Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

xlightzax
xlightzax
Student
College - Sophomore

In Ch 11 of Lord of the Flies, how is Ralph's death symbolic? 

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Posted by xlightzax on Friday January 2, 2009 at 11:49 PM and tagged with chapter 11, characters, lord of the flies, ralph, symbolism, themes.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Once Piggy is killed carrying the conch, Ralph has lost any authority he had left. He has become a deposed leader leader who is now a symbolic remnant of civilization which Jack must destroy in order to cement his leadership over the boys. Ralph immediately realizes the danger he is in and runs away while Jack and his followers follow. The irony is that Jack uses the fire, which one stood as a beacon for rescue and a method of cooking food, to start a large fire to smoke Ralph out. The fire becomes so large that is begins to destroy the entire island, symbolic of the evil which has now be let lose completely in the boys. In another ironic twist, the smoke from the fire is seen by the a British ship which sends a boat in to investigate. This, of course, saves Ralph and the rest of the boys from destruction.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-11-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/character-analysis

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Saturday January 3, 2009 at 10:20 AM


  2. wwjd Student
    High School - 11th Grade

    um, Ralph doesn't die...

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    Posted by wwjd on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 12:56 PM

  3. jenn09
    jenn09 Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    Ralph doesn't die..

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    Posted by jenn09 on Wednesday March 25, 2009 at 4:53 PM