https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks Lord of the Flies Entries en-us 2022-02-08 14:46:11 UTC 2024-04-03 21:28:08 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4d4.png 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2035645077 Question 1) Ralph is a twelve-year old conscientious leader. He is described as athletic with fair colored hair. While he maintains his playful nature, he always prioritizes the group's survival and guidance. His acts of leadership are why he was elected as chief over everyone on the island. Piggy is portrayed as cautious, overweight, and intelligent. He wears thick glasses and often worries about the group's fate. His intellect allowed him to recommend using the conch shell as an improvised trumpet. Jack is described as having red hair, blue eyes, and being tall and thin. Jack possesses an air of self-confidence that often manifests into arrogance and ego. I believe each of these boys represents an aspect of humanity. Piggy often utilizes his resourcefulness to assist his friends. He could represent humanity's tendency to use their intelligence as a means to thrive. Ralph is a confident leader who is striving for the group's survival. This indicates that he represents the good in humanity and their desire to endure in menacing conditions. Contrastingly, Jack has a desire to hunt and dominate over everyone. This could indicate that Jack represents the selfish and corrupt morals of humanity.


Question 2) One instance of foreshadowing I noticed in this chapter is Piggy's asthma. The author immediately clarifies that Piggy has a health condition that will most likely hinder his ability to survive. I believe Piggy's asthma will return later in the novel as a prominent source of conflict. Since the children are stranded on an island, there is no method of gaining professional medical assistance. Another source of foreshadowing I noticed is Jack's behavior during hunting. After he fails to kill a wild boar, Jack immediately becomes defensive instead of admitting his hesitation. I believe this display of Jack's arrogance and desire to appear powerful will create conflict within the group in the future. As displayed in this chapter, Jack enjoys feeling superior, which may contribute to immoral decisions in the future. 

Question 3) Throughout this chapter, the boys' actions and beliefs signify crucial aspects of human nature. Ralph's vote as leader signifies how humanity often desires to vote for the most competent person who will increase their chances of survival. Ralph's initial joy at being separated from the adults represents how many individuals, particularly children, highly value their independence. Ralph choosing to tell the other boys Piggy's nickname signifies how humanity can sometimes be egocentric and avoid empathy. In total, all of the boys' actions and beliefs represent some of humanity's flaws, characteristics, and inclination to survive. Thus far, every action taken by the characters represents an aspect of reality and our natural world.

Question 4) I believe the "sound of the shell" from the conch symbolizes order and cooperation. When Ralph uses the conch shell, all of the boys gather in an organized meeting. The conch shell brings unity, which allows the boys to cooperate and ponder methods of survival. It represents a glimmer of civilization in an environment where chaos often thrives. I can interpret that the conch will become increasingly significant, as the boys strive to maintain their order.]]> 2022-02-08 14:49:49 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2035645077 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2035864881
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Question 1) I believe the "beastie" is significant as it represents the horrific reality of the boys' situation. (That they are stranded on a deserted island). The concept of an immense predator stalking about the island displays the danger awaiting every turn of the island and every choice the children make. The beast is initially described as an atrocious monster seen only at night. This could be interpreted as the children's increased fear of the woods at night. Once the child mentions the beast to the group, the other children begin to panic as they confront the reality of their situation. If they are not careful, their decisions could have fatal consequences. This is represented by the beast, a monster awaiting in the darkness. Ralph believes that he is, "facing something ungraspable" which could mean that Ralph is having difficulty accepting his current reality. He tells the child that the beast was only seen in his nightmares—a fabricated fantasy. By denying the belief of the beast, Ralph is refusing to allow the anxiety and fear induced by his reality to cloud his judgement. Which is why he repeatedly shouts aloud, "There isn't a beast!"

Question 3) I believe Piggy's glasses represent intellect, and humanity's ability to understand and adapt. Piggy used the glasses to see clearly, and the group of boys used them to begin a fire. The glasses are a multi-functional tool that consistently assist the children in their survival and knowledge of the world. Piggy represents intelligence, which is why he wears the symbol for knowledge and clarity. Piggy describes how everything appears blurry when he takes the glasses off, symbolizing how comprehending the wisest moral decision depends on one's knowledge. Without the glasses that represent intellect, Piggy is unable to contribute to the group.

