Lord of the Flies Final Review

"The Sound of the Shell" meaning

Telling people to gather when the shell is sounded

Ralph

Fair-haired, 12-year-old boy who becomes the group's leader.

Piggy

Overweight boy with glasses and asthma, often overlooked by others.

Conch Value

Its sound carries authority, calling the boys together and symbolizing order.

Jack Merridew's Commanding

Jack's timekeeping and confidence show his inclination for leadership.

Scar

The mark left by the plane crash on the island, a significant symbol.

Sam and Eric

Twin brothers who trust Ralph and play a crucial role in the group.

Island Shape

Boat-shaped tropical island, significant in the story's setting.

Conch Shell Symbol

Represents order and rules, essential for maintaining civilization.

Conflict with leadership

Conflict and the boys' conflicting desires and lack of respect lead to tension on the island.

Theme of Fear

Fear of the beast symbolizes the boys' descent into savagery and loss of civilization.

Beast Symbolism

Represents the boys' inner darkness and descent into madness and savagery.

Ralph and Jack's Relationship

Strained due to power struggles and differing leadership styles.

Piggy's Role

Acts as Ralph's advisor, providing rationality and support in decision-making.

Mountain Exploration

Symbolizes the boys' search for truth and facing their fears on the island.

Weather Effect

The weather in Chapter Eight symbolizes the deteriorating situation on the island as the group falls apart and faces internal conflicts, reflecting the worsening conditions.

Jack and Ralph's Drift

Jack and Ralph's growing apart is evident when the littluns mention Jack and Piggy, causing tension, and when Jack tries to usurp Ralph's leadership, showcasing their diverging ideas.

Piggy and Simon's Changes

In Chapter Eight, Simon shifts from supporting Ralph to exploring the island independently, while Piggy evolves into a supportive leader, aiding Ralph in managing the group.

New Fire Building

Jack's group moves to Castle Rock near the mountain to light a fire, but Piggy suggests a beach fire due to safety concerns, highlighting the strategic differences.

Jack's Suggestions

Jack proposes hunting, feasting, and fun to his followers, promising nightly kills and feasts, emphasizing a shift towards a more primal and savage lifestyle.

Hunt Details

During the hunt, Jack repeatedly stabs a pig until it dies, accompanied by the pig's loud cries, illustrating the brutality and savagery of the act.

Gift for the Darkness

The "Gift for the Darkness" is the sow's head impaled by Jack, known as the Lord of the Flies, attracting flies and symbolizing fear and evil.

Importance of Ralph's Conversation

Piggy advises Ralph to relocate the fire to the beach due to the dwindling group size, highlighting the critical need for unity and rescue efforts.

Result of Jack's Speech

Jack's speech invites boys to join his group for hunting and feasting, causing tension and uncertainty among Ralph's group, leading to potential division.

Lord of the Flies Symbolism

The connection between the beast and the sow's head symbolizes fear, with the former representing a looming threat and the latter embodying the manifestation of evil.

Simon's Realization

Simon comprehends the chaos caused by the group's division, realizing the futility of rescue attempts and the impending doom due to their savagery.

Simon as a Foil

Simon contrasts with Jack, displaying a conscience and caution in his actions, unlike Jack's extreme and ruthless behavior, showcasing differing moral compasses.

Sow's Head Placement Theme

Placing the sow's head near butterflies and flowers signifies a loss of innocence, juxtaposing beauty with the gruesome act, reflecting the boys' descent into savagery.

Jack's Savagery Decline

Jack and his followers' physical appearance, dirtiness, and minimal clothing demonstrate their descent into savagery, contrasting with Ralph's group's cleanliness.

Symbolism of Ralph and Piggy's Actions

Ralph protecting the fire symbolizes hope for rescue, while Piggy safeguarding the conch signifies the preservation of order and leadership on the island.

Simon's Encounter Interpretation

Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies reflects his shock and internal turmoil, hearing condemning voices and facing a dark revelation.

Simon's Fate

Simon faints and becomes unconscious, indicated by the darkness surrounding him, showcasing his physical and mental collapse under the weight of the truth.

Lord of the Flies

Symbolizes the loss of innocence and the boys' descent into savagery on the island.

Killing of the sow

Represents the boys' loss of innocence and their descent into savagery as they kill the sow and place her head on a stick.

Fight for leadership/chief

Ralph maintains control of leadership through providing food, contrasting Jack's dictatorial approach to leadership.

Simon’s Death

Symbolizes the complete destruction of innocence and the loss of a Christ-like figure among the boys.

Piggy’s Death

Piggy's demise signifies the destruction of order and goodness on the island, culminating in the destruction of the conch and the loss of rationality.

Ralph's Leadership

Focuses on rescue and democracy, using the conch to allow everyone to speak and aiming to be rescued.

Jack's Leadership

Prioritizes hunting for food and survival, leading with a dictatorial style where only his opinion matters.