Lord of the Flies: A Comprehensive Summary of Golding's Classic

Imagine a deserted island transformed into a brutal battleground. It's not your typical island story but a dark adventure that shows how scary people can be.

William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a famous book about stranded schoolboys on a deserted island who struggle to create order. Due to loss of control, many terrifying events transpire in this story.

The book was well received and has amassed several awards: Modern Library Best 100 Novels and 100 Best English-language Novels. It was also ranked third as the nation's favorite book from school. Three films have been successfully adapted from this novel.

Want to know why the boys got crazy? Read our Lord of the Flies summary and find out.

Lord of the Flies Overview

The story starts when the boys' plane crashes onto the island. These boys are very young, between ages 6 and 12, and must try to survive. At first, they are excited about being on a deserted island without grown-ups' supervision; however, they realize they should be responsible for their survival.

The boys became savage and animalistic in their behavior. They struggled to maintain order and work together, causing a split into two groups. Ralph, who wants to maintain order and seek rescue, leads the first, and Jack, obsessed with hunting and gaining power over the other boys, leads the second.

As the story progresses, the boys' behavior becomes more violent. They indulge in ritualistic ceremonies adoring a pig's head on a pole that they refer to as the "Lord of the Flies." Growing friction exists between Ralph and Jack, and the two groups engage in a violent conflict that causes the deaths of several boys.

Finally, the boys are rescued by an officer who sees the island on fire and comes to their aid. The boys realize the horror of their actions, and the story ends with the boys weeping over the loss of their innocence.

The novel "Lord of the Flies" is a potent allegory of human nature and the pitfalls of unchecked savagery. It has been widely read and studied to explore human nature, the psychology of group behavior, and the nature of power and leadership.

Book Facts of William's Novel

• Title: Lord of the Flies
• Author: William Golding
• Genre: Young adult literature, dystopian fiction, allegory
• Published: 1954
• Setting: A deserted island
• Plot: A group of boys stranded on an island engages in savagery in their move to create order and survive.

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• Themes exploration and how they develop
• Plot analysis of the story
• Author, historical, and background context of the book

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Summary of Lord of the Flies Book by William Golding

Chapter 1 Lord of the Flies Summary

• The scene starts in a chaotic mood after a plane crash. A fair-haired boy, Ralph, emerges from the wreckage and explores the uninhabited island.
• He runs into a plump boy with glasses, Piggy. Other boys join them as Ralph blows a conch shell that attracts everyone to gather.
• As the first move of order, Piggy proposes using the conch to maintain order in meetings. The conch becomes a symbol of civilization.

Lord of the Flies ch 2 Summary

• The boys hold their first assembly. Ralph, the charismatic boy, is elected as the team leader and has the power of the conch. All the boys vote Ralph as their leader.
• Jack is passionate about hunting and thirsts for power. He disagrees with the voting outcome and thus forms a separate group with a tribal identity.
• Some boys recognize the need for rescue and set a signal fire on the mountain.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 3 Summary

• Ralph assigns the boys some tasks. Building shelters and maintaining fires become crucial for survival. The boys refuse to help build shelters, and only Simon tries to help Ralph.
• Jack and his team prioritize hunting wild pigs for food. They neglect maintaining fire, which leads to a conflict between order and savagery. The hunting team fails to secure any kill.
• The younger three boys, called littluns, become more fearful of the mysterious monster they think is on the island.
• Later, we discover that Simon has a secret hut in the jungle where he sneaks.

Summary of Lord of the Flies Chapter 4

• Mornings are pleasant for the boys; midday brings strange mirages, while darkness falls quickly in the evening.
• Littluns spend their days eating fruits and playing on the beach.
• Ralph spots a ship, and he is hopeful they will be saved. However, he realizes the signal fire is out. He rushes to the mountain to relight, but it's too late.
• Jack and his team return with their first pig. Ralph is so angry about the fire, though Jack apologizes, it leads to a confrontation.
• Jack breaks Piggy's glasses.

Chapter 5 Lord of the Flies Summary

• Ralph blows the conch to assemble the boys and address the neglect of duties. He emphasizes the need to maintain fire signals on the mountain.
• Ralph acknowledges his fear of the unknown beast, but Jack insists that he could have seen it when hunting if a beast existed. Phil and Percival insist on the beast, increasing the boys' fear.
• Jack dismisses the rules and vows to hunt the beast. His team dismisses, pretending to hunt pigs, but Raph can't gather them anymore.