Question 6) The events that occur in the first two chapters indicate the novel's themes of civilization and humanity struggling to survive against barbarity. In the first chapter, the boys develop a system for hosting meetings, which displays their value of civilization and order. However, towards the end of the chapter, Jack contemplates killing a wild pig. I believe this is a display of one of the core themes of the book: Civilization clashing with savagery. In chapter 2, the boys lose sight of their civility when they repeatedly ignore Piggy holding the conch. They discarded the metaphorical symbols for intelligence and order. Instead, they allowed their fire to become chaotic, wild, and dangerous. The conflict of the first two chapters reflects the themes of maintaining civilization in an environment that encourages savagery.]]> 2022-02-08 16:09:06 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2035864881 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2036054093 Question 1) Chapter three begins by describing a sudden change in Jack's personality. He stalked around the forest and appeared almost undistinguishable from the common predators in the brush. This chapter portrays him as animalistic, desiring nothing aside from hunting. This indicates the growing savagery felt by Jack. In this chapter, his beliefs and actions have become more barbaric. Parallels can be drawn from the beast in the woods that the children fear, and the increasing monstrous tendencies felt by Jack. The symbolism that Jack represents is exemplified in this chapter, as he has completely forgotten about being rescued. He explicitly states that he'd prefer to hunt a pig before thinking about being rescued. His priorities solely lie in hunting and prowling through the forest. He is the representation of humanity's savagery and desire for power. These urges have increased in this chapter, which could indicate that the group is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their civility.

Question 2) The majority of the boys in this chapter become increasingly lazy and disregard any work that is required for their long-term survival. I believe this is a representation of how human nature inclines people to make false declarations of their dedication and persistence to a cause. Ralph explains how, during meetings, the boys will exclaim their plans to work hard. However, they never actually execute their promises to contribute. The boys' lack of diligence in this chapter represents how some individuals are inclined to stand idle and allow others to accomplish tasks. It appears that the children's behavior in this chapter relates back to Jack's behavior. His increasing savagery and immoral tendencies could be paralleled by the boys' desire to only focus on themselves and benefit off their peers' work. Ralph, Simon, and Piggy all possess the valuable quality of diligence and conscientiousness. They understand the situation they are trapped in and are actively trying to increase their chances of survival. For example, Ralph and Simon attempted to build shelter, and Piggy often utilizes his intellect and sense of caution. Unlike the other children, Ralph, Simon, and Piggy are responsible and willing to strive for their survival.

Question 4) I believe Jack and the "littluns" could have fears about a "beastie" because they enjoy the prospects of fun that the island provides, and they actively dread the reality of dangerous predators. They currently view their situation as a time for personal enjoyment and fun. However, this belief is simply untrue. A wild beast in the woods would force Jack and the young children to confront the fact that there are fatal threats on the island. Ralph, Simon, and Piggy don't fear the idea of a beast because they already understand the notion that there are threats on the island. The fear generated from the beast could also represent how young children have an excitable imagination that exaggerates their fears. This suggests a theme of fearing what is unknown or dangerous. Jack and the younger children dread an obscured and menacing beast in the woods because it threatens their idea of an idealized island adventure. On the other hand, Ralph, Simon, and Piggy are accustomed to the reality of their situation and understand that dangerous predators are to be expected on a deserted island.]]> 2022-02-08 17:22:05 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2036054093 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2036186010
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Question 2) I believe Maurice walks away when Percival starts crying because he has begun to disregard his morals. As displayed in previous chapters, the longer the boys remain on the island, the more their savagery overcomes their ethics and empathy. Maurice had lost his sense of empathy, which is why he completely disregarded Percival. Roger doesn't throw stones directly at Henry because he still has impressions of morality and punishments from his life in civilization. Previously, he would be reprimanded for throwing stones at Roger. Now, even though there is no authority overseeing his behavior, Roger still understands that throwing stones is immoral. He has not yet lost all of the morality instilled in him while he was raised. The behavior of Maurice and Roger indicates that the boys on the island are slowly losing their morality the longer they are left stranded. This suggests that human nature is susceptible to change while left to its own devices. This chapter suggests that everyone has the capacity for malevolent behavior, but such tendencies are typically maintained by the authority of society. Now that the children are stranded, there is no one but themselves to maintain their humanity. I believe this will return later in the story, as the children struggle to retain their previous sense of what is just.

Question 3) The hunters decide to paint their faces to both distinguish themselves from the rest of the group, and to conceal their conscience. Painting their faces causes the hunters to feel unrestrained by morality or accountability for their actions. The hunters no longer feel like the same group of children that they were when they arrived. When they wear their makeup, I believe they each view themselves as an entirely different person—one who is free of the enforced morals of civilization. This lack of restriction causes the hunters and Jack to begin to indulge in violent behaviors. It appears that this makeup symbolically represents how some individuals will wear a facade to disown their previous life and society. Jack's decision to use makeup shows his increasing savagery and that he has completely disowned his past life. I believe that Jack painting his face will only increase his violence and immoral actions as he further abandons his conscience. 

