which is another name for Beelzebub, or Satan.
U- Something about the circumstances surrounding the island reminds me of LOST, or even some of the other examples that Mr. Miller showed us in his power point presentation, such as the Sponge Bob episode and Castaway.
R- Ralph, Jack, and Simon return from their trip to the mountain and Ralph calls another meeting. They discuss things like Ralph's father being able to rescue them and about how they plan to make the best of their time on the island. Eventually Ralph suggests that they make a signal fire and the boys run up to the mountain to look for wood to start the fire. After a little while they gather enough, and they use Piggy's glasses and the sun to light the wood on fire. Later on they realize that the fire did not prduce any smoke, and was therefore useless. Piggy constantly brings up how he has the conch and that he should be able to speak and at the end he goes on a tirade about how the boys are all acting like animals instead of English boys. The fire ends up spreading to a large chunk of the island and Piggy makes Ralph realize that one of the little boys is missing.
Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach
P- I picture Jack's deep blue eyes focused on the ground, searching for signs of pigs. 8
P- I picture the line of smoke trailing from the top of the mountain. 9
I- I predict that the boys will not be able to catch any pigs, and they will have to survive off of the vegetation on the island.
I- The way that Jack talks about killing makes me think that he might snap at some point soon and start trying to kill some of the boys on the island.
I- I Believe that the fighting and difference of opinions between Ralph and Jack will continue until it reaches a breaking point.
C- Ralph talks about the conch in a way that makes him seem like he doesn't care for it because he knows that ultimately the meetings accomplish nothing. They talk about getting things done and then they go off and play.
C- The way that Jack talks about the feeling of being watched while he is hunting is starting to make Ralph and Simon have second thoughts about the possibility of there being some sort of "beastie" on the island.
T- Why is Jack so concerned with killing a pig?
T- Why does Ralph keep antagonizing Jack and Piggy?
U- The more and more I read about Jack, the more he seems to resemble the "anti-hero" type that is seen in the movies and shows inpsired by LOTF.
U- The way that Golding described the droppings was grotesque, and it made my stomach feel nauseous.
U- The pigs on the island are very similar to the boars on the island in LOST, which proves, even further, that without a shadow of a doubt, LOST is largely inspired by LOTF.
R- Jack goes hunting alone and comes up empty handed again, returning to be met by Ralph. Jack and Ralph talk with Simon about how the little kids were unwilling to help build shelters and that nothing was going to get done with the meetings. They talked about the signal fire being too small and then the boys tending it put some of the green plants on it to make it smoke more. Simon leaves on his own into the forest, burying himself in brush to conceal himself.
P- I picture Jack's deep blue eyes focused on the ground, searching for signs of pigs. 8
P- I picture the line of smoke trailing from the top of the mountain. 9
I- I predict that the boys will not be able to catch any pigs, and they will have to survive off of the vegetation on the island.
I- The way that Jack talks about killing makes me think that he might snap at some point soon and start trying to kill some of the boys on the island.
I- I Believe that the fighting and difference of opinions between Ralph and Jack will continue until it reaches a breaking point.
C- Ralph talks about the conch in a way that makes him seem like he doesn't care for it because he knows that ultimately the meetings accomplish nothing. They talk about getting things done and then they go off and play.
C- The way that Jack talks about the feeling of being watched while he is hunting is starting to make Ralph and Simon have second thoughts about the possibility of there being some sort of "beastie" on the island.
T- Why is Jack so concerned with killing a pig?
T- Why does Ralph keep antagonizing Jack and Piggy?
U- The more and more I read about Jack, the more he seems to resemble the "anti-hero" type that is seen in the movies and shows inpsired by LOTF.
U- The way that Golding described the droppings was grotesque, and it made my stomach feel nauseous.
U- The pigs on the island are very similar to the boars on the island in LOST, which proves, even further, that without a shadow of a doubt, LOST is largely inspired by LOTF.
R- Jack goes hunting alone and comes up empty handed again, returning to be met by Ralph. Jack and Ralph talk with Simon about how the little kids were unwilling to help build shelters and that nothing was going to get done with the meetings. They talked about the signal fire being too small and then the boys tending it put some of the green plants on it to make it smoke more. Simon leaves on his own into the forest, burying himself in brush to conceal himself.
Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair
P- I picture the beautiful morning colors of a tropical island, with hues of many colors that are very bright and vivid. 10
P- I picture the little creatures that come in from the tide that Henry controls and moves around, trying to get them to follow his command. 11
P- I picture the red, white, and black face paint that Jack puts on his face. 12
P- I picture the broken lens of Piggy's glasses. 13
I- I predict that someone will see Roger throwing the coconuts at Henry and will punish him for being mean.
I- I predict that the camouflage will not conceal Jack enough to keep the pigs from seeing him, but the other boys will begin painting their faces too.
I- I think that Piggy will try and build his own sun dial regardless of what the other boys say.
I- I believe that the boys will not be able to make a new signal fire in time to catch the attention of the passing ship. They will not be able to get rescued because there was no fire going.
I- I can infer that the fact that Piggy's glasses are broken now will cause trouble for either Piggy or the boys when trying to create a fire.
I- I believe that now that the split between Ralph and Jack has occurred, there will be a major divide among the boys on the island.
C- Their northern European backgrounds lends them to the lifestyle that they have adopted on the island. Golding says that they were used to working, playing, and eating all through the day, and this helps the boys adapt very quickly.
C- The little boys have become more or less detached from the big kids because they would prefer to play and eat all day, rather than build shelters. They have become darker in color and have begun to pick fruit from trees. The little boys only really interact with the big kids when the conch is blown to summon an assembly.
C- Henry finds the Transparencies fascinating and while controlling their movements, he feels as though he is in control of them and he has an illusion of mastery.
T- Why is Johnny so mean to Percival by throwing sand in his face repeatedly?
T- Why is Ralph envious of the hunters?
U- The way that Golding describes the different times of the day, and how the boys react to the conditions of those times was really immersive and I felt as though I could feel the heat of the sun, and I could vividly picture the lagoon and the reef as though I were watching a movie or even really there.
U- I can see why, at a time like that, that Henry would find something so meaningful in something so insignificant as the Transparencies. They are stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere and he is at the bottom of the proverbial food chain, so being in control is soothing to him.
U- I think that the face paint that Jack adorns is symbolic of his full detachment from society. Not only is he camouflaging himself, but he is hiding his true self and pushing all of his former self to the back burner, letting the new Jack take over.
U- Golding says that Piggy's was the only boy's hair who never seemed to grow, which I believe symbolizes the fact that Piggy is the only one of the boys on the island who is not becoming savage like the rest of them.
U- I think that the fact that the hunters are so eager to cut the throat of the pig and cut its head off is symbolic of their now almost full transformation into complete savages. They have abandoned almost all moral standards and are now acting like animals.
R- At the beginning of the chapter, the little kids on the island are making sand castles. Two of the older boys come and know down their castles, leaving Percival with sand in his eyes, crying. Henry moves to the lagoon and starts playing with the transparent creatures in the water. Roger throws coconuts at Henry, but Henry does not see him. Jack tells Ralph that he has a new idea for catching pigs, and that is to adorn face paint made from clay and charcoal. After putting it on, Jack says that he feels free. Ralph and some of the other boys spot smoke from a nearby ship, but they realize that their signal fire is out. They run up to the top, but do not make it on time because of Piggy. Jack and the Hunters return with a sow and cut its throat. The boys get into a fight because the hunters had not tended to the fire, and Jack accidentally breaks Piggy's glasses. Jack and Ralph have a symbolic split in their friendship, and Ralph replaces Jack with Piggy. Ralph calls another meeting at the beach.
