LORD OF THE FLIES SUMMARY

CHAPTER 1
THE SOUND OF THE SHELL

A boy of twelve-years comes out of the plane on an island. When he comes

out of the wrecked plane, he sees another fat boy who is wearing glasses.
The former is Ralph while the latter is Piggy. This is Piggy’s nickname and
does not like this name but Ralph decides to call him Piggy despite his
protests. The readers come to know that the boys have nearly escaped
death in a plane crash and the island where they have survived is
somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. These boys reveal that they have been
flying from their home country because of the fear of atomic war.

They think that the whole world has died in the atomic war and they might
have to live on the island without the intervention of the adults. Ralph starts
swimming in the water and Piggy tells him about his background that his
parents are dead and he lives with his aunt who owns a candy shop. In the
meanwhile, Piggy notices a conch shell and retrieves it with the help of
Ralph. He tells Ralph that it can be very useful for them while living on the
island.

Piggy tells Ralph how to produce sound through the shell and to the surprise
of the boys, after two sounds of the conch shell, other survivors start to
come towards them. These include Eric and Sam, who are twins, Jack who is
the head of a group of boys. The group of Jack is wearing strange caps and
cloaks of black color. Jack informs Ralph that he is the leader of this group.

Jack wants to lead the group for survivors but through the votes, Ralph is
elected as chief of the group. Ralph then decides to take along Jack and
Samson to explore the island and find some food. Piggy wants to go with
them but Jack humiliates Piggy.

CHAPTER 2
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
In the evening, there is a meeting of the boys and Ralph tells the boys that
they are on an island and there is no human being other than the group.
Jack, Ralph and Simon inform them about their exploration of the journey in
the morning. Then they establish the rules of the meetings and day to day
activities.

They decide that they will have fun until the grown-ups from the outside
world to rescue them. In the meeting, a boy of six-years asks them what
would the group do against snakes and other such animals. Ralph tells him
that snakes are there in Africa and the island is not in Africa so nobody
should be concerned about it. But Ralph notices the signs of fear on the
faces of other boys, too. Ralph suggests building fire on the top of the
mountain so that it could signal to the world and they could be saved from
the island. Jack gathers his group to build fire.

The boys gather the wood and about to start the fire but they do not know
how to ignite the fire. Piggy suggests that his glasses might be used for
starting a fire. The boys lit the fire but it finished soon. They are all sad about
it. Anyhow, they start the fire once again. Then they decide to make some
shelters for living as well. The boys again see a snake and Piggy notices that
one of the boys is missing.

CHAPTER 3
HUTS ON THE BEACH

Jack looks to hunt some pigs. The appearance of Jack shows that it has been
a long time that the boys are on the island. He gets frightened by the pigs
and returns back to the group. Ralph tells Jack that the boys are not working
properly and that the boys are spending their time swimming. Jack tells him
that he should act as a leader and order all the boys to work harder
otherwise they all will end up in death. Ralph tells Jack that he must bring
some meat for the boys but Jack tells him that the boys are not good hunters
and he himself has to do all the work. He vows again to hunt down a pig.

They both argue about the contribution to the living of the boys when Simon
comes and tells them that the little boys are frightened because of the
snakes. Ralph advises Jack that he must keep the fire in his view while
hunting in the forest. Both of them go and look at the fire whether the fire is
strong enough to be seen from a faraway distance or not. They return and
look for Simon but he is not found anywhere. Afterwards, both boys go
swimming.

Simon goes into the jungle alone and catches some fruits for the little boys
and then spends some time in the jungle until the dawn appears.

CHAPTER 4
PAINTED FACES

The boys get adjusted to the way of life on the island. The atmosphere is usually hot in the day
and cool in the night but the boys adjust to the weather. The littluns group of the boys who are
the youngest search for food throughout the day. They are the ones who suffer a lot from
diarrhea. They also are very much afraid of the animals. They believe that some of the boys are
eaten by these animals in the darkness of the nights.

Jack is disappointed with his failure as a hunter. He thinks that the animals
watch him so that is the reason he is unable to hunt them down. Resultantly,
Jack rubs charcoal over his face and makes it is a sort of mask which he
thinks would hide him from the animals.

One day, they see a ship passing through the water but it is very distant and
they can see the signal of fire in the ship. Ralph tells them that their own fire
is weak enough to give the ship the signal. Ralph runs to the mountain but
the ship passes without seeing them. Ralph blames all those who are
responsible for this weak fire.

