1. Lord of the Flies: Chapters 9 and 10

2. Chapter 9: A View to a Death

3. Sequential order of Chapter 9
First: Simon discovers the true identity of the beast
Second: Ralph and Piggy bathing
Last: The Party at Jack’s Tribe/ the death of Simon

4. Chapter 9 Title: A View to a Death
The Title of this chapter is highly significant, for it foreshadows the impending events
In this chapter, the islanders will experience a human death for the first time
Why is this significant?
Besides the title what other events foreshadowed the death of Simon?

5. Chapter 9 Summary
The Chapter begins by a description of the weather; the air is described as humid and dark, and the environment is drained of color. Also, there seems to be a storm in the imminent future.
“By early evening the sun had gone and a brassy glare had taken the place of clear daylight.” (page 145) What does this symbolize?
“Colors drained from water and trees and Pink surfaces of rock, and white and brown clouds brooded…” (page 145)
Note the weather imagery, for the stormy weather and heated air resemble the tension on the island and the rampant chaos
Simon succumbs to the weariness of sleep, due to Simon’s bloody nose and fit in chapter 8
The dark nature of The Lord of the Flies is illustrated by the use of similes: “The Lord of the Flies hung on his stick like a black ball.”
Eventually Simon awakes from his slumber and walks into the ‘dusk of the forest’

6. Summary continued
Simon walks throughout the forest, whilst a ‘buffet of wind’ caused Simon to stagger
Simon is in a weak physical and mental state, nevertheless he still continues his journey
He finds the mountain and begins to climb it
When Simon reached the summit of the mountain he notices a ‘flicker of blues stuff,’ which is the parachute. The parachute collapses revealing a ‘corpulent figure’ which is surrounded by flies, realizing this was the dreaded beast (page 146)
The sight of the rotting body made Simon sick
Simon noticed there was no longer fire at the platform and saw smoke further along the beach
Simon knew “The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible.” (page 147)

7. The usual brightness was gone from his [Simon’s] eyes and he walked with a sort of glum determination like an old man
(page 146)

8. Summary The omniscient narrator shifts from Simon to Ralph and Piggy
At this point Ralph is hopeless and believes that bathing is “...the only thing to do.” (page 147)
“A couple of littluns were playing at the edge [of the pool], trying to extract comfort from a wetness warmer than blood,” demonstrates how the islanders believe blood shed is comforting, which displays their retrogression into savagery (page 147)
Ralph and Piggy splash each other with water and begin to wish for unrealistic things, such as a shift in weather or the opportunity to go home (notice the anaphora- I wish)
They began to notice the absence of certain individuals such as Sam, Eric, and Bill, realizing they have gone to Jack’s party. Eventually, they decide to go to the party as well.

9. He [Ralph] laughed at Piggy expecting him to retire meekly as usual and in pained silence. Instead, Piggy beat the water with his hands
(page 147)

10. Summary
Before Ralph and Piggy joined the party, everyone was cheerful; dancing, singing, laughing, and enjoying the spoils of the hunt
Jack sat on a large log, which was dragged in the center of the lawn, and “...Jack, painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol,” (page 149) notice the simile
Once Ralph and Piggy arrived to the party they were offered some meat and accepted the gift
Notice the weather: “...sky of thunderous brass that rang with the storm-coming.”(page 149)
Jack brandishes his spear to direct orders, and has a rather demanding/ authoritative tone

11. Power Struggle
Jack and Ralph have an argument, for Jack covet to be the chief of his own tribe
Jack asks the islanders “Who’ll join my tribe and have fun?” (page 150)
Jack deems the conch useless, essentially depriving the conch of all power
The thunder strikes at this time, why is this appropriate at this time?
Jack offers protection, meat, and fun, while Ralph offers shelter in the storm

12. Compare Jack and Ralph as leaders
Ideology: Being rescued is the top priority
Elected leader (Democratic is seen as more civilized)
Often depressed and somewhat level-headed
Tending to the fire > hunting
At this point in the book, he is declining in power
Power symbol- conch
Jack
Ideology: Fun > being rescued
Declared himself chief (Dictatorship is seen as more savage and primitive)
Power-hungry
Always amused and easily frustrated
Hunting > hard work
At this point in the book, he is gaining power
Power symbol- spear

13. Summary
Jack and the others plays the game in which they pretend they are hunting a pig
“Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society,” what does this say of society on the island? (page 152)
Jack and the others chant, “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!”
Eventually during the chaos of this game, Simon enters the party, trying to warn the group the beast is merely a corpse
Due to the chaos of the game, the group begins to brutally attack Simon, eventually killing him. Simon’s red blood stains the white sand of the beach
Notice the weather becomes calm and clear
On page 154, the creatures described are a kenning for the boys, which demonstrates how the boys were completely deprived of their humanity
Simon’s corpse is thrown into the ocean

14. The strange attendant creatures, with their fiery eyes and trailing vapors, busied themselves round his head
(page 154)

15. Symbols
The conch: The conch is used as a symbol of power throughout the allegory. Ralph reminds Jack that he is the chief by telling him that he has the conch, so Ralph has the power.
Blue-white scar: The scar represents lightning. The scene that follows the lightning depicts Simon’s death, showing how the scar represents the corruption of the boys since their arrival.