Question 6) 
I believe the conflict created between Jack and Ralph will eventually cause the boys to divide into two very distinct groups. Jack's growing arrogance and self-importance will most likely cause him to separate from the other boys with his group of hunters. Jack and Ralph are opposites, both narratively and for the symbols they represent. Ralph uses his power as a leader to help people, while Jack uses his power for selfish means. Ralph represents humanity and guidance, while Jack represents savagery and corrupt power. These two characters are written to oppose one another, which is why I believe the conflict between them will eventually become catastrophic. The boys' reaction to hunting meat heavily contrasts their reaction to losing their chance of rescue. The boys appear ecstatic and victorious when they find the meat. Contrastingly, their reaction to losing their chance of rescue is sullen and enraged. It appears that some of the boys may view hunting meat as more rewarding than trying to be rescued. Their success at hunting meat shows the boys that they are capable of surviving on their own, which may discourage them from seeking rescue. Jack perpetuates this idea; he repeatedly forgets or ignores that they should be rescued at all. This belief harshly contrasts Ralph's desire to return home. Jack and Ralph repeatedly display their contrasting beliefs and behaviors. I believe the imminent conflict that will arise between these two characters and ideas will be cataclysmic.]]> 2022-02-08 18:18:21 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2036186010 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048391722 Question 1) After the signal fire incident, Ralph's values and goals have changed. He has lost faith in his group's sense of order and cooperation. At the beginning of the chapter, Ralph becomes acutely aware of the horrid conditions on the island. Instead of working towards being rescued at a steady pace, he now understands that they must be rescued as soon as possible. His desperation continues during the meeting, in which he reprimands the group for their lack of dedication and their tendency to ignore responsibilities. During this chapter, Ralph's role as leader was truly tested. He had to scold his friends and remind them that the island is no place for blissful carelessness. However, instead of his friends agreeing with him, a large amount of the boys began to shout and argue. It seems as if Ralph's fears are coming to fruition. The longer they distance themselves from civilization, the more savage the group becomes. The majority of the boys are beginning to favor convivence and fun over long-term survival. Ralph has become aware of their new beliefs after the signal fire incident, causing him to panic.  Ralph now truly comprehends the daunting notion that they might be stuck on the island for the rest of their lives. This has changed his priorities drastically. He now prioritizes survival and maintaining the fire over his friend's fondness of him. 

Question 6) In this chapter, Simon states that he believes the beast is within the group. I believe he is implying that that the true monster is the barbaric nature and hatred present within each of the boys. The fear of the beast is what causes the group to argue and distrust each other. As they fight, the beast looms larger and more prominent. I believe the beast will continue to be a metaphor throughout the book, as the boys gradually lose trust in each other. In response to Simon's suggestion, the rest of the group bursts into laughter and begins to taunt him. It seems as if Simon is the only person who can see the increasing monstrosity between group members. Since nobody else in the group considers Simon's belief, they all might be in denial of the unmistakable disaster that might occur in the future if they allow their hatred to fester. As the book progresses, Simon's statement might be proven true on multiple occasions. The author indirectly shows how the boys are in denial of their deteriorating mental state, which may cause them to rationalize immoral behavior in the future.

Question 7) During this chapter, Ralph persistently declares how crucial the rules are to the group. Ralph initially designed his meeting to be eloquent and simple. However, as the meeting progressed, anarchy began to rampage throughout the group. Ralph previously believed the rules to be important, and his notion was only strengthened by the group's argument. During the chaotic meeting, he exclaims aloud that rules are the only thing they have on the island. I believe this meeting perfectly reflects why Ralph values the rules. Without rules, the children will be free to ignore their responsibilities, harm others, and waste their resources without any repercussions. The rules are the only thing currently maintaining the boys' sense of civilization. This chapter illustrated how Ralph will continue to strive for maintaining rules in conflict with Jack. Jack explicitly states his hatred for rules, and his desire to simply live as he pleases. However, since the children are in a survival situation, this notion must be extinguished immediately. Ralph understands that Jack's rule breaking could be the destruction of the group's sense of order and humanity. The consequences for breaking the rules are vastly more severe than a simple punishment or scolding from Ralph. Instead, breaking the rules will result in their sense of civilization collapsing in front of them. Without rules, the children will lose their sense of civilization, which may disincline them from being rescued. The repercussions for breaking the rules will not be suffered by the rule breaker, but the entire group. It is possible that the rising anarchy in the group could result in the children's downfall.]]> 2022-02-15 11:54:36 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048391722 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048516629
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Question 1) The "beast from air" is a parachutist who has crashed on the island. The previous night, a war was raging overhead with military planes and bombs exploding in the sky. The parachutist had crashed on the island after the battle. I believe that Sam and Eric had mistaken the parachutist for a beast because of the increasing paranoia and fear on the island. The previous night the boys were whispering rumors about a monstrous beast that hunts at night. This has caused Sam and Eric to mistake the figure in the darkness for that very same beast. Personally, I believe the parachutist was the sign from the adult world that the boys were searching for. In the previous chapter, the boys were discussing how adults are more responsible and conscientious. Then, they wished for a sign from the adult world to assist them in their survival. I believe the parachutist, which had arrived immediately after the boys' wish, was the sign they were looking for. However, the parachutist did not represent the blissful and ideal adult world. Instead, the figure arrived from a war and had died on the island. I believe this is representative of one of the novels themes: Not everything in the world is ideal and blissful. The parachutist represents how life is challenging both on the island and on the mainland. Instead of receiving a sign from a joyous adult world, they received a daunting reminder that the adult world can be just as violent as life on the island. I believe that it could convey a sense of reality and the horrors of war.