In meanwhile, Jack and his hunter group return from the forest and they
carry a bid dead big. Piggy is upset because they have lost the opportunity.
He blames Jack and both of them argue. Jack punches Piggy during which
one of the lenses of Piggy’s glasses breaks down. He then apologizes to
Piggy.

CHAPTER 5
BEAST FROM WATER

Ralph is not happy with the situation going into the forest. Thus he calls for a
meeting to make some important decisions. He warns all of the boys that
they are not making serious hard work and it can turn out to be disastrous
for them. Ralph blames them as they have not built the shelters correctly
and also the fire is on a weaker side which can seriously reduce their
chances of escape. He also assures the group there are no monsters on the
island.

Jack stands up and curses the small boys for being afraid of the animals and
he makes them believe that there is no beast on the island. One of the boys
tells them that he has been able to see a pig near the shelters. Jack
dismissed them but Simon also approves the notion of the small boy that he
has also seen the pig near the shelter. Jack taunts Piggy and they both start
a fight. Ralph stops them and tells them they must follow the rules. Jack asks
him who cares about the rules. Jack vows to kill the beast and breaks the
assembly by going for a hunt.

Ralph thinks that if this time Jack does not come for the meeting so their
union would be broken and he would become a savage animal. Piggy tells
Ralph that he should not step down from the leadership because if Jack
becomes the leader he would only hunt and they might not be able to return
forever.
CHAPTER 6
BEAST FROM AIR

That night, there is an aerial war and there are sounds of explosions. This
results in a dead pilot who lands on the top of a mountain on the island. The
boys on the duty find a dead body in the morning. They awake Ralph and tell
him about the beast. The meeting is called once again and they all argue
about the existence of the beast.

Ralph wants to spend some time in solitude and he goes into the
undiscovered path of the island. He enjoys the mountains and caves in that
part of the island. He soon gets frustrated because the firs, he thinks, is not
strong to signal to the ship. He goes back to strengthen the fire. He wants
the group to be rescued from the island while on the other hand, Jack thinks
that they can build a fort on the island and stay there on the island.

CHAPTER 7
SHADOW & TALL TREES

The boys search and continue their hunt. Ralph sees his appearance and
thinks that he has totally changed and looks very dirty. The boys go to the
opposite side of the island. This spot is exactly the opposite of the place
where the boys have shelters. The view of the island and the sea is totally
different here. Ralph loses hope of return but Simon assures him that he
would eventually leave the island and reach their homes.

In the afternoon, they discover the droppings of the pig. Jack asks the boy if
they need to continue the search for the beast but if they find the pig it can
additionally be hunted down. Ralph is new in hunting and it excites him.

A boar appears and they start to shoot it down. Jack`s left forearm gets
wounded. They chant and continue their search but soon they realize that
this might prove dangerous for them. Ralph considers that the boys are
getting savage and violent.

In the evening, the boys go to the mountain for the fire but Ralph is
pessimistic about his return. Jack wants to go to the beach for hunting but
Ralph is not interested because he thinks that leaving the small boys with
Piggy is not secure and that the light is very dim, too. Ralph senses that Jack
hates him and he asks him the reason for hate but Jack has no answer.

Jack again vows that he is going to kill the beast. He then mocks Ralph that
he is not accompanying Jack in the hunt. Jack then sees something on the
top of the mountain and feels frightened. Ralph agrees to join him. They see
an ape sleeping. When the boys get to know this, they are terribly
frightened.

CHAPTER 8
GIFT FOR THE DARKNESS

In the morning, the boys discuss the event of the night. Jack assures the
boys that he can kill the beast with his hunter group. Ralph dismisses the
idea because he thinks that it is dangerous to hunt down such a big beast.
Jack asks the boys that Ralph considers them coward. Jack also blames that
Ralph is not a proper chief because he is very cowardly. Jack asks the boys
they must expel Ralph from the leadership of the group but no one agrees
with the idea of Jack. Jack then announces that he is going to leave the group
of Ralph and he goes away.

Piggy suggests that they should make another area for the fire which could
be visible. They then locate a place near the beach for fire. Ralph notices
that some of the boys are missing. Simon is also missing but he is gone to an
isolated place. Piggy thinks that they can do well without Jack but they need
to use their common sense.

On the other side, Jack announces himself as the leader of the hunters. He
decides to kill the pig to have a good feast. They find a group of pigs and kill
one among them. They leave the head of the pig as a gift for the beast.
Simon sees the flies buzzing around the head of the pig from his private
place.

Ralph thinks that the boys should be rescued soon otherwise they all will end
up dying on the island.

