English Literature (LOTF)

Chapters One and Two Summary

A group of boys are evacuated due to a war involving England. They become marooned on a small island.
Ralph and Piggy meet and find a conch. Ralph blows the conch to call other survivors, who gather together on the beach.
A group of choirboys arrive, led by Jack Merridew. They are mostly older boys.
Ralph is elected leader but Jack is not pleased. Jack and his choir become the hunters.
Ralph, Jack and Simon explore the island. Jack almost kills a piglet.
A meeting is called. The conch becomes a symbol of authority.
The boys argue over the existance of a beast on the island.
A fire is lit to attract attention but it burns out of control. A boy with a birthmark disappears.

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Jack takes delight in tracking pigs but fails to kill any.
Ralph constructs shelters but with only limited success due to lack of help.
Jack and Ralph argue over priorities.
Simon goes into the forrest alone.
Roger and Maurice destroy the smaller children's sandcastles. Roger throws stones at Henry.
Ralph spots a ship. The chance of rescue disappears because the fire is left unattended.
The hunters return with a pig. Ralph is angry with Jack for letting the fire go out.
Feeling guilty, Jack lashes out at Piggy and smashes a lens in his glasses.
Ralph is upset and calls a meeting.

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Ralph points out the requirements for survival.
Discussion turns to the 'beastie', which Jack and Piggy dismiss.
Unseen by the boys. a dead parachutist drifts on to the island near the fire.
Sam and Eric believe the parachutist to be the beast and rush to tell the others.
The boys gather on the platform and Jack suggests they hunt the beast.
Ralph, Jack and the older boys head off together. Piggy stays behind with the 'littluns'.
Ralph goes alone to the unexplored part of a rocky outcrop where he is soon joined by Jack.

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Ralph notices how dirty the boys have become.
Ralph and the hunters try to kill a wild boar and, in a frenzy, re-enact the event.
Ralph, Jack and Roger hunt for the beast on the mountain-top. They see the dead parachutist, and think it is the beast.
The boys discuss the beast. Jack believes the hunters can kill it. Ralph knows they are just boys armed with sticks.
Jack unsuccessfully tries to overthrow Ralph as leader. He wanders off, soon secretly joined by many of the older boys.
The hunters kill a sow. They plan to invite the others to a feast with the aim of stealing their fire, and they put the pig's head on a stick.
Simon has a 'conversation' with the pig's head, then falls unconscious.

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Simon sees the dead parachutist and knows the truth about the beast.
Ralph and Piggy join the other boys' feast. They dance and chant as thunder strikes.
Simon stumbles into the tribal circle. He is seen as the beast and killed in a frenzied attack.
Simon and the parachutist are washed out to sea.
Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric show signs of guilt. Ralph becomes confused.
Jack and his hunters set up camp on the rocky outcrop.
Three hunters attack Piggy at night and steal his glasses.

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Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric decide to confront Jack.
Piggy is killed by a falling rock when Roger leans on a lever, catapulting the rock towards him. The conch is also destroyed.
Sam and Eric are captured by the hunters, leaving Ralph alone.
Jack and his hunters track Ralph as if he is a pig.
Jack sets most of the island on fire in order to fluch out Ralph.
As Ralph collapses on the beach, he looks up and sees a naval officer. He is rescued!

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