P- I picture the beautiful morning colors of a tropical island, with hues of many colors that are very bright and vivid. 10
P- I picture the little creatures that come in from the tide that Henry controls and moves around, trying to get them to follow his command. 11
P- I picture the red, white, and black face paint that Jack puts on his face. 12
P- I picture the broken lens of Piggy's glasses. 13
I- I predict that someone will see Roger throwing the coconuts at Henry and will punish him for being mean.
I- I predict that the camouflage will not conceal Jack enough to keep the pigs from seeing him, but the other boys will begin painting their faces too.
I- I think that Piggy will try and build his own sun dial regardless of what the other boys say.
I- I believe that the boys will not be able to make a new signal fire in time to catch the attention of the passing ship. They will not be able to get rescued because there was no fire going.
I- I can infer that the fact that Piggy's glasses are broken now will cause trouble for either Piggy or the boys when trying to create a fire.
I- I believe that now that the split between Ralph and Jack has occurred, there will be a major divide among the boys on the island.
C- Their northern European backgrounds lends them to the lifestyle that they have adopted on the island. Golding says that they were used to working, playing, and eating all through the day, and this helps the boys adapt very quickly.
C- The little boys have become more or less detached from the big kids because they would prefer to play and eat all day, rather than build shelters. They have become darker in color and have begun to pick fruit from trees. The little boys only really interact with the big kids when the conch is blown to summon an assembly.
C- Henry finds the Transparencies fascinating and while controlling their movements, he feels as though he is in control of them and he has an illusion of mastery.
T- Why is Johnny so mean to Percival by throwing sand in his face repeatedly?
T- Why is Ralph envious of the hunters?
U- The way that Golding describes the different times of the day, and how the boys react to the conditions of those times was really immersive and I felt as though I could feel the heat of the sun, and I could vividly picture the lagoon and the reef as though I were watching a movie or even really there.
U- I can see why, at a time like that, that Henry would find something so meaningful in something so insignificant as the Transparencies. They are stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere and he is at the bottom of the proverbial food chain, so being in control is soothing to him.
U- I think that the face paint that Jack adorns is symbolic of his full detachment from society. Not only is he camouflaging himself, but he is hiding his true self and pushing all of his former self to the back burner, letting the new Jack take over.
U- Golding says that Piggy's was the only boy's hair who never seemed to grow, which I believe symbolizes the fact that Piggy is the only one of the boys on the island who is not becoming savage like the rest of them.
U- I think that the fact that the hunters are so eager to cut the throat of the pig and cut its head off is symbolic of their now almost full transformation into complete savages. They have abandoned almost all moral standards and are now acting like animals.
R- At the beginning of the chapter, the little kids on the island are making sand castles. Two of the older boys come and know down their castles, leaving Percival with sand in his eyes, crying. Henry moves to the lagoon and starts playing with the transparent creatures in the water. Roger throws coconuts at Henry, but Henry does not see him. Jack tells Ralph that he has a new idea for catching pigs, and that is to adorn face paint made from clay and charcoal. After putting it on, Jack says that he feels free. Ralph and some of the other boys spot smoke from a nearby ship, but they realize that their signal fire is out. They run up to the top, but do not make it on time because of Piggy. Jack and the Hunters return with a sow and cut its throat. The boys get into a fight because the hunters had not tended to the fire, and Jack accidentally breaks Piggy's glasses. Jack and Ralph have a symbolic split in their friendship, and Ralph replaces Jack with Piggy. Ralph calls another meeting at the beach.
Chapter 5: Beast From Water
P- I picture the washed-out conch shell that is now white from being in the sun for too long. 14
I- I can infer that Jack is getting very upset about his loss of authority over the boys, and he is desperate to make them abide by his will.
I- The way that everyone keeps making fun of Piggy makes me think that he is really going to lose it one day and just snap on the rest of the boys.
I- Based off of all of the anecdotes, I can predict that the beast or creature in the jungle is the Lord of the Flies, in some incarnation.
I- I think that the reason that Percival starts crying is that as he is reciting his information, he remembers his parents teaching him how to say those things.
C- Though Ralph realizes that a chief has to be wise, he knows that Piggy is wiser and an overall better thinker than him.
C- The boys on the island are making Ralph angry because they are not following their promise to abide by a certain set of rules.
C- Jack believes that Ralph should not be the leader because he does not posses any special abilities.
C- Ralph refuses to blow the conch again to call the boys back because he knows that if they don't respond to it, then it will be symbolic of his total loss of control over the boys on the island.
T- Why did Percival not leave the meeting place after everyone else had left?
U- I think that the fact that the conch shell's color is fading is symbolic of his leadership fading and him losing his position as leader of the island. It may also symbolize that Ralph is realizing just how long they've been on the island, which is clearly long enough to let the color get washed out of the shell.
U- Ralph seems as though the reality of the situation is starting to get to him. He is so frustrated with the boys because they let the signal fire die and he is now pushing for them to keep up on all of their chores in order to keep their lifestyle the way that it is.
U- When Piggy speaks up, it seems like a sort of clarifying moment that really shows Piggy's logical way of thinking. He reasons that there is nothing on the island for a beast to eat and therefore there is no way that there could be a beast on the island.
U- I think that when Golding says "to Ralph, this seemed the breaking up of sanity.", he meant that at that moment the boys had all collectively gone to another state of mind. They had lost all reason to point that they were believing that there could legitimately be a large beast from the ocean living on the island.
U- I believe that when Simon says that the beast may be the boys themselves, I think that that was a way for Golding to tell us directly that the boys themselves were in fact the beast, in that they have begun to turn on each other and they have gotten themselves so worked up that they have conjured up a beast that does not really exist.
U- As Jack, Piggy, and Ralph fight for control of the conch, it is realized that the three of them each represent a different side of human nature and reasoning. Piggy stands for science and logic, Jack stands for violence and impulse, and Ralph stands for absolute authority and blind obedience.
R- Ralph blows the washed-out conch to signify yet another meeting. Ralph tells the boys that he wants the meetings to become more meaningful and he wants them to start following their promise to abide by the rules that Ralph set up as leader. A couple of the littluns speak up about their experiences with a beast on the island. Ralph adamantly declares that there is no beast on the island, and he is backed by Piggy, who reasons that there is nothing on the island for it to eat. Jack and Simon argue that it may be possible that there is in fact a beast on the island.
P- I picture the washed-out conch shell that is now white from being in the sun for too long. 14
I- I can infer that Jack is getting very upset about his loss of authority over the boys, and he is desperate to make them abide by his will.
I- The way that everyone keeps making fun of Piggy makes me think that he is really going to lose it one day and just snap on the rest of the boys.
I- Based off of all of the anecdotes, I can predict that the beast or creature in the jungle is the Lord of the Flies, in some incarnation.
I- I think that the reason that Percival starts crying is that as he is reciting his information, he remembers his parents teaching him how to say those things.
C- Though Ralph realizes that a chief has to be wise, he knows that Piggy is wiser and an overall better thinker than him.
C- The boys on the island are making Ralph angry because they are not following their promise to abide by a certain set of rules.
C- Jack believes that Ralph should not be the leader because he does not posses any special abilities.