Question 2) Sam and Eric's description of the beast indicates immense aspects of human psychology and cognition. They described this beast as monstrous, with immense teeth and sharp claws. However, they had never actually seen a beast, just a shadowed figure in the trees. Their description portrays how the human mind tends to exaggerate one's fears of the unknown. This notion especially applies to children. Their fear of the unknown and expectations of a monstrous beast caused them to describe the figure as horrifying. Their behavior is indicative of some form of confirmation bias. Sam and Eric believed that there was a terrifying monster in the woods, so they interpreted any figure or sound as a beast. They were paranoid of a horrifying beast, so they attributed the figure with threatening characteristics such as teeth and claws. They thought they had seen the same beast that was rumored to have claws and teeth like daggers, so they the described figure as they imagined it, rather than what it looked like in reality.


Question 5) I believe Ralph didn't expect to encounter a real beast because, until this point, the monster had only been discussed in theory or based on rumors. He had never witnessed any concrete evidence that a beast did exist. In addition, the beast described by the children does not match with Ralph's current understanding of the island. The fact that the beast is too big to survive on a small island may have contributed to his skepticism. I believe Ralph not expecting to see a beast may indicate his logical and leadership qualities. He did not get distracted or mislead by the rumors spread by the children. Instead, he used his reasoning to conclude that a beast should not exist on a small, deserted island. Without Ralph's leadership and clear mind, the paranoia spread by the beast may have caused further chaos and distrust within the group.]]> 2022-02-15 13:15:39 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048516629 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048676713 Question 1) At the beginning of this chapter, Ralph notices that he has been impulsively biting his fingernails. He then remarks aloud how he might make a habit of sucking his thumb eventually. Ralph demonstrates that he has begun talking to himself more frequently. I believe his statement implies that he is experiencing the psychological term known as "regression." Regression describes how, as a defense mechanism in times of stress, a child might revert back to infantile or comforting behaviors such as sucking one's thumb. Ralph's time on the island has truly begun to affect him psychologically. He now reverts back to old habits and talks to himself. These new behaviors, such as talking to himself, imply a sudden change within Ralph. He views himself as alone more frequently and has forgotten some societal norms. I believe the island has larger impact on the children than previously considered. The longer the children are stranded, the more their mind becomes affected in both significant and trivial ways. Their time in isolation has decreased their humanity, but it has also caused them to forget minor societal mannerisms. This was displayed by Ralph in this chapter. He has reacquired the old habit of biting his fingernails and has begun talking to himself. This chapter demonstrates how Ralph has begun to lose sight of multiple factors from his old life on the mainland.

Question 3) After the group of hunters and Ralph encountered a pig, they began to jokingly berate and bash Robert. They pretended that Robert was the pig and tried to play with him. However, this quickly escalated into genuine violence, which caused Robert to beg for the boys to stop. This violent behavior is particularly unusual and disturbing from Ralph. Previously, he had always advocated against any forms of violence in an attempt to maintain civility. However, it seems as if his time on the island has caused Ralph's morality to slip. He was one of the most morally fair-minded members in the group. However, now it appears as if he is willing to behave violently towards his friends. I believe the group's disturbing behavior in this chapter may heavily foreshadow events to come. If there are any future arguments or riots within the group, this chapter indicated how they will most likely become violent. The leader of the group, Ralph, has displayed the increasing savagery within the boys. I believe that soon, a grave action of barbarity will occur.

