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1. 
   renelane Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The rash act of throwing together a fire without thought of consequences is symbolic for what is to come later in the novel. The fire caught on quickly, and took a boys life. This will be the case with the savagery that overtakes the boys later in the novel. There is no thought for consequences in that case, either.

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   http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-2-summary-analysis

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   Posted by renelane on Thursday November 1, 2007 at 9:02 AM
   
   

2. 
   luannw Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Fire is symbolic in the novel.  Fire is generally a symbol of civilization, but the boys, twice, let fire get out of control.  The first time the fire gets out of control it is purely unintentional - they have set a signal fire.  The second time the fire gets away from them, they have started it to smoke out Ralph.  The boys go from using fire as a form of civility to using it as a form of savagery.

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   Posted by luannw on Thursday November 1, 2007 at 10:13 AM