Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis
Summary
Ralph, Jack, and Simon return from scouting. Ralph summons the entire group to another meeting. The boys discuss their findings, reporting that the island is indeed an island and that there are pigs. When the group grows loud, Ralph establishes a system of communication whereby one may only speak while holding the conch shell. Piggy then takes up the conch shell and reminds the group of their essential problem: they are stranded and nobody knows where they are.
Ralph reminds the group that the island has everything they need to survive and entertain themselves, framing their situation as an adventure like Treasure Island or The Coral Island. Prompted to share any additional findings, a small boy with a mulberry-colored birthmark on his face describes a snake-like beast he has seen stalking through the woods. Jack grows excited at the prospect of killing the beast, but Ralph dismisses its existence, claiming it is the product of the boy’s imagination.
Either out of optimism or a desire to cheer up the group, Ralph—citing his navy-commander father—claims that the British government has mapped all the earth’s islands. He tells the group he is sure they will be rescued. He then encourages the boys to light a beacon fire on the mountaintop in order to set a signal for passing ships.
The boys leap up at once and rush off to start the flame. Piggy lingers behind with Ralph, muttering about the group’s immaturity, but Ralph soon joins the rest, leaving Piggy to his judgments.
The boys find a stretch of dead forest, pull out the dry, rotted wood, carry it up the mountain, and pile it high near the peak. When Piggy finally arrives, they take his glasses to use as a fire-starting device, despite his complaints. A huge conflagration erupts, burns quickly and smokelessly, and collapses. The boys realize the need for a slower, more sustained fire. Jack volunteers his hunters to oversee the fire in shifts.
After another scuffle over the possession of the conch shell and the authority to speak, Piggy notices a jungle fire raging below, sparked by the drifting flames of the boys’ beacon. Enormous pillars of smoke rise from the fire and sweep out over the ocean. Piggy criticizes the other boys for allowing the fire to spread and for ignoring the care of the younger boys, though Ralph reminds Piggy that caretaking is his own duty.
Piggy realizes that the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark, who earlier had warned the group of the “beastie,” is missing. The boys recall that a group of the younger boys had gone fruit-picking in the jungle and realized that the birthmarked boy may have died in the fire they created. They stand in silence, listening to the blazing trees crackle and boom below.
Analysis
Whereas Chapter 1 tracks the boys in their construction of a social order, Chapter 2 documents the entropic, even accidental, breakdown of that order. Despite Ralph’s attempts to establish an atmosphere of unity and hope, dark realities repeatedly knock at the door. Piggy sobers the group by reminding them of the direness of their situation; the boys are stranded, and nobody back home in Britain knows where they are. The tension is compounded by the report of the birthmarked boy, who tells of a snake-like “beastie” lurking in the jungle.
Initially, Ralph strives to establish order in the boys’ meetings by using the conch as a mouthpiece. Whoever holds the conch may speak—a new rule that further establishes the conch as a symbol of democratic order. However, the child with the birthmark claims he saw a "beastie," which sows fear within the group despite the older boys’ protestations. Jack manipulates this fear to his advantage, using the beast as a pretext to go hunting and provide meat for everyone.
In an effort to instill hope and a sense of agency, Ralph encourages the boys to start a fire to signal to passing ships. The starting of the fire, at first a source of enthusiasm, quickly turns into a disaster. Piggy’s glasses are unceremoniously ripped from him in order to ignite the wood; the fire burns rapidly and falls apart; a second, much vaster, fire is sparked in the nearby forest; finally, the birthmarked boy is reported missing and presumed to have been killed by the forest fire.
This element of death, turmoil, and fear is emphasized by the language Golding utilizes to describe the fire. As the fire spreads, it is described as becoming similar to "wild life." The fire is a "jaguar" hunting for its prey as it appears to be leaping, "swinging," and "flaring." Repeatedly, Golding paints the fire as "savage," further emphasized by the "growling," "drum-roll" sound emanating from the "unfriendly" side of the mountain that they have now burned. Overall, Golding paints the common colonial archetype of nature and land being something exotic—a wild force that needs to be tamed and controlled through violence and extermination.