Chapter 6 Lord of the Flies Summary

• There was an aerial battle. A parachutist died upon landing on the island during a moonlit night. Samneric, tending the fire, mistakenly thought he was the beast and alerted Ralph.
• Ralph calls a meeting, and the twins report the sighting. Jack demands a hunt, dismissing Piggy's suggestion to avoid the beast. Piggy stays with the littluns as Ralph and the others follow Jack.
• Simon, frustrated, joins the hunt. Ralph and Jack explore together, recalling past adventures. Ralph decides to keep the signal fire burning despite Jack's objections. After Ralph's insistence, the boys play but reluctantly agree to relight the fire. Jack leads the way.

Chapter 7 Summary Lord of the Flies

• On his way back to the mountain, Ralph fantasizes about cleanliness and realizes his chances of rescue are slim. Simon reassures him he will make it home.
• Jack leads a pig hunt and gets slightly wounded, and Ralph wounds a boar, experiencing hunting for the first time. Their mock hunt injures a boy, and Ralph urges them on. Simon volunteers to inform Piggy they'll be late.
• In the dark, Ralph, Jack, and Roger reach the mountain base. Spurred by Jack, they investigate and find the dead paratrooper, mistaking him for the beast. Terrified, they flee to the platform.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 8 Summary

• Ralph tells Piggy about the beast, which Piggy doubts. Jack calls a meeting, accuses Ralph of insulting the hunters, and calls for a vote to replace him.
• When no one supports Jack, he leaves, inviting others to join him. Piggy suggests lighting a fire on the beach, and the group agrees.
• Older boys join Jack, who promises to hunt and appease the beast with pig offerings. Jack plans a feast and raids Ralph's camp for fire. Ralph and Piggy are disheartened as Jack's group takes their fire and invites them to the feast.
• Meanwhile, Simon finds the pig's head, dubbed the Lord of the Flies, and imagines it talking to him before he faints.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 9 Summary

• Simon wakes up, discovers the "beast" is a dead parachutist, and heads to inform the boys. Ralph and Piggy decide to attend Jack's feast for safety.
• Jack declares himself chief at the feast, gives them meat, and asks who will join his tribe. A heated argument between Jack and Ralph ensues about leadership and priorities.
• During a storm, Jack initiates a frenzied dance, and the boys, in a wild chant, mistake Simon for the beast and kill him. The storm then carries the parachutist's body to the sea, and Simon's body is also washed away.

Chapter 10 Lord of the Flies Summary

• The following day, Ralph, Piggy, Samneric, and some littluns are left in Ralph's camp. Ralph broods over Simon's death, while Piggy refuses to acknowledge it as murder.
• Jack becomes increasingly oppressive, punishing a boy in his tribe and planning a raid on Ralph's camp for fire. He denies killing Simon, claiming the beast came disguised to them.
• In Ralph's camp, they let the fire die to avoid collecting wood in the dark. Jack's tribe attacks other boys at the camp. They steal Piggy's glasses for fire.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 11 Summary

• Ralph calls for an assembly after Piggy urges him. Ralph's team decides to ask Jack's tribe for glasses.
• They also remind Jack's team of the importance of signal fire. Ralph tries to plead with Jack's team to return Piggy's glasses, but his attempt fails.
• Jack's tribe attacks, killing Piggy and injuring Ralph. Ralph hides to save his life near the castle rock.

Lord of the Flies Summary 12 Summary

• Ralph tries again to reason with Jack's tribe, but they chase him off.
• He spends the night hiding and eventually gets chased out by fire.
• Exhausted, he stumbles upon a British naval officer who will rescue them. Ralph breaks down, overwhelmed by the ordeal.

Lord of the Flies Characters

The Lord of the Flies characters are children who build the theme of civilization and loss of innocence. They include the following:

Ralph

Elected as the boys' leader, Ralph is initially optimistic about being stranded on the island and focuses on building a signal fire to attract rescuers. Nevertheless, his attempts to maintain order become futile as the boys become crueler.

Ralph is threatened by the boys and forced to flee for his life. After assuming leadership, he becomes a hero and a protagonist in the novel.