16. Symbols continued
White: The color white is used to show peace and innocence. For example, the white sand of the beach was stained by Simon’s blood. The killing of Simon took away the innocence of the boys.
Brown: The color brown is used to describe the clouds, meaning a storm is coming, foreshadowing the death of Simon.
The fire: The fire represents their hope of being rescued.

17. Symbols continued
Red: Simon’s red blood is used to show corruption. The blood staining the sand symbolizes how the boys’ innocence is gone and they are now full of savagery.
The chant: The boys chanting “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” represents their savagery and loss of humanity, especially when they kill Simon.

18. Symbols continued
Jack’s spear: Jack’s spear is also used as a symbol of power, similar to the conch. It represents that Jack is the “chief”, or leader, of his tribe.

19. Resonate Questions How was the weather imagery important?
What is Golding trying to say about the capabilities of human beings?
How do the characters differ from the beginning of the book?
Is Jack an adequate leader?
How has Jack developed?
What theme is expressed in this chapter?

20. Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses

21. Sequential order of important events
First: Ralph and Piggy discuss the events that happened the last night
Second: The chief (Jack) tells the boys his next plan of action
Last: Ralph’s camp is invaded

22. Chapter 10 Title: The Shell and the Glasses
During the previous chapters, both the conch shell and Piggy’s glasses were hugely important symbols
What did they stand for/represent?
In this chapter, they seem to lose their power and significance
Why is that notable?

23. The chapter begins with Ralph and Piggy
Chapter 10 Summary
The chapter begins with Ralph and Piggy
They are mentally and physically broken from the night before
They come to the realization that everyone but them, Samneric, and a couple littluns have all gone with Jack
Ralph picks up the conch and thinks about calling an assembly, but then just begins to laugh uncontrollably

24. Ralph brings up Simon’s death to Piggy
Chapter 10 Summary
Ralph brings up Simon’s death to Piggy
Ralph is very distraught by what happened and even calls it murder
Piggy tells Ralph over and over again how it was an accident and that they were just scared
He is eventually able to convince Ralph that they weren't even at the dance, and that they left early and were just on the outside

25. “Im frightened. Of us. I want to go home. Oh God, I want to go home.”
(page 157)

26. Chapter 10 Summary We are then taken to Jack and the rest of the tribe
All the boys now refer to Jack as “Chief”
Jack tells the boys how he is going out hunting again tomorrow
He warns them to defend against Ralph and the others while he is gone
He then brings up the beast again “You can’t tell what he might do. The tribe considered this; and then were shaken, as if by a flow of wind. The chief saw the effect of his words and stood abruptly.”
Is Jack using the idea of “the beast” to maintain power and control over the other boys?

27. What is he using it for now?
Mask and Face Paint
“The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red.”
Earlier in the book, Jack used the face paint to camouflage himself while hunting the pig
What is he using it for now?

28. Chapter 10 summary
Now that Jack realizes that he has no way of making a fire, he changes his plan from going hunting to “taking fire from the others”
Jack, Maurice, and Roger plan to set out for Ralph’s camp that night and attack them
Back at Ralph’s camp they are becoming weak and tired
They all become too tired to build their fire and Ralph even momentarily forgets what the point of building a fire is
Ralph is beginning to lose it. He is hallucinating, laughing uncontrollably, and having spasms

29. “The success of his tiny joke overcame Ralph
“The success of his tiny joke overcame Ralph. His sniggers became uncontrollable, his body jumped and twitched. Piggy rebuked him with dignity. ‘I haven’t said anything all that funny’”
(page 165)

30. Chapter 10 Summary
Ralph and his others are woken up by the sound of footsteps outside
At first they think it is the beast, but soon realize it is just Jack and some others
They violently attack them and trash their camp
Ralph and Piggy immediately check that the conch is still there, and it is
They realize that is not what they came for, they came for Piggy’s glasses, which they had successfully stolen
Besides no longer being able to make fire, what is the other significance of Piggy’s glasses being stolen?
Could you say that Jack stealing the ability to make fire could be an allusion to Prometheus?

31. Symbols
Piggy’s glasses: The glasses represent intelligence and helpfulness. They are needed for the boys’ survival. In this chapter, Jack realizes that without Piggy’s glasses, they cannot make a fire.
The conch: The conch shell is still used as a symbol of power and civilization.

32. Symbols continued
The beast: The boys’ behavior is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become.
Darkness/blackness: Darkness is used throughout the allegory to represent the growing evil and corruption on the island.

33. Are we starting to see some sort of religion forming in Jack’s tribe?
Resonate Questions
Piggy says that they are not to blame about Simon’s death, do you think this is true?
Are we starting to see some sort of religion forming in Jack’s tribe?
During the raid, why are Piggy’s glasses taken but the conch is left behind?
Do you think Jack will be able to maintain power over the boys?