C- Ralph refuses to blow the conch again to call the boys back because he knows that if they don't respond to it, then it will be symbolic of his total loss of control over the boys on the island.
T- Why did Percival not leave the meeting place after everyone else had left?
U- I think that the fact that the conch shell's color is fading is symbolic of his leadership fading and him losing his position as leader of the island. It may also symbolize that Ralph is realizing just how long they've been on the island, which is clearly long enough to let the color get washed out of the shell.
U- Ralph seems as though the reality of the situation is starting to get to him. He is so frustrated with the boys because they let the signal fire die and he is now pushing for them to keep up on all of their chores in order to keep their lifestyle the way that it is.
U- When Piggy speaks up, it seems like a sort of clarifying moment that really shows Piggy's logical way of thinking. He reasons that there is nothing on the island for a beast to eat and therefore there is no way that there could be a beast on the island.
U- I think that when Golding says "to Ralph, this seemed the breaking up of sanity.", he meant that at that moment the boys had all collectively gone to another state of mind. They had lost all reason to point that they were believing that there could legitimately be a large beast from the ocean living on the island.
U- I believe that when Simon says that the beast may be the boys themselves, I think that that was a way for Golding to tell us directly that the boys themselves were in fact the beast, in that they have begun to turn on each other and they have gotten themselves so worked up that they have conjured up a beast that does not really exist.
U- As Jack, Piggy, and Ralph fight for control of the conch, it is realized that the three of them each represent a different side of human nature and reasoning. Piggy stands for science and logic, Jack stands for violence and impulse, and Ralph stands for absolute authority and blind obedience.
R- Ralph blows the washed-out conch to signify yet another meeting. Ralph tells the boys that he wants the meetings to become more meaningful and he wants them to start following their promise to abide by the rules that Ralph set up as leader. A couple of the littluns speak up about their experiences with a beast on the island. Ralph adamantly declares that there is no beast on the island, and he is backed by Piggy, who reasons that there is nothing on the island for it to eat. Jack and Simon argue that it may be possible that there is in fact a beast on the island.
Chapter 6: Beast From Air
P- I picture the blue flowers on the mountain. 15
P- I imagine the pink, streaky clouds. 16
I- I infer that the island may be in an area that belongs to a specific country, as the air battle would not take place over such a random piece of the ocean.
I- I believe that the little boys are just exaggerating and there is not really a beast on the island.
I- I do not think that the boys will find anything on their hunt.
C- Jack is really becoming a different person all together because he no longer cares about the fidelity of the little boys on the island and is only concerned with hunting.
C- Once at the top of the mountain, the boys realize that the signal fire has gone out and that they need to go back and reignite it.
T- Why do Sam and Eric still believe that the beast is on the island, and more importantly, why do they think that they saw it?
T- Why was there an air battle over the island if it is so secluded?
U- I wonder what country the parachutist is from...
U- I think that the fact that Jack is losing all of his connections to his civilized ego is a major part of the overall story. Jack was one of the first boys to become almost primal in a sense and the other boys appear to be following suit.
R- There is an air battle above the island and a dead body falls from the sky with a parachute, landing in a tree. Sam and Eric wake Ralph up and tell him that they have seen the beast and that it is slinking around in the jungle. Jack launches a hunt and declares that he does not care about the little boys with his answer to Piggy's question of what to do with them. Ralph, Jack, Simon, and some of the other older boys head out to the tail end of the island in search of the mythical beast that all of the little boys keep talking about. The boys explore the area of the island that has a rock bridge that they call "The Castle", but after searching for a while they do not find anything. They have some fun exploring the area and Ralph notices that the signal fire is out again. Ralph has the other boys follow him back to the camp to reignite the signal fire.
P- I picture the blue flowers on the mountain. 15
P- I imagine the pink, streaky clouds. 16
I- I infer that the island may be in an area that belongs to a specific country, as the air battle would not take place over such a random piece of the ocean.
I- I believe that the little boys are just exaggerating and there is not really a beast on the island.
I- I do not think that the boys will find anything on their hunt.
C- Jack is really becoming a different person all together because he no longer cares about the fidelity of the little boys on the island and is only concerned with hunting.
C- Once at the top of the mountain, the boys realize that the signal fire has gone out and that they need to go back and reignite it.
T- Why do Sam and Eric still believe that the beast is on the island, and more importantly, why do they think that they saw it?
T- Why was there an air battle over the island if it is so secluded?
U- I wonder what country the parachutist is from...
U- I think that the fact that Jack is losing all of his connections to his civilized ego is a major part of the overall story. Jack was one of the first boys to become almost primal in a sense and the other boys appear to be following suit.
R- There is an air battle above the island and a dead body falls from the sky with a parachute, landing in a tree. Sam and Eric wake Ralph up and tell him that they have seen the beast and that it is slinking around in the jungle. Jack launches a hunt and declares that he does not care about the little boys with his answer to Piggy's question of what to do with them. Ralph, Jack, Simon, and some of the other older boys head out to the tail end of the island in search of the mythical beast that all of the little boys keep talking about. The boys explore the area of the island that has a rock bridge that they call "The Castle", but after searching for a while they do not find anything. They have some fun exploring the area and Ralph notices that the signal fire is out again. Ralph has the other boys follow him back to the camp to reignite the signal fire.
Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees
P- I picture the boys circling around Robert and pretending to kill him. 17
P- I picture the parachutist's dead body slumped over in the darkness. 18
I- When Simon says that Ralph will get off of the island, I can infer that he is thinking that he may not get off the island or may actively decide to not go.
I- I can infer that the boys are going to find another pig because they found the pile of dung.
I- The boys know deep down that they really did want to kill Robert because of their intense blood lust. This may symbolize their animal nature as well.
C- Ralph wishes that he could take a bath and wash his clothes, which may also be linked to his ultimate desire to leave the island.
C- The pile of excrement is a sign that a pig may be nearby.
T- Why was Ralph so excited that he stuck the boar in the nose with his spear?
U- The fact that Ralph was so excited to have injured the boar may be indicative of the fact that he is now becoming used to the conditions on the island.
U- The way Golding says that the boys look at Robert when he is pinned down concerns me and makes me think that they were not really just kidding. I think that they may want to actually start killing each other just for the fun of it.
R- The boys stop to use the bathroom and Ralph looks out over the island and sees the lagoon far off in the distance. Simon says that he will get off of the island just fine, curiously leaving out himself or the other boys. Roger says that he has found a pile of boar dung and the boys go to track the boar into the jungle. The boar comes out of the brush and attacks them. Ralph is able to stick the boar in the snout before it is able to run away. The boys pin Robert down and make him pretend to be the pig and they poke him with their spears and chant about cutting the pig's throat. The boys venture further and come across the body of the parachutist, lying against a tree with his head between his legs. A gust of wind pulls his parachute which in turn causes him to lift his head, revealing his dead face. The boys run away in terror.
P- I picture the boys circling around Robert and pretending to kill him. 17
P- I picture the parachutist's dead body slumped over in the darkness. 18
I- When Simon says that Ralph will get off of the island, I can infer that he is thinking that he may not get off the island or may actively decide to not go.
I- I can infer that the boys are going to find another pig because they found the pile of dung.
I- The boys know deep down that they really did want to kill Robert because of their intense blood lust. This may symbolize their animal nature as well.
C- Ralph wishes that he could take a bath and wash his clothes, which may also be linked to his ultimate desire to leave the island.
