Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

Chapters 2 and 3

“Fire on the Mountain”

&

“Huts on the Beach”

Chapters 2 and 3

“Fire on the Mountain”

&

“Huts on the Beach”

Events of Chapter 2Events of Chapter 2• When the 3 boys return from the mountain, Ralph blows the conch

for another meeting• They discuss that they need hunters for the pigs since the island is

uninhabited• Jack gets very upset when the story of not sticking the pig comes up

- what does he do?• First rule is established: to maintain order at the meetings only the

person with the conch may speak• Jack likes the rule for one reason only - he is the enforcer• Piggy tells the group that noone knows where they are and they

should be prepared to be there for a very long time• Ralph tries to quell the boys’ fear by mentioning adventure books

that they have read such as The Coral Island• The boy with the mulberry colored birthmark steps forward and talks

about the “Beastie”• Jack says he will hunt and kill it

• When the 3 boys return from the mountain, Ralph blows the conch for another meeting

• They discuss that they need hunters for the pigs since the island is uninhabited

• Jack gets very upset when the story of not sticking the pig comes up - what does he do?

• First rule is established: to maintain order at the meetings only the person with the conch may speak

• Jack likes the rule for one reason only - he is the enforcer• Piggy tells the group that noone knows where they are and they

should be prepared to be there for a very long time• Ralph tries to quell the boys’ fear by mentioning adventure books

that they have read such as The Coral Island• The boy with the mulberry colored birthmark steps forward and talks

about the “Beastie”• Jack says he will hunt and kill it

Events of Chapter 2 continued…Events of Chapter 2 continued…• Ralph suggests they build a fire to signal ships• Jack organizes the choir to build a fire - they use dead leaves

for kindling• The young boys hang out in the forest eating fruit• They use Piggy’s glasses to light the fire• The fire burns too quickly• Piggy, Jack and Ralph fight over the right to the conch• Jack offers the choir to be the lookouts for the fire to help

keep it going• There is a “drum-roll” sound to the fire as the power of the fire

unleashes and takes out a good chunk of the island in flames and smoke.

• The first boy is discovered missing and eventually they realize that he is dead - claimed by the roll of the of the fire - who is he?

• Ralph suggests they build a fire to signal ships• Jack organizes the choir to build a fire - they use dead leaves

for kindling• The young boys hang out in the forest eating fruit• They use Piggy’s glasses to light the fire• The fire burns too quickly• Piggy, Jack and Ralph fight over the right to the conch• Jack offers the choir to be the lookouts for the fire to help

keep it going• There is a “drum-roll” sound to the fire as the power of the fire

unleashes and takes out a good chunk of the island in flames and smoke.

• The first boy is discovered missing and eventually they realize that he is dead - claimed by the roll of the of the fire - who is he?

The Presentation of FearThe Presentation of Fear

• The introduction of the beastie - the “snake like thing”

• Jack’s growing obsession with killing the pig (dominates his thoughts and actions)

• Jack even perpetuates the myth of the “beastie” because it gives him an excuse to hunt

• The good plan of the signal fire instills fear in the boys with their inability to control it

• The introduction of the beastie - the “snake like thing”

• Jack’s growing obsession with killing the pig (dominates his thoughts and actions)

• Jack even perpetuates the myth of the “beastie” because it gives him an excuse to hunt

• The good plan of the signal fire instills fear in the boys with their inability to control it

Breakdown of order and power of the flames…Breakdown of order and power of the flames…

• Results in chaos and death

• Through their inability to concentrate on carrying out their own plans, the boys quickly learn failure

• The fire becomes a symbol of the indiscriminate power of brute force - unleashed, uncontrolled, its potential is deadly and indifferent, consuming all who get too close.

• Results in chaos and death

• Through their inability to concentrate on carrying out their own plans, the boys quickly learn failure

• The fire becomes a symbol of the indiscriminate power of brute force - unleashed, uncontrolled, its potential is deadly and indifferent, consuming all who get too close.

IronyIrony

• The explosions from the fire that claim the boy’s (with the mulberry birthmark) life cause the creeper vines to fly into the air looking like snakes.

• Ironically, they appear to be the “snake-thing” the boy thought would eat him

• It seems that the beast he feared was real, only it was not quite what he expected it to be

• The explosions from the fire that claim the boy’s (with the mulberry birthmark) life cause the creeper vines to fly into the air looking like snakes.

• Ironically, they appear to be the “snake-thing” the boy thought would eat him

• It seems that the beast he feared was real, only it was not quite what he expected it to be

Events of Chapter 3Events of Chapter 3

• The chapter opens with Jack tracking a pig

• The other boys are building huts

• The hunters have gone swimming

• Simon helps the littluns get fruit

• Ralph and Jack talk about the littluns’ nightmares about the beast

• At the end of the chapter, Simon goes into the jungle

• The chapter opens with Jack tracking a pig

• The other boys are building huts

• The hunters have gone swimming

• Simon helps the littluns get fruit

• Ralph and Jack talk about the littluns’ nightmares about the beast

• At the end of the chapter, Simon goes into the jungle

Symbols:Symbols:

• huts represent the attempt to create a civilization

• knife symbolizes Jack’s violent nature

• huts represent the attempt to create a civilization

• knife symbolizes Jack’s violent nature

JuxtapositionJuxtaposition

• Juxtaposition is the placing of two things, side by side, generally to draw attention to or to emphasize differences between two things.

• Throughout most of Chapter Three, Golding juxtaposes Jack and Ralph.

• Juxtaposition is the placing of two things, side by side, generally to draw attention to or to emphasize differences between two things.

• Throughout most of Chapter Three, Golding juxtaposes Jack and Ralph.

Ralph and JackRalph and Jack

Ralph

• Concerned about being rescued

• Building huts and shelters with Simon

• Ralph is concerned about the community

Ralph

• Concerned about being rescued

• Building huts and shelters with Simon

• Ralph is concerned about the community

Jack

• Obsessed with the hunt

• Hunting for pigs to kill

• Jack is only concerned with what HE wants

Jack

• Obsessed with the hunt

• Hunting for pigs to kill

• Jack is only concerned with what HE wants

There is another juxtaposition of characters: the chapter begins with Jack alone in the forest and ends with

Simon alone in the forest.

There is another juxtaposition of characters: the chapter begins with Jack alone in the forest and ends with

Simon alone in the forest.

Jack

• Described in animal like terms (dog-like, on all fours, flared nostrils)

• The forest is described as unfriendly and oppressive when Jack is in it

• Jack sees the forest as something to conquer

Jack

• Described in animal like terms (dog-like, on all fours, flared nostrils)

• The forest is described as unfriendly and oppressive when Jack is in it

• Jack sees the forest as something to conquer

Simon• Simon’s forest is different

from Jack’s• He is at home in the

forest• Wishes the forest no

harm• He is accepted by the

forest• Enjoys the tranquility of

the forest

Simon• Simon’s forest is different

from Jack’s• He is at home in the

forest• Wishes the forest no

harm• He is accepted by the

forest• Enjoys the tranquility of

the forest

SimonSimon

Simon emerges as the Christ—figure: pure, good, peaceful, and helpful (in contrast with the others)

Simon emerges as the Christ—figure: pure, good, peaceful, and helpful (in contrast with the others)