Lord of the flies short summary

Essay by nosnatHigh School, 11th gradeB, November 2002

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During an unnamed time of war, a plane carrying a group of British schoolboys is shot down over the

Pacific. The pilot of the plane is killed, but many of the boys survive the crash and find

themselves deserted on an uninhabited island, where they are alone without adult supervision.

The novel begins with the aftermath of the crash, once the boys have reached the island. The first

two boys introduced are the main protagonists of the story: Ralph is among the oldest of the boys,

handsome and confident, while Piggy, as he is derisively called, is a pudgy asthmatic boy with

glasses who nevertheless possesses a keen intelligence. Ralph finds a conch shell, and when he

blows it the other boys gather together. Among these boys is Jack Merridew, an aggressive boy who

marches at the head of his choir. Ralph, whom the other boys choose as chief, leads Jack and

another boy, Simon, on an expedition to explore the island.

On their expedition they determine

that they are, in fact, on a deserted island and decide that they need to find food. The three

boys find a pig, which Jack prepares to kill but finally balks before he can actually stab it.

When the boys return from their expedition, Ralph calls a meeting and attempts to set rules of

order for the island. Jack agrees with Ralph, for the existence of rules means the existence of

punishment for those who break them, but Piggy reprimands Jack for his lack of concern over

long-term issues of survival. Ralph proposes that they build a fire on the mountain which could

signal their presence to any passing ships. The boys start building the fire, but the younger

boys lose interest when the task proves too difficult for them. Piggy proves...