Question 6) I believe the author plotted the story so that the boys will venture to the mountain in the dark to increase their fears and paranoia. The boys believed that a monstrous beast was awaiting their arrival on top of the mountain in the dark. The author framed the story in this manner to further emphasize the book's themes of paranoia and the fear of the unknown. Journeying in the dark causes the boys to anticipate a wide assortment of horrifying monsters awaiting them. This both increases the fear felt by the children as well as the growing suspense for the reader. Framing the story so that the boys would voyage up the mountain in the dark allows their fear and paranoia to overwhelm them. They cannot see the figure in the distance clearly, causing their imagination to run rampant. Their fear of the unknown has become prominent in this moment. Utilizing humanity's fear of the dark in cleverly timed events is a very effective writing tool. Golding utilizes the dark ingeniously, as it allows the boys dread to fester. Golding emphasizes the fear of the scene by portraying the boys' lack of information, sight, or understanding. If this scene occurred during the daylight, it would not be nearly as engaging or effective.]]> 2022-02-15 14:26:32 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048676713 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048844059
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Question 3) I believe the older children waited until the rest of the group was occupied to leave because they were afraid of confrontation with Ralph. Their end decision indicates that they agreed with Jack's proposal, but initially remained with Ralph. I believe their departure after the meeting was to avoid conflict. If they had spoken out during the meeting, an immense argument would have initiated between Ralph and Jack. Instead, they opted to leave silently after the excitement had diminished. Their decision demonstrates the growing distrust within the group. The older children did not trust Ralph as their leader, so they fled to Jack's group. Previously, the children were submissive when it came to the work on the island. Their passive nature has returned yet again in this chapter, when they refuse to confront Ralph directly. Their choice indicates that they wish to avoid conflict or repercussions. This portrays that the rest of the older boys have a desire to obtain the benefits of an easy life without the sense of responsibility or admonishment given by Ralph. I believe the older boys chose to leave when the rest of the group was busy so they may passively enter a responsibility-free group of hunters. Therefore, they will acquire all of the benefits with none of the accountability.

Question 5) In this chapter, Simon suggests returning to the mountaintop to try and find the beast. However, the rest of the group ignores his advice. I believe he makes this suggestion because he understands that the beast is most likely imaginary. Since the beast was only seen at night, he might understand that the children's supposed sightings could be exaggerated or entirely fabricated. In addition, he most likely proposed this suggestion because he believes confronting their fears is the only way to progress and survive. After the group disagrees with his suggestion, Simon states aloud, "What else is there to do?" This statement indicates how the beast is hindering all progress made by the group. The children were unable to begin or properly maintain any of their other survival tasks because of the dreaded beast. Ultimately, the group decided not to enact Simon's suggestion. Unknown to them, however, their willing stagnation would have severe consequences. Since chose not to follow Simon's suggestion, they may never discover that the beast is imaginary. If they were to follow Simon, they would eventually discover that the beast is just a parachutist who had crashed on the island. Simon's suggestion is both the only reasonable option left, and crucial for the group's progress. If the group had listened to Simon, their survival would have become remarkably simpler.

Question 8) After the rest of the hunters leave Simon's clearing, he sits in front of a pig head on a stick. The pig head begins to speak to Simon in his mind and claims himself to be the "Lord of the Flies." I believe this pig head represents all of the savagery and hatred present within the boys. The Lord of the Flies is a decapitated pig head, which further emphasizes its role as a symbol of human barbarity. The Lord of the Flies' symbolism is further evidenced by his speech. In which, he exclaims that the beast is not something you can physically kill. The Lord of the Flies continues to explain that he is present within each one of the boys. I believe this speech indicates that both the beast and the Lord of the Flies represent the increasing madness and barbarity within the children as they are left to their own devices. The fact that the Lord of the Flies communicates by talking to Simon in his mind heavily implies that he is not real. Instead, he is Simon talking to himself and confronting the notion that Jack and his hunters have lost their humanity. The Lord of the Flies' conversation allows Simon to truly address that the beast represents the cruelty present within each of the boys.]]> 2022-02-15 15:31:49 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2048844059 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2049033535 Question 1) Jack's generosity with the meat that the hunters obtained shows his motivations and ultimate desires. He has repeatedly been shown to be extremely jealous of Ralph and his role as leader. His current generosity could be explained by his desire to outperform Ralph as a caring leader and show the boys that he should be chief. This is why, after he gives the group meat, he immediately asks them to join his tribe with him as the leader. This is a very effective psychological tactic, in which a person will portray themselves as helpful, trustworthy, and generous in hopes of gaining something in return. Jack even offers meat to Ralph and Piggy, two characters he has previously despised. I believe he chose to behave generously towards these characters in hopes of manipulating them to join his tribe as well. In addition, his facade of kindness towards these two characters portrays Jack as a forgiving leader to the other boys. In this chapter, the kindness and generosity that Jack portrays shows his fiendish and manipulative nature. I believe this aspect of his personality will return again in this story, as he may try to use his psychological knowledge to maneuver the other members of his tribe against his adversaries.

