Lord of the Flies: Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1 – The Sound of the Shell

• The boys are from Britain, as indicated by the use of British terms like "Home counties," which refers to areas around London
• British words like "spectacles" (glasses) and "trousers" (pants) are used in dialogue
• Order is needed when the group is in a loud debate about how their society should function
• Ralph is chosen as the leader because he possesses the 'trumpet-thing,' symbolizing the idea that 'whoever has the bigger gun gets the crown'
• The boys build a signal fire on top of the pink granite cliff to attract potential rescuers
• Jack doesn't kill the pig because the act of killing feels too graphic and horrifying for him

Chapter 2 – Fire on the Mountain

• The conch is blown to call meetings and symbolizes power among the boys
• Everyone collectively imagines a beast
• Jack presents himself as a protector, which causes the boys to feel safe
• The boys follow Jack to make the fire, while Ralph is left behind
• This is significant because it shows Jack gaining influence and Ralph being isolated
• Jack and Ralph are embarrassed because they failed to make a fire
• They take Piggy's glasses to help start the fire
• The fire is described as a wild animal eating
• The boys feel fear and a sense of chaos because of the fire
• The little 'un with the mark on his face is believed to have died in the fire
• Rules don't apply to Piggy because of his physical appearance

Chapter 3 – Huts on the Beach

• Jack loses civility and becomes wild, prioritizing hunting and is personified as a beast
• Jack & Ralph has conflict over leadership
• Jack is focused on seeking power through hunting and violence
• Ralph focuses on maintaining order and civilization
• The conch keeps them civilized
• Snakes symbolize the primal fear of the beast within the boys, causing nightmares and lack of sleep
• Jack uses the idea of a beast to control the little 'uns
• Simon has an understanding of the island

Chapter 4 – Painted Faces and Long Hair

• The little 'uns are gullible, easily frightened, and heavily reliant on the older "biguns" for protection and leadership
• Roger shows no remorse, taking pleasure in the destruction, Maurice feels a pang of unease and guilt
• Roger "dare not throw" stones directly at Henry because "I told you so"
• Jack's new mask gives him a new identity and allows him to separate from the rules of society, becoming very savage
• Piggy is "the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow," symbolizing his inability to adapt to savagery
• Jack is deeply immersed in hunting and the pursuit of "savage" behavior in the jungle, showing disregard for the group's survival and prioritizing his own primal instincts
• Golding highlights the stark contrast between the excitement of hunting represented by Jack and the desire for civilization represented by Ralph.
• Piggy's glasses symbolize the loss of civilization because the glasses can make fire which was essential for survival
• Ralph's group is focused on maintaining order and civilization
• Jack's group is increasingly drawn towards savagery and hunting

Chapter 5 – Beast from Water

• Ralph realizes the boys are losing order
• Jack uses this to his advantage
• The beast is the fear or paranoia among the boys on the island, centered around the idea of a monstrous creature
• Percival cries because of homesickness, causing a chain reaction
• The "beast" they fear is a manifestation of their own fear and savagery
• Piggy knows that the future holds uncertainty and danger
• Piggy wants adults to rescue them and restore order, the same adults who created the war that caused the boys to crash on the island
• The group led by Jack gains power over the group led by Ralph, with the turning point marking a complete descent into chaos

Chapter 6 – Beast from Air

• A pilot's body falls from the sky onto the island, representing the brutal reality of the adult world
• Sam and Eric describe the beast as a winged creature with claws and teeth, which is an inaccurate because the parachute isn't a wing
• Simon says evil and savagery exists within the people and the beast is human
• The new part of the island is described as sharp and pointed and angled, and dark
• Ralph wants to go to the mountain because the signal fire is out
• Jack wants to stay at Castle Rock and pretend that it is a fort

Chapter 7 – Shadows and Tall Trees

• The Ocean represents the vastness and hopelessness of the boys' situation
• He feels that the ocean is like a wall blocking any hope the boys have of escaping the island
• Simon acts as a source of calm and reassurance for Ralph, offering support and a positive outlook
• He feels a sense of excitement, which is surprising given his previously more civilized nature
• Jack is initially dismissive, but then becomes somewhat threatened by him, as it challenges his established leadership role within the hunting party
• They pretend to kill Robert, only stopping short of actually killing him because they remember themselves at the last moment
• Ralph and Jack cannot coexist because they represent fundamentally different approaches to leadership