LOTF Final Journal

I have to admit I did not at all suspect they'd get rescued. It's such a violent and dark novel, I didn't expect it to have a fairly happy ending, for Ralph at least. I believe he cries at the end of the novel, when the danger is over because he knows he's safe and its all going to be over soon. He's probably just so emotional and overwhelmed he cries out of joy, relief, anger, and sadness. I despise Jack and Roger the most of all the boys on the island. I'd have to say though that I despise Jack more because he is the most belligerent and savage. I would recommend this book only to someone who appreciates and understands deep and meaningful books. It's only a good book if you understand the symbols it has otherwise it's pretty boring.

Chapter 11 Response Questions

1.    Ralph’s group decides they must call an assembly and attack Jack’s tribe in hopes of taking back Piggy’s specs.

2.    The twins are “seeing Ralph for the first time” before going to Castle Rock in that they witness for the first time him being an aggressive leader by strongly standing up for what he believes in and fighting Jack.

3.   The boys’ attempt to get back Piggy’s specs and the other boys to maintain a signal fire is bound to fail because the savages refuse to hear them out. Jack doesn’t want to work things out peacefully but instead would rather fight.

4.    I think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff to feel powerful. He wants to be superior and impress the others.

5.    The destruction of the conch is significant in that is symbolizes a final end to all attempts to being civilized.

6.    The boys want a chief because they need someone to follow and make decisions for them. They feel like a part of something and a whole when they are all under the rule of one.

7.    If you were back home and there was never a war, what would you probably be doing at the moment?

Now think, what would that Jack think of this evolved Jack?

8.       I don’t know what to do anymore. I miss home still of course. Everyone does. I loved the idea of no grownups and a whole island to ourselves when we first arrived but now things are starting to get out of hand.

       I’m with Jack’s tribe. I feel more connected and it feels good to be a part of a group with hunting and dancing and meat! It’s just some of what goes on is getting a little much. Jack isn’t himself anymore. Just the other day he bet up my good friend Wilfred and now Ralph has gone into hiding, but above it all, the beast still wanders the island…

LOTF Ch. 10 Questions

1.  Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric claim they all left early last night and missed everything that happened with Simon. They say they left right after the feast because they were tired. Samneric state they were tired, and all four boys pretend they weren't part of the dance. “Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively. ‘We left early’” (Golding 158).

2.  Ralph has a huge guilty conscience about Simon’s death. He says it was murder and has realized how violent the group has become. “I’m frightened. Of us. I want to go home. Oh God, I want to go home” (Golding 157). Jack of the other hand doesn’t even acknowledge Simon. “It came—disguised. He may come again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat” (Golding 160). He says it had been the beast that attacked the previous night and disguised himself as Simon. “Each savage flinched away from his individual memory. ‘No! How could we—kill—it!” (Golding 160). Although every boy subconsciously understands the crime they committed, no one will admit it and use the beast as an excuse to cover for it.

3.  Based on his order to have Wilfred beaten, Jack has become a completely ruthless dictator. He’s lost his civil ways including his morals. “‘He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up.’… ‘But didn’t he say why?’ ‘I never heard him’” (Golding 159). Jack can’t control his emotions in a civilized manner so instead uses brute forces. “The chief said we got to challenge everyone” (Golding 159). Jack is insecure about being chief and doesn’t want anyone at all to challenge his authority.

Jack is chief now as all the boys except for a few take orders from him.

Piggy: has asthma and loses glasses

Ralph: accidentally hits Eric in the face

Sam: destroys the entire hut on his own

Eric: accidentally knees Ralph in the “pills”

Jack: leads the savages to attack the hut

Roger: follows Jack to attack Ralph’s hut