Question 2) When it begins raining, instead of desiring a shelter, Jack encourages his tribe to dance and chant. This is an incredibly effective leadership tactic, as it increases his group's sense of community. It also conveys that Jack, the leader, has no fear of the rain or storm. This portrays him as powerful and confident. Commanding his tribe to sing and dance in the storm also affects the group psychologically. Jack is indirectly stating that they should not fear anything on the island. Instead, they should declare their dominance and dance. The tribe feels reinvigorated after Jack's request, which portrays him as a capable and impervious leader. His request also relates back to the makeup he applied during Chapter 4. The makeup Jack and his tribe utilize gives them a mask to hide behind. With the makeup, they no longer feel responsible or restrained by any moral conscience whatsoever. Jack commanding his tribe to dance and chant with their makeup on shows how they view themselves as uninhibited by fear. I predict that Jack's leadership tactics and his tribe's desire to wear concealing makeup to distance themselves from morality will encourage more acts of violence in the future.

Question 3) In a horrific frenzy, the boys in Jack's tribe beat a "beast" to death. However, the beast is revealed to be Simon, who had just returned from the mountain. Simon's death is tragic, ironic, and indicative of the future atrocities to come. I believe his death is ironic because the "beast" they killed was the only person who knew that the beast wasn't real. If Simon were alive, the rest of the boys would know that there is no monster stalking through the woods. Instead, the influence of the growing metaphorical beast within the children had caused the tribe to resort to violence. Simon's death also has remarkable symbolic significance. Simon represented morality, nature, and humanity. However, he was brutally killed by Jack and his tribe, the epitome of savagery. Metaphorically, this altercation indicates that the tribe's humanity has officially died. The barbarity that was previously restrained to violent undertones and the occasional fight is now unrestricted. I predict that Simon's death will mark a turning point in the novel, in which everyone on the island will become incredibly desperate and enraged. Unlike the child with the mulberry birth mark, Simon's death could be interpreted as intentional. Simon's death will most likely cause the immense conflict between Ralph and Jack foreshadowed earlier to soon come to fruition.

Question 4) Golding decided to have the parachutist fly over the boys and into the sea to dispose of any remaining factors that proved the beast wasn't real. The parachutist was the only physical evidence that the beast was imaginary, and Simon had understood that notion. The author had them both float out to sea to demonstrate how the boys will never have their fears of a beast resolved. Instead, the beast, and the boys' savagery will only become more of a threat. Simon represented kindness and humanity. Now that his body has been washed to sea, the humanity of the boys has faded as well. Now that both the humanity of the group and the parachutist have washed to sea, it will not be long before mayhem erupts between the boys. The boys have lost all evidence that the beast was fake. Psychologically, this means that any of the paranoia felt by the boys in the future will have nothing to contend it. With Simon and the parachutist's departure, I predict that all of the boys will become irrational and more violent. Jack has recently reaffirmed his position as the tribe leader. Now that there is no evidence to refute any of his claims, I believe Jack will be free to elicit any rumors about the beast as he pleases.]]> 2022-02-15 16:49:51 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2049033535 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2075691588
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Question 1) Ralph and Piggy view Simon's death with intense feelings of shock and denial. Ralph continuously encourages Piggy and the others to avoid discussing what had happened the previous night. It seems as if Simon's death was incredibly traumatic to him and is something he desperately wishes to forget. Contrastingly, Piggy repeatedly shows signs of distress after Simon's death. He despairingly recounts the events of the previous night in pure terror. He then desperately asks Ralph for guidance on what they should do next. After Simon's death, it appears as if Piggy now completely relies on Ralph's leadership. Ralph jokingly states, "I got the conch" to illustrate how the authority and order of their group is gone. Previously, the conch had represented civilization. Now however, the children's civilization and humanity has perished, simultaneously with Simon. Ralph understands this notion, which causes him to despairingly laugh out loud. Piggy, however, refuses to accept that their sense of civilization has dissipated. In response to Ralph's laughter, he strongly scolds him and advises him to avoid joking about the conch. Piggy has consistently shown how devoted he is to maintaining civilization; now that his hopes are placed in jeopardy, he panics. Both Ralph and Piggy frantically attempt denying Simon's death. Instead, they both claim that they left the feast early, and had not witnessed anything. They simply explain that their odd behavior is from fatigue, rather than trauma. Ralph and Piggy are displaying excellent examples of denial. In psychology, denial is described as: A complete refusal to accept unpleasant or disturbing realities. Their decision to deny any involvement in Simon's death reveals how, as humans, we naturally wish to deflect any accusatory truths. I believe their decision to deny their current situation will eventually become a detriment in the future. Ralph and Piggy's tendency to deny the growing savagery on the island may cause them to ignore genuine threats in the future.


