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What happens in Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies?
Ralph establishes rules to maintain order during meetings. Fear starts to spread among some of the boys who realize they might be stuck on the island for an indefinite amount of time. They are further shaken after one of the boys mentions seeing a beast on the island. The boys attempt to light a signal fire, but mistakenly set nearby trees on fire, angering Piggy who mentions that one of the boys is missing.
Read our Summary & Analysis of Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies. (3-minute read)
What important themes from Lord of the Flies are developed in Chapter 2?
The boys’ recklessness in creating what starts as a signal fire but ends as an uncontrollable blaze speaks to the theme of Civilization versus Savagery, and the end result—the death of the boy with the birthmark—underscores Loss of Innocence.
Read about the key Themes of Lord of the Flies. (3-minute read)
What key symbols from Lord of the Flies are developed in Chapter 2?
The conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, and the beast serve symbolic purposes in these chapters. The conch shell continues to function as a means of civilization and order, and Piggy’s glasses represent knowledge and rationality in society. Finally the beast, first mentioned here, symbolizes the human capacity for evil and violence, which the boys fear but will ultimately find within themselves.
Read about the key Symbols in Lord of the Flies. (4-minute read)
What genres does Lord of the Flies belong to?
Lord of the Flies is considered allegorical fiction, due to its use of specific images, characters, and settings to represent intangible emotions or ideas. It is also dystopian fiction, because the boys live in a nightmarish, oppressive society as a result of their inherently flawed natures.
Read about the novel’s genres. (3-minute read)
What is the significance of the books the boys allude to during their meeting?
The boys liken being stranded on the island to an adventure, like the kind you’d see in books such as Treasure Island, Swallows and Amazons, and The Coral Island. By having them allude to these stories, William Golding positions his own narrative to subvert traditional adventure novel conventions.
Who is the little boy who presumably dies in the fire?
Though we don’t learn his name, the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark dies in the out-of-control fire in Chapter 2.