Jack

The hunters' leader, Jack, becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting and violence. He is the antagonist and has a vicious touch on nature. He splits from Ralph's group and forms his tribe, which becomes more savage and ritualistic. His group turns to killers, and in the end, they chase Raph, who hides in the forest to save his life.

Piggy

He is Ralph's loyal friend and advisor. Piggy is intelligent and rational but is often bullied by the other kids due to his looks and asthma. He cares for the little boys and encourages them to make a fire and find a rescue. Jack's tribe kills him.

Simon

A quiet, introspective boy, Simon is the only one who comprehends the real nature of the "beast" on the island. The other lads kill him after mistaking him for the "beast."

Roger

One of Jack's most loyal followers, Roger, becomes increasingly sadistic over time and eventually kills Piggy with a boulder.

Sam and Eric

Twins are loyal to Ralph, Sam, and Eric. These brothers are captured by Jack's tribe and forced to join them.

The Beast

It's not a physical feature but rather a symbol of darkness and savagery within the boys. The beast manifests their violence, fear, and loss of control.

British Naval Officer

He represents a civilized world and hope for rescue.

The Littluns

There were three smaller boys on the island. They were afraid and confused by the events around them. These little ones represent society's ordinary people, while the older boys are the ruling class and political leaders.

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Lord of the Flies Plot Summary

Williams gives a narrative of a group of British boys trapped on a lonely island following a plane crash. These boys try to create a civilized society, but things spiral out of control, and fear gets the better part. The events of this story are as follows:

Plane crash

• Young boys find themselves on a tropical island without any adults.
• Ralph emerges as a charismatic boy and a leader. He discovers a conch shell, which symbolizes order and democracy.
• Jack is another passionate boy who likes hunting and leads a group of boys to obtain food.
• Ralph advises a group of boys to set a signal fire to attract rescuers.

Friction and Fear

• The fear of a beast grows as the three little boys fuel it through their imaginations.
• Jack prioritizes hunting over setting fire to signal help, which creates conflicts.
• The boys get divided into groups: Jack's and Ralph's

Escalation and Violence

• The orderliness crumbles as Jack's group steals Piggy's glasses for fire. Jack's group also kills a pig as an offering.
• Simon loses consciousness as he encounters the Lord of the Flies, a pig's head that symbolizes the island's darkness.
• In a fierce attack, Simon is mistaken for the beast and murdered.

Loss of Innocence and Rescue

• Ralph and Piggy confront Jack about Simon's death. Jack fights back, Piggy is killed, and the conch shell is shattered.
• Ralph becomes a fugitive as Jack's tribe is hunting him
• The island is set ablaze in a desperate move to flush out Ralph
• A naval officer witnesses the fire and rescues Ralph

Lord of the Flies Themes

The Lord of the Flies themes are interesting and have thoughtful symbols:

Struggle to Build Civilization

This theme becomes the main one in this novel and forms the conflict. Raph and Piggy believe that the structure, rules, and maintenance of fire are the most important things to follow. On the contrary, Jack believes hunting, violence, and fun are prioritized over safety, protection, and plans.

Initially, the boys agree with Raph's school of thought on rules and democracy, but with time, this proves difficult for many boys. Most fail to build shelters, smoke signals, or even care for the littluns. Ultimately, Raph is tempted by Jack's authoritarian regime and keeps forgetting the importance of fire and rescue.

Loss of Innocence

The way the kids go lost without grown-ups in the book illustrates how innocence is lost. The correct action is to live a regular life, care for the "littluns," respect older people, and wait for their rescue.

Ralph takes a commanding and responsible approach to the little ones and Samneric. However, when Jack breaks off his relationship with Piggy, it appears that they have lost their innocence because Jack becoming a hunter is synonymous with ferocity.

Savage in Society

Through Jack and the hunters, Lord of the Flies demonstrates the cruelty throughout society and among its citizens. According to the author, human nature includes both savagery and innocence. When he sees an officer on the sand, Ralph sighs in relief, believing he has escaped the ferocious hunters.

Dehumanization

The story shows the dark side of human nature, which holds that living a life of might is right. Jack's hunting instincts further demonstrate this dehumanizing nature, as Piggy and other logical characters lose their lives.

Absence of Laws

The murder of Piggy and countless other such incidents demonstrates how the law stands up for the weak. The absence of the law is equivalent to permitting a tyrant to control a nation or allowing criminals to operate without restraint.

Lord of the Flies Symbolism.

