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Jack decided to hunt down and even kill Ralph, his only known opposition. Ralph, however, was so well
concealed inside a thicket that there was just no way to reach him. Jack therefore chose to smoke him
out.
The fire went hopelessly out of control and destroyed the entire island. Ironically, however, it sent up a
vast smoke signal into the heavens, causing a British naval cutter to investigate and come to the boys'
rescue.
FIRE ON THE ISLAND
Fire served several purposes on the island.
Originally the boys made a fire on the mountain as a signal to passing ships in the hope that they would
be rescued. They also used this fire for cooking purposes.
Because it was inconvenient to traipse all the way to the top of the mountain to cook crab and shell fish,
however, many of the boys also made fires on the beaches, something that Ralph tried to stop because
it was too dangerous.
Fire also served as a comfort, especially after it was discovered that a beast dwelt on the island.
On the other hand, the fire could be destructive. When they made the very first fire on the mountain, the
boys put on far too much wood and the flames leapt out of control.
Although it did not destroy the entire island, it did nevertheless wipe out a massive swath through the bush
and, in doing so, killed a littlun. No sign of him was ever found.
The fire also served to be a divisive element. Ralph was hell bent on keeping the rescue fire going.
Unfortunately, however, the task of supervising it was left in the incapable hands of Jack and his hunters
who had other things on their minds.
Jack particularly believed himself to be losing face with the boys because of his inability to kill a pig.
Several months passed and still he had not brought home the promised meat.
His obsession to kill a pig therefore caused him to neglect the fire and he allowed it to go out at the very
moment that a ship passed by.
Jack's euphoria at killing his first pig was dampened by Ralph's accusations of neglect. As a result, an
ever deepening rift developed between the two boys which culminated with Jack's mutiny and establishing
his own tribe.
It was also the celebration of the fire and roasted pig which led to Simon's unfortunate slaying when he
was mistaken for the beast in the midst of mass hysteria during a thunder storm.
The irony, however, was that it was the very division associated with the fire which brought them rescue.
Jack attempted to smoke Ralph out prior to killing him and, in doing so, set the entire island on fire.
This turned out to be a rescue fire deluxe and caught the attention of a passing naval cutter. The boys
were therefore saved from utter disaster by this runaway fire designed purely to capture and kill Ralph.
Have you looked at the questions in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer the following questions:
Might it not be possible to walk boldly into the fort, say -- "I've got pax," laugh lightly and sleep among
the others? Pretend they were still boys, schoolboys who had said "Sir, yes, Sir" -- and worn caps?
Daylight might have answered yes; but darkness and the horrors of death said no. Lying there in the
darkness, he knew he was an outcast.
- What is the meaning of "I've got pax"? Why would Ralph use such a quaint
expression? (4)
[Need help?]
"I've got pax" means "I've got peace".
This was probably one of many expressions which children back in the 1950s used in games to indicate
that they could not be caught or touched.
Anyone who said, "I've got pax", was free to walk around unmolested.
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- What is the significance of the boys saying, "Sir, yes, Sir" and wearing
caps? (4)
[Need help?]
Ralph is referring to their peaceful days at school, where law and order prevailed, where the
schoolmasters were respected by the boys who called them "Sir".
They wore their school uniforms, with caps on their heads -- and no schoolboy would kill another in cold
blood, or roll a boulder on top of another.
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Daylight might have answered yes; but darkness and the horrors of death said no.
- Explain the contrast between day and night. (4)
[Need help?]
When the sun shone, everything would be at peace. When it was dark, however, evil spirits roamed and
it was dangerous to be out. It was in the dark that Simon had been killed.
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Lying there in the darkness, he knew he was an outcast.
- What is an "outcast"? (2)
[Need help?]
An "outcast" is someone who is not wanted in society. The person is usually cast out because of
some crime he has committed.
Ralph, however, had been cast out simply for wanting to do the right thing.
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- In what way was Ralph now an outcast? Was there any advantage or disadvantage in his being
declared an outcast? (4)
[Need help?]
Ralph was an outcast simply because he was no longer welcomed amongst the other boys of Jack's tribe.
In normal society, there would be some advantage to being an outcast. In the animal world, the outcast
is usually left alone as long as he does not trouble the other animals.
It was highly unlikely, however, that Ralph would be left alone. Indeed, very quickly Jack initiated a hunt
which had the sole objective of killing him.
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From the top of the towering rock came the incomprehensible reply. "Roger sharpened a stick at both
ends."
- What is the meaning of the stick sharpened at both ends? (4)
[Need help?]
The first time we heard about the stick sharpened at both ends was after the pig hunt where the head of
the sow was offered to the beast. One end of the stick was pushed into the sow's head and the other end
pushed into the ground.
In Ralph's case, it could mean either that they were going to push the stick right through him or they were
going to behead him and then, like the sow, leave his head on the stick as a trophy or as an offering to
the beast.
Either way, it signified that Ralph was going to be hunted down like a pig and killed.
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- Is there any significance to the fact that it was Roger who had sharpened the stick at both
ends? (4)
[Need help?]
Roger was the one known for being a sadist and a bully. He probably got the idea when he heard that
Jack had started punishing boys for no apparent reason.
If Jack could do that, therefore, what was to stop Roger capturing Ralph, beheading him and carrying his
head back on the end of a sharpened stick -- as had happened to Macbeth?
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