Structure and Summary (Lord of the Flies)

This section focusses on the structure and summary of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Lord of the Flies is a novel that uses a straightforward narrative structure to explore complex themes about human nature and society. Below are key points about the structure and a chapter-by-chapter summary to help with your revision.

Structure of the Novel

Chronological Narrative: Lord of the Flies follows a linear, chronological structure, beginning with the boys' arrival on the island and ending with their rescue. This allows the reader to track their gradual descent into savagery as their social structures disintegrate.

Third-Person Omniscient Narrator: The novel is written in the third person, providing an omniscient view of the characters' actions, thoughts, and motivations. This narrative style enables the reader to understand the broader implications of events on the island and how they relate to the themes of civilisation and savagery.

Use of Symbolism: Throughout the novel, Golding uses symbols, such as the conch, the fire, Piggy’s glasses, and the "Lord of the Flies" (the pig's head), to structure the narrative and highlight key themes. These symbols evolve in significance as the story progresses.

Foreshadowing and Irony: Golding frequently uses foreshadowing to hint at future events, such as Simon’s knowledge of the "beast" and Piggy’s eventual death. There is also dramatic irony, particularly in the ending, when the naval officer rescues the boys, oblivious to the violence that has taken place.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell

Summary: A plane carrying a group of British schoolboys crashes on a deserted island during a war. Ralph and Piggy find a conch shell, which Ralph uses to summon the other boys. They gather and elect Ralph as their leader, despite Jack's desire for power. Jack is given control of the choir, who become hunters.

Key Points: Introduction of the conch (symbol of order), Ralph’s leadership, and Jack's hunger for control.

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

Summary: At an assembly, the boys discuss the need for a signal fire to attract rescue. The idea of a "beast" is introduced by a young boy, causing fear. They build a fire using Piggy's glasses but it gets out of control, setting part of the forest on fire. One of the younger boys goes missing.

Key Points: The introduction of fear (the "beast") and the first sign of chaos as the fire spreads uncontrollably.

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

Summary: Ralph and Simon work hard to build shelters, but most of the boys are more interested in playing and hunting. Tension grows between Ralph, who prioritises rescue and shelter, and Jack, who is obsessed with hunting. Simon retreats into the forest to be alone.

Key Points: The growing divide between civilisation (Ralph) and savagery (Jack). Simon’s unique, spiritual connection to nature.

Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair

Summary: The boys begin to adapt to island life, with their hair growing long and becoming less concerned with rules. Jack paints his face and leads a hunt. They kill their first pig, but during the hunt, they neglect the signal fire, and a passing ship fails to notice them. Ralph is furious.

Key Points: The face paint symbolises the boys' descent into savagery. The conflict between Ralph and Jack deepens.

Chapter 5: Beast from Water

Summary: Ralph calls an assembly to address the growing chaos. They discuss the "beast," with some boys suggesting it comes from the sea. Fear and tension increase. Ralph tries to reassert control, but Jack undermines him, and the meeting disintegrates.

Key Points: The fear of the beast spreads, and the group's unity begins to fracture.

Chapter 6: Beast from Air

Summary: A dead parachutist lands on the island, and the boys mistake it for the beast. Sam and Eric (Samneric) report seeing the beast, causing panic. Jack and Ralph lead a group to search for the beast, further escalating tensions between them.

Key Points: The parachutist, a symbol of the adult world's war, is misinterpreted as the beast. The power struggle between Ralph and Jack intensifies.

Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees

Summary: While hunting, Ralph participates in a mock pig-hunt, feeling the thrill of violence for the first time. Later, the boys find the dead parachutist but believe it to be the beast. They retreat in fear.

Key Points: Ralph’s participation in the hunt shows his vulnerability to savagery. The "beast" solidifies as a powerful symbol of fear.

Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness

Summary: Jack challenges Ralph’s leadership and forms his own tribe. Jack’s tribe kills a pig and offers its head to the "beast" as a sacrifice. Simon, alone in the forest, has a vision of the pig’s head, the "Lord of the Flies," and realises the beast is within the boys themselves.

Key Points: Jack’s tribe breaks away, marking the full split between civilisation and savagery. The "Lord of the Flies" becomes a powerful symbol of inherent evil.

Chapter 9: A View to a Death

Summary: Simon discovers the truth about the parachutist and rushes to tell the others. Meanwhile, Ralph and Piggy join a feast held by Jack’s tribe. In a frenzied dance, the boys mistake Simon for the beast and brutally kill him.

Key Points: Simon’s death marks the loss of innocence and reason. The boys have fully descended into savagery.

Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses

Summary: Ralph and Piggy, devastated by Simon’s death, cling to the hope of maintaining order. Meanwhile, Jack’s tribe becomes increasingly brutal, stealing Piggy’s glasses to make fire. Ralph’s group is left powerless.

Key Points: Piggy’s glasses, a symbol of intellect and civilisation, are taken by Jack’s tribe, further undermining Ralph’s authority.

Chapter 11: Castle Rock

Summary: Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric go to Jack’s tribe to demand the return of Piggy’s glasses. A fight ensues, and Roger deliberately pushes a boulder that kills Piggy. The conch is shattered, symbolising the complete destruction of order.

Key Points: Piggy’s death and the destruction of the conch symbolise the end of civilisation on the island.

Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters

Summary: Ralph is hunted by Jack’s tribe, who intend to kill him. The island is set on fire in the process. Just as Ralph is about to be captured, a naval officer arrives, attracted by the smoke. The boys are rescued, but Ralph weeps for the loss of innocence and the darkness within humanity.

Key Points: The rescue is ironic, as the boys are saved by the very fire that was meant to kill Ralph. The officer’s arrival marks the end of the boys’ savagery but highlights the on-going war in the outside world.

Key Structural Features

Symbolism: The conch (order and democracy), Piggy’s glasses (intellect and technology), the fire (hope and rescue), and the "Lord of the Flies" (the manifestation of evil) are recurring symbols that structure the narrative and its thematic depth.

Character Development: The structure of the novel allows for the gradual breakdown of order, mirrored in the characters' development, especially Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon.

Rising Tension: Golding builds tension throughout the novel by escalating the conflict between Ralph and Jack and increasing the boys' fear of the beast, culminating in Piggy’s death and Ralph’s near escape from murder.

Conclusion

Lord of the Flies follows a clear narrative structure, from order to chaos, and uses this progression to explore themes of civilisation, savagery, and human nature. Each chapter builds on the last, leading to the dramatic and tragic conclusion, where the boys are rescued, but the dark truths about humanity are laid bare.