C- The pile of excrement is a sign that a pig may be nearby.
T- Why was Ralph so excited that he stuck the boar in the nose with his spear?
U- The fact that Ralph was so excited to have injured the boar may be indicative of the fact that he is now becoming used to the conditions on the island.
U- The way Golding says that the boys look at Robert when he is pinned down concerns me and makes me think that they were not really just kidding. I think that they may want to actually start killing each other just for the fun of it.
R- The boys stop to use the bathroom and Ralph looks out over the island and sees the lagoon far off in the distance. Simon says that he will get off of the island just fine, curiously leaving out himself or the other boys. Roger says that he has found a pile of boar dung and the boys go to track the boar into the jungle. The boar comes out of the brush and attacks them. Ralph is able to stick the boar in the snout before it is able to run away. The boys pin Robert down and make him pretend to be the pig and they poke him with their spears and chant about cutting the pig's throat. The boys venture further and come across the body of the parachutist, lying against a tree with his head between his legs. A gust of wind pulls his parachute which in turn causes him to lift his head, revealing his dead face. The boys run away in terror.
Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness
P- I picture the raging fire and the littluns dancing around it on the beach, celebrating. 19
P- I picture the now burnt out fire, with grey and white embers left in the sand. 20
P- I picture the morbid pig's head on the stick, sitting in the ground. 21
I- I think that Jack will come back because he is afraid of the darkness in the jungle.
I- I predict that during their raid, the boys on the beach will mistake one of the hunters for the beast and kill them.
C- The boys still believe that they had really seen a terrifying monster, when in actuality it was the body of the parachutist.
C- Jack is so adamant about he and his hunters' ability to hunt that he offers up a suggestion that they go to hunt the beast.
C- The boys believe that the beast is hunting in the jungle.
C- The boys are going to bring the fire from the top of the mountain down to the beach so that they do not have to risk going near the monster.
T- Why is Jack so sensitive to the fact that the boys don't want him to be the leader of the island?
T- How could none of the boys have questioned that fact that the parachutist was hunting for them?
U- The parachutist seems to me like a device that Golding has used to show just how detached the boys have become. Instead of thinking things through rationally, they have jumped to the conclusion that the body of the parachutist is a scary monster hunting them in the jungle.
U- The way that the boys are so cheerful with their wood gathering makes me think that Golding may be alluding to a future problem with the fire.
U- Jack now feels as though he has taken control of his own little portion of the island and he is now leading his group of choir boys-turned-hunters out into the jungle to hunt pig for themselves. I think that this is very similar to Lost because the character Sawyer has many people stay on the beach while the rest of the island goes farther inland to find better shelter.
U- I think that the reason none of the boys ever calls the beast "The Beast" anymore is that they are simply too terrified, and it has become a sort of taboo.
R- The next morning, the boys tell Piggy about the beast that they saw in the jungle. Jack blows the conch and calls a meeting in order to get everything under control. During the meeting Jack criticizes Ralph's inability to act like an adult or lead the boys. He says that Ralph should not be the leader because he does not know how to hunt. Jack asks for a vote on who thinks that he should be the leader and none of the boys raise their hand. Jack says that he is going to go to the other side of the island and that anyone who wants to come is welcome to join him. The boys on the beach decide that it would be wiser to build their signal fire on the beach instead of continuing it on the top of the hill in order to avoid the beast at all costs. The little kids have a celebration around the fire. Jack and his hunters, as well as Simon go hunting for their first pig on their own. They come across a sow with her piglets, and they attack by throwing their spears at her. Her piglets scatter and she is stuck with a few spears in her behind. The hunters are able to track her because of the trail of blood she left, and when they find her they brutally dismember her and cut her throat. Jack puts her head on a stick and says that it is a gift for the beast. The hunters go back to the beach and raid it for fire. Simon stares at the pig head and it begins talking to him, and it is the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies tells Simon that the other boys are going to "do" Simon. Simon passes out.
P- I picture the raging fire and the littluns dancing around it on the beach, celebrating. 19
P- I picture the now burnt out fire, with grey and white embers left in the sand. 20
P- I picture the morbid pig's head on the stick, sitting in the ground. 21
I- I think that Jack will come back because he is afraid of the darkness in the jungle.
I- I predict that during their raid, the boys on the beach will mistake one of the hunters for the beast and kill them.
C- The boys still believe that they had really seen a terrifying monster, when in actuality it was the body of the parachutist.
C- Jack is so adamant about he and his hunters' ability to hunt that he offers up a suggestion that they go to hunt the beast.
C- The boys believe that the beast is hunting in the jungle.
C- The boys are going to bring the fire from the top of the mountain down to the beach so that they do not have to risk going near the monster.
T- Why is Jack so sensitive to the fact that the boys don't want him to be the leader of the island?
T- How could none of the boys have questioned that fact that the parachutist was hunting for them?
U- The parachutist seems to me like a device that Golding has used to show just how detached the boys have become. Instead of thinking things through rationally, they have jumped to the conclusion that the body of the parachutist is a scary monster hunting them in the jungle.
U- The way that the boys are so cheerful with their wood gathering makes me think that Golding may be alluding to a future problem with the fire.
U- Jack now feels as though he has taken control of his own little portion of the island and he is now leading his group of choir boys-turned-hunters out into the jungle to hunt pig for themselves. I think that this is very similar to Lost because the character Sawyer has many people stay on the beach while the rest of the island goes farther inland to find better shelter.
U- I think that the reason none of the boys ever calls the beast "The Beast" anymore is that they are simply too terrified, and it has become a sort of taboo.
R- The next morning, the boys tell Piggy about the beast that they saw in the jungle. Jack blows the conch and calls a meeting in order to get everything under control. During the meeting Jack criticizes Ralph's inability to act like an adult or lead the boys. He says that Ralph should not be the leader because he does not know how to hunt. Jack asks for a vote on who thinks that he should be the leader and none of the boys raise their hand. Jack says that he is going to go to the other side of the island and that anyone who wants to come is welcome to join him. The boys on the beach decide that it would be wiser to build their signal fire on the beach instead of continuing it on the top of the hill in order to avoid the beast at all costs. The little kids have a celebration around the fire. Jack and his hunters, as well as Simon go hunting for their first pig on their own. They come across a sow with her piglets, and they attack by throwing their spears at her. Her piglets scatter and she is stuck with a few spears in her behind. The hunters are able to track her because of the trail of blood she left, and when they find her they brutally dismember her and cut her throat. Jack puts her head on a stick and says that it is a gift for the beast. The hunters go back to the beach and raid it for fire. Simon stares at the pig head and it begins talking to him, and it is the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies tells Simon that the other boys are going to "do" Simon. Simon passes out.
Chapter 9: A View to a Death
P- I picture the storm clouds. 22
P- I picture Simon's body lying in the water. 23
I- I think that when Simon gets to the party, he will find that Jack and Ralph are fighting.
I- I think that the boys on the beach will not believe Simon that the beast is really just a dead parachutist.
I- I can infer that the storm is going to be deadly, and that some of the boys may die in the chaos.
C- When the author refers to the pig's head as a black ball, he means that it is so covered in flies that it looks simply like a large black ball on a stick.
C- Jack has become so full of himself because of the kill that he is now bossing around all of the other boys on the island.
T- Why did the boys brutally attack and murder Simon?