Question 5) The day after the feast, Jack's group of biguns have a palpable atmosphere of dread. It is apparent that they all felt unnerved and unsure of what to think. They all looked to each other for advice on how to interpret the horrors at the feast. During their meeting, instead of processing what atrocities they had all committed, they collectively opted to claim that Simon was merely the beast in disguise. I believe the hunters, while barbaric in the moment, do not fully process their horrific actions. It is only during their meeting that they begin attempting to rationalize what had occurred the night prior. I believe they had killed Simon during the feast partly due to the excitement of the moment, and partly due to their increasing violent tendencies. This is why they are all, "half-relieved, half-daunted by the implication of further terrors." Their sense of humanity understands how horrific their behavior has become, while their extreme sense of savagery is relieved to finally be released. I believe Jack's biguns are all are aware of the fact that they killed Simon, but they are firmly in denial. In addition, the members of Jack's group actively support each other's rationalization of their behavior, which will become detrimental the group's overall sense of morality.  Although savage, Jack's biguns still have an innate sense of humanity, which is why one of them had stated, "How could we—kill—it?" Their shock and denial are also represented by the unfinished statement, "But didn't we, didn't we—". This phrase should be finished by the statement, "didn't we...kill him?" which further illustrates how Jack's biguns cannot bring themselves to verbally state what they have done. Instead, they only refer to their violence as killing, "it." It's poignant that the author now refers to Jack's hunters as, "Savages," which truly reveals their nature. I believe the author's choice to officially refer to the group as, "Savages" portrays that they are no longer rational, and will likely continue their acts of violence in the future.

Question 6) Throughout this chapter, Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric display multiple signs of increasing terror and stress. Piggy repeatedly clings to the conch, the symbol for civilization, and panics when he believes it might have been stolen. The conch is one of the only concrete representations of humanity left, which is why he immediately desires to hold and protect it after Simon's death. Samneric are despaired in this chapter. They both seek Ralph's advice for guidance and comfort to alleviate their fears. Eric in particular portrays immense signs of distress when he collapses on his way back from collecting wood. He exclaims aloud how he feels as if there is no point to collecting wood or being rescued. It seems as if the twins fear for their lives and feel intensely hopeless. Ralph shows intense signs of his distress as well. During his initial conversation about Simon, he holds the conch and rocks back and forth anxiously. Ralph's previous remark about his distressing physical habits has returned yet again, as he now rocks himself back in forth while stressed. In addition, Ralph shuddered after Piggy touched his shoulder. I believe Ralph is unnerved at any form of human contact after the violence Simon had experienced. It is apparent that each of the boys are severely distressed after Simon's death. They each display their fears through their physical behaviors and dialogue.]]> 2022-03-03 12:32:04 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2075691588 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2075917616 Question 1) The author describes the twins as "seeing Ralph for the first time" to convey their sudden doubt in Ralph's leadership capabilities. Ralph has forgotten why they needed smoke for the fire and needed Piggy to remind him. This abrupt mistake has caused the twins to realize that Ralph may not be as competent as they once thought. The once outspoken and confident leader is now forgetful and unsure. At this point, the twins are forced to reconsider if Ralph's leadership will shield them from Jack's violent tribe. Perhaps Ralph's waning perceptiveness may incline Samneric to eventually embrace Jack's tribe instead. Previously, Eric had exclaimed his disdain for carrying firewood all day. He stated that he views all of their labor as pointless, as rescue is becoming increasingly impossible. This statement could have been a form of foreshadowing. In Jack's group, Eric would not have to haul firewood all day, nor be worried about finding rescue. At the end of this chapter, Jack forcefully suggests that Samneric join his tribe. Understanding their previous desires, beliefs, and reconsideration of Ralph as a competent leader, they may eventually choose to join Jack's tribe.

