Group Discussion Day 1

Chapter Summary 1: Two boys are on a beach and introduce themselves as Ralph and Piggy. They were in a plane crash and begin to wonder where the rest of the boys from the plane are. After blowing a conch shell as a trumpet, the boys begin to gather on the beach. The oldest boys are about twelve and the youngest are about six. Jack is introduced as the leader of a group of choir boys and wants to lead the group. The boys decide to make Ralph their leader and Jack the leader of the hunters. Jack finds a pig while exploring the island and can’t bring himself to kill it. He vows next time he won’t think twice about killing.

Chapter Summary 2: Ralph tells the group that after exploring the island, they have discovered there are no adults with them and they must set rules to survive. Piggy yells at the boys about the fact they have crashed on a deserted island and no one knows they are there. No one seems to care. One of the younger boys says he saw a “beastie” during the night and sends a wave of fear through the group. Ralph comes up with the idea of build a signal fire so if any ships pass, they will know someone is on the island. The fire quickly dies down and Jack and his group says they will be in charge of it. Soon they set a bunch of trees on fire and one young boy has gone missing. Ralph feels guilty for it and they pretend that nothing has happened.

Chapter Summary 3: Ralph and Simon try and build shelters for the younger boys, but they refuse to help. Ralph gets mad and tells them that in order for their plans to work everyone has to pitch in. He also yells at Jack because he has yet to catch a pig and they need meat to eat. Ralph also implies to Jack that the hunters are using hunting as an excuse to get out of the real work. In hopes to relive some of the tension Jack and Ralph go swimming in the lagoon together, but the hostility is still there. Simon goes into the jungle alone and helps the “littleuns” reach fruit on trees. While wondering, Simon finds a peaceful meadow in the middle of the jungle full of flowers and birds. He makes sure he is alone and sits in the middle and takes in the beauty.

Questions: - Why do the boys choose Ralph as their leader and not Jack?

- Jack can't kill the pig the first time he has the chance, what changes in him that he vows to do it next time?

- Why do the boys believe the word of the younger boys about the beastie?

- Why are none of the boys, other than Piggy, not concerned about the boy that was lost in the fire?