U- Seeing the body of the parachutist would make me so sick that I really don't think that I would be able to touch it. It had been sitting out in the hot, humid weather for days, decomposing quickly. It would smell worse than anything I can imagine.
U- The fact that the boys seem to be able to do anything else other than chant about killing the pig and reenacting the slaughter seems to be symbolic of the fact that the boys have lost all interest in leaving the island, instead becoming interested in brutally murdering animals and now the beast.
U- I believe that Simon and his death are a metaphor for Christ. In the story of the Crucifixion, Christ is killed for teaching something that the people did not agree with. In this same way, Simon tried to tell the boys that the beast was actually just a dead man on the hill, and they brutally killed him for it.
R- Simon awakes and sees the pig's head again. He walks further up the hill and sees the body of the parachutist, realizing now that it is only a dead man. He begins to walk down to the beach. Jack is having a party on the beach and Ralph and Piggy join to make sure that nothing goes wrong. Storm clouds start to roll in and everyone begins to get worried. After a flash of lightning, the boys begin to reenact the pig's death again. Simon stumbles onto the beach and tells them that the beast is a man on the hill, and they attack him. Simon is killed and his body is pulled out into the water.
P- I picture the storm clouds. 22
P- I picture Simon's body lying in the water. 23
I- I think that when Simon gets to the party, he will find that Jack and Ralph are fighting.
I- I think that the boys on the beach will not believe Simon that the beast is really just a dead parachutist.
I- I can infer that the storm is going to be deadly, and that some of the boys may die in the chaos.
C- When the author refers to the pig's head as a black ball, he means that it is so covered in flies that it looks simply like a large black ball on a stick.
C- Jack has become so full of himself because of the kill that he is now bossing around all of the other boys on the island.
T- Why did the boys brutally attack and murder Simon?
U- Seeing the body of the parachutist would make me so sick that I really don't think that I would be able to touch it. It had been sitting out in the hot, humid weather for days, decomposing quickly. It would smell worse than anything I can imagine.
U- The fact that the boys seem to be able to do anything else other than chant about killing the pig and reenacting the slaughter seems to be symbolic of the fact that the boys have lost all interest in leaving the island, instead becoming interested in brutally murdering animals and now the beast.
U- I believe that Simon and his death are a metaphor for Christ. In the story of the Crucifixion, Christ is killed for teaching something that the people did not agree with. In this same way, Simon tried to tell the boys that the beast was actually just a dead man on the hill, and they brutally killed him for it.
R- Simon awakes and sees the pig's head again. He walks further up the hill and sees the body of the parachutist, realizing now that it is only a dead man. He begins to walk down to the beach. Jack is having a party on the beach and Ralph and Piggy join to make sure that nothing goes wrong. Storm clouds start to roll in and everyone begins to get worried. After a flash of lightning, the boys begin to reenact the pig's death again. Simon stumbles onto the beach and tells them that the beast is a man on the hill, and they attack him. Simon is killed and his body is pulled out into the water.
Chapter 10: The Shell and Glasses
P- I picture Jack, adorned in his face paint and jungle garb. 24
P- I picture the glimmering conch. 25
I- The hunters confronted Roger because they are on edge about the previous night.
I- I can infer that there will be another major confrontation between the boys on the island and the boys on the beach, as they are becoming animalistic and impulsive.
I- I can infer that Ralph is forgetting what the fire stands for, because he kept losing his place during his "speech".
I- Ralph and Eric ere beating each other up.
C- Ralph knows now just exactly what he and the other boys have done- they have killed Simon. Ralph calls it murder, but Piggy tries to convince him otherwise.
C- Ralph says that he is afraid of himself and the other boys on the island, and that he wants to go home.
C- Piggy and Ralph are afraid of what they have done and are trying to come up with a way to keep the truth from SamnEric.
T- Why are the hunters so upset that they are on edge even in the safest place on the island?
T- Why did Golding begin to refer to Jack as "the Chief"?
U- Ralph and SamnEric know exactly what the other has done, but they are so disgusted with themselves that they are afraid to talk about it. Golding says ''The air was heavy with unspoken knowledge.'' I think that this means that the boys were feeling uncomfortable because they all knew exactly what had happened.
U- Golding says that the word ''dance'' is obscene. I think that he says this because of the now negative connotation with the word.
U- The mood of the chapter seems somber and regretful because the boys feel ashamed of themselves.
U- Golding has begun to refer to the boys that followed Jack "savages", and Jack himself the "chief". I believe that he has done this in order to convey the idea that they have completely renounced the other boys and have become their own civilization of savages.
R- Ralph and Piggy are tending to the fire and talking. They talk with SamnEric about what had happened the night before, and try to reason with themselves that they had all left before things had gotten out of hand. Jack has tied up Wilfred for some unknown reason, and Jack has put guards up in front of the hunter's cave in order to protect them from anyone or anything on the island. Jack tells his hunters that they will begin another hunt soon. The hunters decide that they are going to have to invade the boys on the beach and take some fire from them. The invasion of the beach happens, and Ralph and Eric end up fighting each other.
P- I picture Jack, adorned in his face paint and jungle garb. 24
P- I picture the glimmering conch. 25
I- The hunters confronted Roger because they are on edge about the previous night.
I- I can infer that there will be another major confrontation between the boys on the island and the boys on the beach, as they are becoming animalistic and impulsive.
I- I can infer that Ralph is forgetting what the fire stands for, because he kept losing his place during his "speech".
I- Ralph and Eric ere beating each other up.
C- Ralph knows now just exactly what he and the other boys have done- they have killed Simon. Ralph calls it murder, but Piggy tries to convince him otherwise.
C- Ralph says that he is afraid of himself and the other boys on the island, and that he wants to go home.
C- Piggy and Ralph are afraid of what they have done and are trying to come up with a way to keep the truth from SamnEric.
T- Why are the hunters so upset that they are on edge even in the safest place on the island?
T- Why did Golding begin to refer to Jack as "the Chief"?
U- Ralph and SamnEric know exactly what the other has done, but they are so disgusted with themselves that they are afraid to talk about it. Golding says ''The air was heavy with unspoken knowledge.'' I think that this means that the boys were feeling uncomfortable because they all knew exactly what had happened.
U- Golding says that the word ''dance'' is obscene. I think that he says this because of the now negative connotation with the word.
U- The mood of the chapter seems somber and regretful because the boys feel ashamed of themselves.
U- Golding has begun to refer to the boys that followed Jack "savages", and Jack himself the "chief". I believe that he has done this in order to convey the idea that they have completely renounced the other boys and have become their own civilization of savages.
R- Ralph and Piggy are tending to the fire and talking. They talk with SamnEric about what had happened the night before, and try to reason with themselves that they had all left before things had gotten out of hand. Jack has tied up Wilfred for some unknown reason, and Jack has put guards up in front of the hunter's cave in order to protect them from anyone or anything on the island. Jack tells his hunters that they will begin another hunt soon. The hunters decide that they are going to have to invade the boys on the beach and take some fire from them. The invasion of the beach happens, and Ralph and Eric end up fighting each other.
Chapter 11: Castle Rock
P- I picture Ralph and Jack fighting. 26
P- I picture Piggy giving his "speech". 27
P- I picture Piggy dead, with his head cracked open. 28
I- I predict that when Piggy takes the conch to Jack, he will have his hunters kill him.
I- I can infer that one of the boys is going to die, or at least get very badly hurt. The entire confrontation is too intense for them to sustain without suffering a casualty.
C- Some of the boys think that Jack may have been a better leader.