Piggy attempts to point out that it is the boys who are "savage" rather than the land. Before the fire, Piggy states that the English should act with "rules" rather than "savage" chaos: "We're English, and the English are best at everything. So we've got to do the right things." Here, Golding blatantly lays out the variety of attitudes amongst English colonizers while establishing a split in ideas of power and rule between the boys.
In short, the boys confront the chaos writhing both within and outside their constructed order. The promise of a principled democracy, whereby the boys take turns speaking with the conch shell, begins to fall apart, and even Piggy, the system’s strongest supporter, starts to speak out of turn. More importantly, the boys recognize their own immense powers of destruction and confront the specter of death, and they are chastened by both.
Expert Q&A
In Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, what two similes describe the flames?
In Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, the flames are described using two similes. The heat from the flames is likened to a blow, symbolizing a gentle, warming wind current. Later, the flames are compared to a bright squirrel and a creeping jaguar, signalling a progression from harmless to predatory, mirroring the boys' transformation from civilized to savage. Lastly, an exploding tree in the fire is likened to a bomb, indicating the destructive power of the flames.
In chapter 2, what one word describes Jack's statement, and what actions of his contradict it?
"After all, we're not savages. We're English; and the English are best at everything. So we've got to do the right things."
Jack's statement can be described as nationalistic, reflecting his belief in the superiority of the English. However, his actions contradict this by failing to maintain an adequate signal fire and accidentally starting a forest fire, which results in the presumed death of a littlun. These actions foreshadow the boys' descent into savagery, disproving Jack's claim of inherent English civility and highlighting their inherent wickedness.
What allusion is made in chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies and why is it significant?
The allusion in Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies is to The Coral Island, a novel about boys stranded on a seemingly idyllic island. This allusion is significant because it contrasts the boys' initial romantic notions of adventure with their subsequent descent into chaos. Golding uses this to critique the naive optimism of such adventure tales, highlighting the darker aspects of human nature.
Which littlun in Lord of the Flies goes missing after the first fire?
The littlun who goes missing after the first fire in Lord of the Flies is the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark. He is presumed dead after the fire spreads uncontrollably, and he is never seen again. The boys try to forget about him, and his name is never recorded, highlighting the group's descent into chaos.
On what page does the boy with the mulberry mark go missing in Lord of the Flies?
In the Global Village Contemporary Classics E-book Edition of "Lord of the Flies", the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark goes missing on page 64, at the end of chapter 2. This incident happens as a result of an uncontrolled fire created by the boys on the island, making the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark the first casualty. However, the specific page number may vary depending on the book edition.
What page in Lord of the Flies contains Ralph's quote about enjoying the island?
Ralph's quote about enjoying the island in Lord of the Flies can be found on page 32 of the 2005 paperback edition. In Chapter 2, Ralph encourages the other boys, suggesting that until they are rescued, they can treat the island as their own and have fun, comparing their situation to an island adventure from a book.
In Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, what are the two goals Ralph mentions?
In Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, Ralph mentions two main goals: to have fun while they are on the island and to be rescued. However, another interpretation suggests the goals are to be rescued and to have shelter. These goals highlight the boys' initial attempts at maintaining order and civilization.
What do Ralph and Jack realize in chapter 2 of the Lord of the Flies?
In Chapter 2, Ralph and Jack realize their leadership rivalry on the island. Ralph calls a meeting to discuss survival strategies, but tension arises when a "beastie" is mentioned. Ralph insists there's no beast, while Jack promises to hunt it. Both boys realize their lack of survival skills when they fail to start a fire without matches, highlighting their incompetence. This moment foreshadows the conflict that will develop between them in Lord of the Flies.
What does Jack's behavior in chapter 2 suggest about him and how might it foreshadow later events?
Jack's behavior in Chapter 2 reveals his latent violence and competitive nature, as shown when he interrupts Ralph and emphasizes the need for an army to hunt pigs. His aggressive actions, such as slamming his knife into a tree, indicate deep-seated insecurity and a desire for control. Jack's eagerness to punish rule-breakers and his focus on violence foreshadow his later dominance over the boys, who are drawn to his excitement and disregard for Ralph's authority.