Question 3) Roger's decision to push the immense rock off the cliff is incredibly symbolic. Roger has arguably been one of the most eagerly violent boys on the island. He frequently throws stones and attacks others for what he sees as justified means. Before Roger pushed the boulder, Piggy was repeatedly exclaiming the importance of authority and guidance. I believe Roger released the immense boulder for a multitude of narrative reasons: He felt as if the tribe's identity of savages was being jeopardized, he was growing fatigued from Piggy's cries, and he is naturally violent. Symbolically, Roger could represent the extremity of violence on the island. Contrastingly, Piggy symbolically represents intelligence and rational thinking. Therefore, Roger crushing Piggy symbolically represents savagery defeating logic. Now, both the symbol for humanity, Simon, and the symbol for logical thinking, Piggy, have died due to Jack and his group's savagery. Roger might have understood Piggy's importance to Ralph and the littluns. Roger might have feared that Piggy could successfully convince Jack's tribe to return to Ralph's group. I believe Roger's violent tendencies and his desire to lead Jack's group further into savagery is why he decided to push the rock off the cliff.


Question 4) The conch's destruction holds incredible symbolic significance and weight for what events will occur in the future. Roger, an incredibly violent character, has destroyed Piggy and the conch with a large rock. This conch has consistently represented authority and civilization for the group. Piggy, the symbol for intelligence, understood the conch's importance, which is why he repeatedly clung to it in times of stress. The conch also represents unity; every time Ralph blows it, the entire group gathers together in an arguably civilized manner. The conch's destruction, especially by Roger, represents how the entire island's idea of civilization has been both physically and symbolically shattered. Once the conch was shattered, Jack's group of savages felt completely unrestricted, and began to attack Ralph. This shows how the conch was the only portion of civility left on the island. Now that it has been destroyed, I predict Jack's group of hunters will become almost undistinguishable from savage animals. They now have no method or desire to maintain order within their group. The only positive symbol on the island left is Ralph. Ralph represents humanity's desire to behave morally, cooperate, and survive. With the destruction of the conch, it will become instrumentally more difficult for Ralph to feel safe or be rescued in the future.]]> 2022-03-03 14:29:08 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2075917616 1095473 https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2076201396
Transcripts:
Question 3) In this chapter, Ralph learns that Samneric have decided to join Jack's tribe. However, the author quickly conveys that they were heavily encouraged and partially forced by Jack to join. As shown in the previous chapter, Samneric have questioned Ralph's capability as a leader. They now understand that Ralph is not always as confident as he appears. Therefore, they might have been somewhat inclined to join Jack's group. Jack's tribe would provide them with constant food and safety in numbers. Samneric have become reluctant members of Jack's tribe out of necessity. Later in the chapter, the twins reveal the hiding place of Ralph. I believe they chose to betray Ralph out of fear of Jack and Robert. The violent and disturbing mindset of 
tribe members such as these are enough to keep them obedient. In addition, Jack's psychological tactics as tribe leader have returned yet again in this chapter. To maintain his leadership status, Jack often intimidates and threatens those who doubt him. He employs psychology to ensure the obedience of everyone in his tribe. I believe this is why Jack despised Ralph and Piggy to the extent that he did. Both Ralph and Piggy were either brave or intelligent enough to resist Jack's intimidation. Samneric are excellent examples of how Jack's frightening psychological tactics have destroyed the reasoning and morality of the boys on the island.


Question 5) In an attempt to find Ralph, Jack and his hunters decide to burn the entire island down. This baffling gap in logic illustrates how Jack and his hunters are fueled by hatred and violence, rather than reason. If allowed to continue, Jack's decision to burn the island would have been detrimental to all of the boys. As Ralph had exclaimed, the boys would no longer have any food or clean water if the island continued to burn. Jack's short-term thinking effectively portrays how much hatred he feels towards for Ralph. This decision also conveys aspects of human nature as well. Burning the island down conveys how intense hatred can cloud judgement and logical thinking. This choice is a microcosm for allowing hatred to fester and destroy lives. I find it incredibly fascinating that Jack and his hunters decided to scorch the entire island after Piggy, the symbol for intelligence, had perished. This symbolism effectively portrays how chaos has overtaken the boys. It is clear that Jack is utterly unreasonable and has become entirely engulfed by barbarity.


Question 7) I believe the quotation, "Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an incantation that had faded clean away" is significant because it illustrates how detached the boys have become from civilization. Previously, Percival was adamant on remembering his home address in Britain. This incantation was a symbol and reminder of his previous life in civilization. However, after the traumatic experiences Percival has witnessed, he has forgotten this mantra altogether. Percival forgetting his address is representative of the group as a whole. The trauma the boys experienced on the island has caused all of them to eventually forget their previous life in Britain. Instead of celebrating the arrival of the officer, the boys simply stare in disbelief. Percival suddenly forgetting his mantra is indicative of the horrors everyone has experienced while isolated from society. I believe Percival's forgetfulness is a stark reminder to the reader that these boys have undergone a permanent change and will never be able to recoup into their previous lives again.]]> 2022-03-03 16:37:48 UTC https://padlet.com/1095473/Bookmarks/wish/2076201396