C- Piggy is going to take the conch to Jack and his hunters to try and settle things and get his glasses back.
C- The hunters and Jack are painted so much that Ralph and the other boys are unable to recognize them.
C- Jack and Ralph are fighting each other with their spears as swords.
C- Now that the conch has been destroyed, Jack wants to claim his place as leader of the island, as Ralph no longer has an item of power that he can use as authority over Jack and his hunters.
T- How do Piggy and Ralph expect Jack to react to them coming and demanding things?
T- Why does Roger push the rock onto Piggy?
U- I think that when Ralph blew the conch, it was a huge slap in the face to Jack, because he obviously would have heard it. It shows to him that the old way of life on the island is still there, still alive.
U- Piggy's idea of taking the conch to Ralph is his way of making a last stand for order and civilization for the island. He wants to try and get Jack to think about what he has done by taking the conch to him, which is a symbol of the authority and power that Ralph had over the boys.
U- It seems as though Jack has developed a sort of god complex, thinking that he is somehow better or more advanced than the boys on the beach. He becomes more a more elusive, which I think is a device that Golding used to portray Jack as a sort of deity.
R- Ralph, Piggy, and SamnEric decide that they are going to go over to Jack's side of the island and get Piggy's glasses back. They tie their hair back in order to look more civil and professional. When they get there, they are confronted by a group of the savages. Ralph and Jack battle it out with their spears, until eventually Piggy attempts to speak. Roger breaks off a rock and it smashes Piggy's skull in, causing him to fall forty feet onto his back, with the contents of his skull running out onto the ground. Piggy's body is swept away by the ocean. Along with Piggy, the conch is also destroyed, causing Jack to wildly exclaim that he can now be the leader. Jack ties up SamnEric and pokes them with his spear.
Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters
P- I picture the now fully rotted pig's skull on the stick, seeming to smile at Ralph. 29
P- I picture the faint glow of the fire on top of the mountain. 30
P- I picture "trim cruiser" on the horizon. 31
I- I predict that there will be another major confrontation between Ralph and Jack.
I- I predict that Ralph will come across the parachutist as well.
I- I predict that SamnEric will be killed during the savages' "Kill the Beast" chant.
C- The savages have started a large enough fire that Ralph is affected by it from so far away.
C- Ralph thinks that because of the deep connection between Ralph and Jack, Jack will never let Ralph just be alone, and he will always be looking for him.
C- Ralph is looking for a place to stay that will be safe from the savages.
C- Ralph comes across the skull of the pig that Jack impaled, and he punches it, leaving the stick broken in two pieces.
C- Ralph wishes that he could go to the savages and join them, but he knows that that would be a huge risk and he is therefore unwilling to take it.
T- Why did Ralph feel as though the skull was mocking him and staring at him cynically?
T- Why did Ralph strike at the pig's skull?
T- How did Jack convince SamnEric to join him so easily?
U- I think that Ralph coming across the pig's skull in the jungle is very important and meaningful, as it is a reminder of the grim history of the boys' time on the island.
U- When Ralph hears the savages chanting their "Kill the Beast" song, I realized that Ralph is really the only thing left on the island that still has some symbolic meaning to support the civil way of life. The savages are still practicing their same rituals and becoming less and less human with each one.
U- Now that SamnEric have joined the tribe, it seems to me as though Ralph really has no hope left. He has no way of building another fire, and he has been effectively ostracized from the savages.
R- Ralph looks around for a place to stay, hoping that he will be safe from the savages. As he wanders, he comes across the pig's skull, which seems to "grin" at him and he punches it, breaking the stick in two. Ralph notices that there is a large fire atop the mountain, and he sees the silhouette of SamnEric dancing, signifying that they have joined the savages. Ralph talks to SamnEric, and they tell him that he has to leave, or else. SamnEric tell Ralph that Jack is planning to hunt him down and kill him. Sam gives Ralph a piece of meat and leaves. Ralph hides in a thicket to wait for the hunt to pass by. He plays a game of guerrilla warfare with the savages, ducking in and out of bushes and thickets, periodically striking some of them. Ralph is discovered by Jack and he lashes out at him. Ralph runs through the jungle and pops out into the sand, tumbling and covering himself with his arms and cowering in fear. He looks up and sees that a naval officer and a few other people are standing on the beach. Ralph explains the situation to the naval officer and begins to break down. The naval officer is embarrassed and turns away to allow the boys to collect themselves.
P- I picture the now fully rotted pig's skull on the stick, seeming to smile at Ralph. 29
P- I picture the faint glow of the fire on top of the mountain. 30
P- I picture "trim cruiser" on the horizon. 31
I- I predict that there will be another major confrontation between Ralph and Jack.
I- I predict that Ralph will come across the parachutist as well.
I- I predict that SamnEric will be killed during the savages' "Kill the Beast" chant.
C- The savages have started a large enough fire that Ralph is affected by it from so far away.
C- Ralph thinks that because of the deep connection between Ralph and Jack, Jack will never let Ralph just be alone, and he will always be looking for him.
C- Ralph is looking for a place to stay that will be safe from the savages.
C- Ralph comes across the skull of the pig that Jack impaled, and he punches it, leaving the stick broken in two pieces.
C- Ralph wishes that he could go to the savages and join them, but he knows that that would be a huge risk and he is therefore unwilling to take it.
T- Why did Ralph feel as though the skull was mocking him and staring at him cynically?
T- Why did Ralph strike at the pig's skull?
T- How did Jack convince SamnEric to join him so easily?
U- I think that Ralph coming across the pig's skull in the jungle is very important and meaningful, as it is a reminder of the grim history of the boys' time on the island.
U- When Ralph hears the savages chanting their "Kill the Beast" song, I realized that Ralph is really the only thing left on the island that still has some symbolic meaning to support the civil way of life. The savages are still practicing their same rituals and becoming less and less human with each one.
U- Now that SamnEric have joined the tribe, it seems to me as though Ralph really has no hope left. He has no way of building another fire, and he has been effectively ostracized from the savages.
R- Ralph looks around for a place to stay, hoping that he will be safe from the savages. As he wanders, he comes across the pig's skull, which seems to "grin" at him and he punches it, breaking the stick in two. Ralph notices that there is a large fire atop the mountain, and he sees the silhouette of SamnEric dancing, signifying that they have joined the savages. Ralph talks to SamnEric, and they tell him that he has to leave, or else. SamnEric tell Ralph that Jack is planning to hunt him down and kill him. Sam gives Ralph a piece of meat and leaves. Ralph hides in a thicket to wait for the hunt to pass by. He plays a game of guerrilla warfare with the savages, ducking in and out of bushes and thickets, periodically striking some of them. Ralph is discovered by Jack and he lashes out at him. Ralph runs through the jungle and pops out into the sand, tumbling and covering himself with his arms and cowering in fear. He looks up and sees that a naval officer and a few other people are standing on the beach. Ralph explains the situation to the naval officer and begins to break down. The naval officer is embarrassed and turns away to allow the boys to collect themselves.
Characterization
Ralph: Ralph is the protagonist of the story, and he is a round, dynamic character. He best represents the ego aspect of the human psyche. Ralph is a round character because he is one of the main characters. He is developed throughout the story and his personality is shown through his actions and words. He is a dynamic character because as the story progresses, he gives in more and more to his id, slowly regressing back to an animal-like state. Ralph best represents the ego aspect of the human psyche because he is trying to balance out Jack's insatiable blood lust by using logic and reason, opting for a democratic form of government and trying to uphold some of the boys' basic civil values.
