Chapter 8 Lord of the Flies

Chapter 8 Summary The next morning the boys are in an uproar over the news about the monster on the mountain – Piggy is shocked over the news – “I can hardly believe there’s a beast.” Jack blows into the conch shell and calls a meeting – he says that Ralph is a bad leader and attempts to discredit him. “Ralph is a coward. He said my hunters are no good.” The other boys refuse to vote Ralph out of power and Jack storms away into the jungle. “I’m not going to play with you anymore.” Ralph is very troubled about what to do and seeks Piggy’s advice – Piggy is happy to see Jack go. Simon suggests they return to the mountain to look for the beast – the other boys are too afraid to do this. Piggy comes up with the idea to build a fire on the beach.

Chapter 8 Summary Piggy’s idea restores hope amongst the boys and Ralph and they all work to build a fire. Piggy and Ralph come to the realization that many of the boys have snuck off to join Jack. On another area of the island, Jack declares himself chief of a new tribe. In a savage frenzy, the hunters kill a sow (female pig) violently. Roger shoves a spear in the sow’s butt. Jack declares that they will leave the head of the sow as a gift to the beast. The hunters stick the head on a stake and place it into the ground for the beast – blood drips from the head

Chapter 8 Summary Piggy and Ralph sit in the old camp discussing what to do. Jack and some hunters come from the jungle chanting and singing. Jack tells Ralph and his followers that they are roasting a pig and that they can come and even join his tribe, if he allows them – they also steal burning sticks. The hungry boys are tempted by the idea of meat. Simon has slipped to his secret spot and has seen the awful killing of the mother pig. He stares at the head of the pig and believes the head is speaking to him. Simon hears the “Lord of the Flies” and it tells him that the beast is inside every human. The Lord of the Flies promises to have fun with Simon – Simon has a seizure (epileptic) and faints

Symbols of Chapter 8 Gruesome killing of the sow Uncontrollable savagery and violence in humans (rape) Sow’s death – killing off main source of food Pig’s head speaking to Simon Represents Simon’s understanding of the “beast” Jack and hunters leave gift for the beast Jack has turned the beast into a god-like creature He uses it to seize power The beast (Lord of the Flies) There never was a monster – The beast represents the possibility of savage behavior in all humans. Golding wants his readers to see that there is a possible “beast” in every human being.

Important Quotes of Chapter 8 I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.” “I seen them stealing off when we was gathering wood. They went that way. The same way as he went himself.” “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!” “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”

Characters by Chapter 8 Track each character’s change to this point in the novel. Use specific lines from the novel to support your opinions. (Characterization – author provides details to the reader on how the characters have changed throughout the novel) Example – How has Ralph’s attitude towards Piggy changed in chapter 8? Ralph Piggy Jack Simon