What text-to-text connection can be made to chapter two of Lord of the Flies?
A text-to-text connection to chapter two of Lord of the Flies is Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which similarly explores the decline of civilized behavior in isolation. Another connection is to Treasure Island, referenced by the boys as they envision their adventure, paralleling both stories' themes of flawed characters and the struggle between good and evil in dangerous settings.
Who is to blame for the child's death in chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies?
The child's death in Chapter 2 cannot be attributed to a single individual, as all the boys share responsibility. Jack initially leads the group to build the fire, and Ralph, despite reservations, participates in its construction. Piggy, too, is culpable for failing to keep track of the younger children. This incident underscores the boys' lack of preparedness and the harsh realities of their situation on the island.
In Lord of the Flies, what characteristics of Piggy are revealed in chapter 2?
In Chapter 2, Piggy is shown to be logical and sensible, emphasizing the need for order and democracy by insisting on the conch's authority. His maturity and intellectual superiority are evident as he chastises the boys' reckless behavior. Piggy's vulnerability is highlighted when Jack takes his glasses, showing his defenselessness. Additionally, his pride in being English and valuing civilization and order is evident, along with his inability to physically confront Jack, indicating weakness.
In chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, why didn't Piggy help with the fire?
Piggy does not help with the fire in Chapter 2 because he is preoccupied with their dire situation, contemplating their isolation and the lack of order. He is a deep thinker and prefers to reflect before acting. Additionally, Piggy's physical limitations, such as his asthma and inability to run, prevent him from participating effectively. When Jack takes his glasses to start the fire, Piggy is left unable to see, further hindering his ability to help.
What rule does Ralph establish at the first assembly in Lord of the Flies? What does the frightened boy reveal?
Ralph establishes a rule that only the boy holding the conch is allowed to speak during assemblies, preventing interruptions and ensuring order. The frightened boy, a littlun with a mulberry-colored birthmark, reveals his fear of a "snake-thing," which he calls a "beastie." This revelation frightens the other littluns, but Ralph tries to dismiss it as a nightmare, attempting to alleviate their fears about the presence of a beast on the island.
What happened to the boy with the birthmark in chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies?
In chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, the boy with the birthmark is implied to have died in the forest fire accidentally started by the boys. This incident marks the group's first realization of the serious consequences of their actions and the gravity of their situation on the island.
In Lord of the Flies, who says, "How can you expect to be rescued if you don’t put first things first and act proper?"
In chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, it is Piggy who asks, "How can you expect to be rescued if you don't put things first and act proper?"
Fire and the Boys' Decisions in Lord of the Flies
In Lord of the Flies, the boys decide to build a signal fire to attract passing ships for rescue. They enthusiastically gather wood but lack matches. Jack suggests using Piggy's glasses to ignite the fire, which Ralph successfully does. However, the fire quickly gets out of control, causing a forest fire and resulting in the tragic disappearance of the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark. The incident highlights the chaotic and impulsive nature of the boys' decision-making.
The significance and foreshadowing of the chapter title "Fire on the Mountain" in Lord of the Flies
The chapter title "Fire on the Mountain" in Lord of the Flies signifies the boys' initial attempt at creating a signal fire, symbolizing hope for rescue. It also foreshadows the destructive nature of fire, as their uncontrolled blaze leads to chaos and foreshadows the eventual descent into savagery and destruction on the island.
The littlun with the birthmark's question and Ralph and Jack's response in Lord of the Flies
In Lord of the Flies, the littlun with the birthmark asks about the "beastie," expressing his fear of a creature on the island. Ralph tries to reassure him by saying there is no beast, while Jack confidently asserts that if there is a beast, they will hunt and kill it, attempting to calm the group.
The impact of the small boy's disappearance on the plot of Lord of the Flies
The small boy's disappearance in Lord of the Flies sets a grim tone and foreshadows the descent into chaos. It highlights the boys' initial lack of responsibility and the breakdown of societal rules on the island, ultimately contributing to the novel's exploration of inherent human savagery.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