Piggy: Piggy is a young boy who is quite large and has very important glasses. Piggy acts as Ralph's right hand man during the story when Ralph is still in charge. Piggy is a round, static character, who represents superego. Piggy is a round character because as the story progresses, we learn more and more about his home life and his various physical conditions. I say that Piggy is a static character not because he is a "disposable" character, but because he does not change his views on cultural norms. Piggy clings to his ideals about using the conch, and having a democratic system of government for the boys on the island. Piggy represents superego because he is all about keeping his sense of civility and holding on to their old ways of life. Piggy's character represents the logical, scientific side of the human psyche, and he uses his brains to think through problems that the other boys use violence to solve.
Jack: Jack could be viewed as a sort of antagonistic character. He attempts to be civil at the beginning, but once he is denied the ability to rule over the other boys on the island, he quickly becomes a violent, hateable monster. He is obsessed with brutally slaughtering pigs, to the point where he and his group of choir-boys-turned-hunters have other boys pretend to be pigs while they stab at them for real, with real spears. Jack is a round, dynamic character, who clearly represents the id aspect of the human psyche. Jack is round, because he is one of the main characters. We learn more about Jack through his actions and his words rather that having Golding tell us directly about him. He is dynamic because at the beginning of the story he is a choir leader. After losing their "election", Jack quickly decides that he is going to be a hunter for the group. After his first kill, Jack begins to change into a horrible, violent, uncontrollable monster. Jack represents id because he is prone to violent acts of primal anger and fear.
Simon: Simon's character is almost exclusively there for religious symbolism. His actions and personality depict a modern-day Christ figure. His entire experience on the island is full of suffering, and he is miserable the entire time. He faints, gets nosebleeds, and throws up. After a confrontation with "The Lord of the Flies", Simon attempts to alert to the other boys that the beast is really a false prophet, as it is really just a dead man with a parachute in a tree. On the beach, the boys believe that he is lying, and he is brutally murdered. Simon is a round, static character, as Golding is relatively in-depth with his characterization, and Simon's personality does not change really at all during the course of the story. Simon represents ego, but an argument could be made for superego as well. Simon's main purpose is to keep the primal actions of the boys under control, which w ould be for ego. However, with his wisdom, he attempts to keep some semblance of humanity and civility on the island, which is where the argument for superego could be made.
Piggy: Piggy is a young boy who is quite large and has very important glasses. Piggy acts as Ralph's right hand man during the story when Ralph is still in charge. Piggy is a round, static character, who represents superego. Piggy is a round character because as the story progresses, we learn more and more about his home life and his various physical conditions. I say that Piggy is a static character not because he is a "disposable" character, but because he does not change his views on cultural norms. Piggy clings to his ideals about using the conch, and having a democratic system of government for the boys on the island. Piggy represents superego because he is all about keeping his sense of civility and holding on to their old ways of life. Piggy's character represents the logical, scientific side of the human psyche, and he uses his brains to think through problems that the other boys use violence to solve.
Jack: Jack could be viewed as a sort of antagonistic character. He attempts to be civil at the beginning, but once he is denied the ability to rule over the other boys on the island, he quickly becomes a violent, hateable monster. He is obsessed with brutally slaughtering pigs, to the point where he and his group of choir-boys-turned-hunters have other boys pretend to be pigs while they stab at them for real, with real spears. Jack is a round, dynamic character, who clearly represents the id aspect of the human psyche. Jack is round, because he is one of the main characters. We learn more about Jack through his actions and his words rather that having Golding tell us directly about him. He is dynamic because at the beginning of the story he is a choir leader. After losing their "election", Jack quickly decides that he is going to be a hunter for the group. After his first kill, Jack begins to change into a horrible, violent, uncontrollable monster. Jack represents id because he is prone to violent acts of primal anger and fear.
Simon: Simon's character is almost exclusively there for religious symbolism. His actions and personality depict a modern-day Christ figure. His entire experience on the island is full of suffering, and he is miserable the entire time. He faints, gets nosebleeds, and throws up. After a confrontation with "The Lord of the Flies", Simon attempts to alert to the other boys that the beast is really a false prophet, as it is really just a dead man with a parachute in a tree. On the beach, the boys believe that he is lying, and he is brutally murdered. Simon is a round, static character, as Golding is relatively in-depth with his characterization, and Simon's personality does not change really at all during the course of the story. Simon represents ego, but an argument could be made for superego as well. Simon's main purpose is to keep the primal actions of the boys under control, which w ould be for ego. However, with his wisdom, he attempts to keep some semblance of humanity and civility on the island, which is where the argument for superego could be made.
Plot diagram
Symbols
Conch Shell: The conch shell represents the idea that items of power are ultimately powerless. The conch shell is a representation of Ralph's power, even though it was merely a shell that he and Piggy had found in the grass. Without the conch, however, Ralph is left "powerless", and Jack realizes that he can take over the position of leader of the island.
Piggy's Glasses: Piggy's glasses are a representation of the last ties the boys have to the society and advanced civilization that they left behind when their plane crashed. Piggy's glasses also symbolize the idea that Piggy is the source of reason and order on the island, as he is able to "see" through his glasses and give the answer that is most civilized when the other boys are stripping down and killing pigs with spears.
Lord of the Flies: Aside from being the title of the book, the Lord of the Flies is an extremely important element of the story. Lord of the Flies is another name for Beelzebub, which is in turn another name for Satan. In the book, the Lord of the Flies takes the form of the severed sow's head that Jack had removed and placed on a stake. The Lord of the Flies is a device that Golding uses to show Simon that there is evil in everyone and the Lord of the Flies foreshadows that the boys were going to kill Simon.
Signal Fire: The signal fire's symbolic meaning is quite obvious. It symbolizes the hope that the boys have of getting off of the island, and it is their only connection to the world that they used to know. The boys use the signal fire to produce smoke which they hope a passing ship would be able to see.
The Scar: The scar is one of the main symbols in the story because it represents something that Golding tried very hard to convey. The scar is literally the large mark that their plane made on the island when the boys' plane crashed. On a figurative level, the scar represents the harsh impact that humanity has on the Earth. The whole scenario could also be linked back to the garden of Eden, with the island being the garden of Eden, pristine in its natural state, ruined by humanity.
Piggy's Glasses: Piggy's glasses are a representation of the last ties the boys have to the society and advanced civilization that they left behind when their plane crashed. Piggy's glasses also symbolize the idea that Piggy is the source of reason and order on the island, as he is able to "see" through his glasses and give the answer that is most civilized when the other boys are stripping down and killing pigs with spears.
Lord of the Flies: Aside from being the title of the book, the Lord of the Flies is an extremely important element of the story. Lord of the Flies is another name for Beelzebub, which is in turn another name for Satan. In the book, the Lord of the Flies takes the form of the severed sow's head that Jack had removed and placed on a stake. The Lord of the Flies is a device that Golding uses to show Simon that there is evil in everyone and the Lord of the Flies foreshadows that the boys were going to kill Simon.
Signal Fire: The signal fire's symbolic meaning is quite obvious. It symbolizes the hope that the boys have of getting off of the island, and it is their only connection to the world that they used to know. The boys use the signal fire to produce smoke which they hope a passing ship would be able to see.
