Lord of the Flies Chapter 6 By: Mat.T
Summary - Sam and Eric inform Ralp that they have witnessed the beast. - Ralph hosts a meeting about what needs to be done to the beast. - Exploring where they have not explored yet was the first idea that came up (The castle like rock formation at one end of the Island). - Ralph ends up defending piggy from Jack which makes him mad. - Jack, Ralph and a couple of boys go out and explore the only part of the Island that they have not been befor. JacK thinks it's the only place for the beast to be.
Summary (cont d) - Ralph goes to the area first to make sure it's safe then Jack joins in because he thinks that Ralph should not go alone. - After they announced that the beast isn't there, the boys end up wanting to stay and play but they resist when Ralph announces that they need to all go check on the fire, but he forces the issue and Jack leads the way back up to the fire pit.
Passage 1 There was a sudden bright explosion and corkscrew trail across the sky; then darkness again and stars (95).
Symbols Archetype: In this quote, the author mentions darkness. Black: Darkness, mystery, the unknown
Connotative Message The author is hiding a war theme to the setting. In many parts of the book, Golding hides war events so in this case, when Golding says a bright explosion and corkscrew across the sky then darkness again he is saying that airplanes are exploding and battling above the Island.
Passage 2 There was a speck among the Island, a figure dropping swiftly beneath a parachute, a figure that hung with dangling limbs (95).
Symbols Again with the Black Archetype. It's like if Chapter 6 is all based on chaos, darkness, mystery and the unknown death which are all characteristics of the black archetype. Conflict: Man vs Man. When the boys wake up from sleeping, they did not see what happened in the sky so there first thought when they see the black figure is that it's the beast and that they should run and tell Ralph.
Connotative Message Referring to the first passage I used, the explosion in the sky is the cause of the black figure falling from the sky. It must have been someone who died during the battle.
Passage 3 We don't need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things Its time some people know they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us (102).
Symbols Conflict: Man vs Man In this passage, Jack is referring his speech to Ralph because he is getting tired of always listening to Ralph and Ralph not listening to Jack's idea s. Jack decides he wants to hunt the beast and Ralph decides that they should stay with the rest of the boys. Jack fights with Ralph, and it is obvious that Ralph's power in the group went to Jack.
Connotative Message At the beginning of the book, they made a rule about the conch. Whoever has the conch is the leader and when you blow the conch, everyone comes together. We can say that the conch is the tool of power and strength in the group. Jack decided to go against Ralph's rule about the conch.
Passage 4 Mutinously, the boys fell silent or muttering (108)
Symbol Archetype ( Black) : Wisdom, part of the black archetype is shown by Ralph when he shows his leadership. Jack tries to take over the group but Ralph refuses and takes ove to make a plan that Jack and the boys will have to follow. Ralph s knowledge and good judgment allows him to be a good leader.
Connotative Message The boys don't want to listen to Ralph but due to him wanting to be the leader they ending up having to. The passage that I showed you is there reaction to Ralph s speech that he gave about him I m chief (108). They know that they have to listen to him because he has more power.
Thesis Throughout the quotes, Golding shows that even with possible danger on the island, the characters are capable to put together a plan and work things out.
Observation Golding uses the Black Archetype throughout this whole Chapter to represent the characteristics of darkness from the mysteries in the sky, chaos throughout Ralph and Jack's argument, mystery and unknown from not knowing what is in the sky or whether the beast is real or not and death from the black figure falling from the sky.