There are various symbols in the Lord of the Flies that pass a deeper meaning.

1. The Conch Shell

The novel uses the shell to assemble the boys on the beach, representing order and democracy. However, the boys lose touch with civilization, and the shell is discarded.

At the novel's beginning, this conch has the power and forces the boys to gather and listen. The conch's color fades as the boys defect to Jack's chaos. Only Piggy has faith in the conch and is killed trying to protect it, which loses its meaning.

2. The Signal Fire

It's lit on the mountain and beach to seek rescue from the passing ships. The boy maintains the fire, but as disorderly sets in, they fail to keep it. Later, they lose their desire to be rescued.

3. The Beast

It's an imaginary creature that frightens the boys. The beast stands in for the boys' savage instincts and is revealed to be a personification of their impulses. The beast exists through behavior.

4. Pig's Head

Hallucinating, Simon describes it as the Lord of the Flies, who sees the pig's head on spikes and consumed by flies. This head becomes the Lord of the Flies, a symbol of savagery for everyone to see.

5. Piggy's Glasses

The glasses provide clear vision but are transformed into a tool to make fire. They symbolize intelligence, logic, and the ability to see clearly. When they are stolen, it signifies the loss of reason.

6. War Paint

Jack's group paints their faces, transforming them from being civilized to becoming a tribal identity. The war painting shows their descent into savagery and the loss of reason.

The setting in the Lord of the Flies

The setting of The Lord of the Flies is the sea, the coastal area, and the lonely island with a thick forest. The boys enter this land after a plane crash during World War II in England. The story is built within chaos in the outside world and the lack of order on the island.

Lord of the Flies Literary Devices:

Allegory

Golding uses complex allegory where every major character represents some more significant aspect of society. The pattern is sometimes predetermined, especially in Jack and Raph. Jack represents savagery and primitive fear, leading him to a primitive state that causes uncivilization.

On the other hand, Raph shows society's order and consistently tries to organize the boys to a standard behavior.

Metaphors and Similes

One is the analogy between the scar left by the plane accident and the strip jungle. Compared to a bath, the island's heat and humidity. The extensive cut into the "jungle was a bath of heat all around him."

To explain why he is small compared to other boys, the narrator likens children to shrimp. He was a shrimp-shaped youngster of about six years old, and a birthmark the color of mulberry covered one side of his face.

Imagery

Golding used imagery as a literary strategy to describe the novel's events. Sam and Eric, for instance, believe the dead parachutist to be the beast, as mentioned earlier. To help the reader comprehend why the children make that error, Golding utilized images to put them in the kids' shoes. The twins are unaware that the beast is a parachutist who has died.

According to Golding, Sam and Eric report that the unidentified parachutist appears to be "furry" when they see him. Behind its head-wings, something was moving. "The beast also moved," p.108. The reader may see from this vision why Sam and Eric think they saw a beast. Do you know the benefits of imagery in this book? Read more on this article and identify the types of imagery used in the novel.

You should be very creative when discussing the text's themes and literary devices. Keep gathering more creativity skills from our creative writing homework help.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's a short summary of the Lord of the Flies?

Stranded British schoolboys attempt to build a society on a deserted island. Ralph leads with reason, while Jack prioritizes hunting. Fear and savagery rise, fueled by rumors of a beast. As the order crumbles, Piggy and Simon die tragically. Rescued, Ralph weeps for lost innocence.

2. What does Ralph symbolize in the Lord of the Flies?

He symbolizes leadership and intelligence. He represents the hope for maintaining a society based on reason and rules.

3. Who killed Piggy and why?

Roger kills Piggy. A loss of control and hatred for Ralph and Piggy could have caused this murder.

4. Who sees the dead parachutist first?

Samneric (twins) were the first characters to see the dead parachutist.

5. Which Other Book Summaries Do You Offer?

Apart from this book summary, we have other fiction, non-fiction, and playbooks that you can consider.

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To Conclude

The Lord of the Flies is an amazing narrative that portrays what happens in a society that lacks rules and regulations. This fictional novel has characters like Raph, Jack, and Simon, who control significant events in the story.

We experience the themes of innocence, struggle for civilization, dehumanization, and more. If you need a Lord of the Flies Summary, we have the best; place an order for our help.

Goldwing makes the story unique through various literary devices like symbolism, imagery, similes, and metaphors.