The Scar: The scar is one of the main symbols in the story because it represents something that Golding tried very hard to convey. The scar is literally the large mark that their plane made on the island when the boys' plane crashed. On a figurative level, the scar represents the harsh impact that humanity has on the Earth. The whole scenario could also be linked back to the garden of Eden, with the island being the garden of Eden, pristine in its natural state, ruined by humanity.
Religious Symbolism
Snake in the Garden of Eden: The Lord of the Flies is in many ways like the snake in the garden of Eden. The snake is a symbol of evil and fear just as the pig's head does, and the island itself can be easily compared to the garden of Eden.
The Island: Golding constantly tells about how beautiful the clouds are, and the way that the sun "gleams off of them" and makes them look like towers. He also talks about the "tormenting" heat of the island, and how the boys are constantly suffering. The island could be representative of Hell, while the clouds above the island that have the sun gleaming off of them could be representative of Heaven. The fact that the Lord of the Flies is basically the devil is a strong reinforcement of the idea.
Simon: In many ways, Simon is like a Christ figure. He is the embodiment of the goodness of the boys, and he tries to reassure Ralph the best he can. His death is also very similar to Christ in that he tries to tell the people the truth and he is not believed and therefore killed brutally.
The Island: Golding constantly tells about how beautiful the clouds are, and the way that the sun "gleams off of them" and makes them look like towers. He also talks about the "tormenting" heat of the island, and how the boys are constantly suffering. The island could be representative of Hell, while the clouds above the island that have the sun gleaming off of them could be representative of Heaven. The fact that the Lord of the Flies is basically the devil is a strong reinforcement of the idea.
Simon: In many ways, Simon is like a Christ figure. He is the embodiment of the goodness of the boys, and he tries to reassure Ralph the best he can. His death is also very similar to Christ in that he tries to tell the people the truth and he is not believed and therefore killed brutally.
Themes
Civilization v. Savagery: One of the most important themes in the entire story is civilization versus savagery. When the boys first arrive on the island, they try very hard to cling to their customs and traditions from their home. However, as the time passes and the boys lose hope of leaving the island, they start to break down mentally and become something that could be viewed as less than human. The boys reduce to a state of animal-like fear that causes them to think irrationally that the parachutist's body is a horrifying monster and that it is hunting them through the jungle of the island. They also grow to be so savage that they develop a blood lust strong enough to actually kill one of their own. Piggy can be viewed also as a symbol of civilization, as he views things through a scientific and logical point of view. The other boys on the island are constantly arguing with Piggy about how their savage views are how things really are, while Piggy knows that is not true.
Loss of Innocence: In the book Lord of the Flies, an apparent theme is loss of innocence. All of the boys on the island are thrown from their average lives in Britain into a hellish and nasty environment in which they have to adapt in any way possible. It is in this way that the boys effectively lose their innocence, as they are required to do horrible and brutal things like slaughtering the sow and having to protect the little kids from getting killed or hurt.
Original Sin: Another theme in the book is the idea of original sin. Original sin is interpreted as the "7 deadly sins", such as lying, killing, stealing, etc. The boys on the island are all susceptible to the original sins, such as when they kill Simon, or when Jack's hunters steal the fire from the boys on the beach.
Fear That Separates One From God: The boys experience a kind of fear that one who has never experienced a traumatizing incident could only imagine. They are exposed to the most extreme brutalities that human beings are capable of, as well as having an innate fear of the unknown "beastie" on the island. This fear effectively separates the boys from God, causing them to do things that no civilized people would do.
Goodness is Rare and Fleeting: As one of the more rare themes in the book, this theme does not have many examples. A main channel through which this idea is conveyed is through the behavior of the boys. Upon first arrival on the island, they are eager to help out and work together to survive and eventually get off of the island. As time passes, the boys start to lose this good and cooperative behavior and therefore show the theme that goodness is fleeting.
Absolute Power: Jack is obsessed with absolute power. He is very jealous of Ralph because the conch is his symbol of authority and the boys respect it. The conch allows Ralph to have absolute power over the boys on the island, and when it breaks, Jack realizes that he can now rule over the boys on the island.
Loss of Innocence: In the book Lord of the Flies, an apparent theme is loss of innocence. All of the boys on the island are thrown from their average lives in Britain into a hellish and nasty environment in which they have to adapt in any way possible. It is in this way that the boys effectively lose their innocence, as they are required to do horrible and brutal things like slaughtering the sow and having to protect the little kids from getting killed or hurt.
Original Sin: Another theme in the book is the idea of original sin. Original sin is interpreted as the "7 deadly sins", such as lying, killing, stealing, etc. The boys on the island are all susceptible to the original sins, such as when they kill Simon, or when Jack's hunters steal the fire from the boys on the beach.
Fear That Separates One From God: The boys experience a kind of fear that one who has never experienced a traumatizing incident could only imagine. They are exposed to the most extreme brutalities that human beings are capable of, as well as having an innate fear of the unknown "beastie" on the island. This fear effectively separates the boys from God, causing them to do things that no civilized people would do.
Goodness is Rare and Fleeting: As one of the more rare themes in the book, this theme does not have many examples. A main channel through which this idea is conveyed is through the behavior of the boys. Upon first arrival on the island, they are eager to help out and work together to survive and eventually get off of the island. As time passes, the boys start to lose this good and cooperative behavior and therefore show the theme that goodness is fleeting.
Absolute Power: Jack is obsessed with absolute power. He is very jealous of Ralph because the conch is his symbol of authority and the boys respect it. The conch allows Ralph to have absolute power over the boys on the island, and when it breaks, Jack realizes that he can now rule over the boys on the island.
Motifs
Biblical Parallels: In the book, the main motif is the parallels the story shares with the bible, or at least biblical stories. Many of the characters could be argued to be close to some of the characters in the bible. For instance, Simon is generally conveyed as a Christ-like figure, in the sense that he is calm, collected, and tries to tell the boys on the island that everything is going to work out. The book is full of other instances of religious symbolism and imagery. The island is described in a way that resembles hell, with its hot, grueling days and the terrifying nights. The beast is also similar to the devil, which is why the book is called the Lord of the Flies.
tone
The tone of Lord of the flies is brutal and unflinching. The events of the story are dark and not for the feint of heart, and Golding explores some of the worst sides of human nature. When some of the more twisted parts occur, Golding uses a kind of language that is unforgiving to those who have a weak stomach, using graphic words and phrases to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. Another tone of the story is a beautiful, descriptive take. Golding often describes the beauty of various parts of the island and the way that the boys or other factors of nature interact with it. For instance, GOlding often talks about how the sun reflects off of the clouds in the sky, or the way that the waves roll onto the beach during the tide.
Mood
One of the main moods of the story is abandonment. Some others include primal fear and hopelessness. The reader may feel a sense of abandonment, being able to empathize with the idea that the boys were sent away from their homes and their familiar lives, then cast away to a strange and unfamiliar island. They are completely alone on the island, and therefore have no connection to their family or their old way of life. Primal fear is experienced when the boys really, truly believe that there is a beast on the island that is hunting them down and is going to eat them. They live in fear for a while that the beast will sneak into their camp in the night and eat them, which is enough to send fear into anyone. Finally, a sense of hopelessness could be achieved when the signal fire goes out near the beginning, and the ship passes by without seeing them. The boys realize at that point, whether they speak about it or not, that there isn't going to be an easy or quick way off of the island. Knowing that could cause the reader to empathize with them and feel a sense of futility or hopelessness.