Jack then comes to Ralph and tells the boys to join the group of hunters
because they have feast and fun.

CHAPTER 9
THE VIEW TO A DEATH

Simon falls asleep in his private place. When he wakes up he is confused as

to what to do. He also catches sight of a beast on the mountain. Simon sees
that the beast has a head of man, this causes him to vomit. He then goes to
Ralph to tell the boys what he has seen.
Ralph and Piggy play in the lagoon and feel that all the boys have a good
time to enjoy the feast of Jack. They decide to go to the boys and tell them
that things are in control and they would be rescued soon.

They reach the place and see that all the boys are enjoying the feast, while
Jack is their leader. Jack sees Piggy and Ralph and orders the boys to offer
them sow to eat. After the feast, Jack asks the boys to join his tribe and most
of the boys go into Jack’s tribe. Ralph gets disappointed with the scene.
Ralph tries to convince the boys but Jack starts arguments with him again.

Piggy asks Ralph to leave because things are getting serious in between
Ralph and Jack. Ralph tells the boys that rain is around the corner and they
are not prepared for the shelter. However, the boys get engaged in the
dance party. Simon comes to tell them about the parachutist but the boys
are mad at dancing and they chase Simon and beat him to death.

The rain intensifies and the boys are forced to run towards the shelter.
Meanwhile, the dead boys of the parachutist fly in the air because of the fast
wind. The boys get more terrified. They believe that it is the beast.

CHAPTER 10
THE SHELL & THE GLASSES

Ralph is angry over the death of Simon. Piggy tells him that he participated
in the death of Simon because he behaved violently and he died accidently.
But Ralph is broken over the death.

They think that all the boys except Sam and Eric have left for Jack’s tribe.

Four of them discuss the events of last night but they try to avoid the subject
of Simon’s death. Roger, at the other, tries to enter the camp of Jack. Once
he enters the camp, he sees that Jack`s behavior has turned violent and
savage.

On the other hand, Ralph and his three companions try to start a fire again
but because they are little in number the job seems difficult for them. The
night falls and they go to their shelter.

The boys do not sleep well because they are afraid. They hear some sounds
and notice that Jack along with his boys is attacking their shelters. They
suffer injuries and Piggy tells them the boys came for the glasses of piggy.
CHAPTER 11
CASTLE ROCK

The boys gather wounded and injured. They try to start a fire again but they
do not have the glasses of Piggy so it is impossible for them. They need the
glasses because it is the only hope for fire and their rescue. Piggy decides to
go to Jack and appeals to his justice so that he could return glasses. He also
wants to tell Jack that he must behave wisely and that he should wear
clothes.

They reach Jack’s camp but the guards of Jack’s camp throw stones at them
and ask them to leave. Jack appears with his group carrying a large dead pig.
Ralph asks him that he must return the glasses of Piggy. Ralph calls him a
thief and Jack attacks to stab Ralph but he saves himself.

Both the boys fight. Ralph tells him that fire is their only hope for survival
and the glasses should be returned. Jack orders his boys that they should tie
Sam and Eric. The boys hold them and tie them up. Ralph and Jack again
fight and Ralph calls Jack a swine. Piggy shouts and tells him that he wants
to talk to all the boys. He tells the boys whether they want to be like savage
Indians or to behave like humans and try to be like Ralph. He adds that they
should live in accordance with the rules rather than only kill and feast. He
tells them the rules of Ralph are for their rescue. Suddenly, a rock falls from
the mountain over Piggy and he is crushed by the rock.

The group is silent but Jack attacks Ralph and he runs away to save himself.

CHAPTER 12
CRY OF THE HUNTERS

Ralph runs and hides in the jungle. He is very concerned about the barbaric
behavior of the boys. He also thinks that the boy might not be able to come
into civilization. He decides to fight because he thinks that Jack would not
leave him alive.

Suddenly Ralph notices the fire and realizes that Jack has set the jungle on
fire to find Ralph. Ralph is worried because he thinks that this is going to
destroy all the fruit on the island. He runs to the beach and notices that the
hunters are after him. He is terrified and senses that the hunters are very
close to him.

Ralph reaches the beach and falls over with terror. He then sees a naval
officer looming over him. He tells him that his ship noticed smoke so they
 decided to investigate the matter. The boys run and chase Ralph and the
officer slowly gets to know the violent nature of the boys. The boys try to tell
the officer their names but they no longer remember their addresses. They
do not know how many boys are there on the island. The officer scolds them
for going away from civilization by behaving savagely.

Ralph realizes that their innocence is dead and there is darkness in their hearts.