Lord of the Flies content.

The duration of the action is not defined. As a result of a nuclear explosion somewhere, a group of teenagers who were being evacuated find themselves on a desert island. Ralph and a fat boy with glasses, nicknamed Piggy, are the first to meet on the seashore. Finding a large shell at the bottom of the sea, they use it as a horn and call all the guys. Boys from three to fourteen years old come running; the last formations are the church choir singers, led by Jack Meridew. Ralph suggests picking a "chief". In addition to him, Jack claims leadership, but the vote ends in favor of Ralph, who offers Jack to lead the choristers, making them hunters.

A small party of Ralph, Jack, and Simon, a frail, faint-hearted chorister, go on a reconnaissance mission to determine if they have indeed made it to the island. Piggy, despite his requests, is not taken with them.

Climbing the mountain, the boys experience a sense of unity and delight. On the way back, they notice a pig entangled in the vines. Jack already raises the knife, but something stops him: he is not yet ready to kill. While he hesitates, the pig manages to escape, and the boy is ashamed of his indecisiveness, swearing to himself that he will strike the killing blow next time.

The boys return to camp. Ralph calls the meeting and explains that now they will have to decide everything for themselves. He proposes to establish rules, in particular, not to speak to everyone at once, but to let the one who holds the horn speak, as they call the seashell. The children are not afraid that they may not be rescued soon, and they are looking forward to a fun life on the island.

Suddenly, the kids push forward a frail boy of six years old with a birthmark on half his face. It turns out that at night he saw a beast - a snake, which in the morning turned into a liana. The children suggest that it was a dream, a nightmare, but the boy firmly stands his ground. Jack promises to search the island for snakes; Ralph angrily says that there is no animal.

Ralph convinces the guys that, of course, they will be rescued, but for this they need to build a large fire on the top of the mountain and keep it up so that they can be seen from the ship.

Together, they build a fire and set it on fire with Piggy's goggles. Maintenance of the fire is taken over by Jack and his hunters.

It soon becomes clear that no one wants to work seriously: only Simon and Ralph continue to build huts; hunters, carried away by hunting, completely forgot about the fire. Due to the fact that the fire went out, the guys were not noticed from the ship passing by. This becomes the occasion for the first serious quarrel between Ralph and Jack. Jack, who just at that moment killed the first pig, is offended that his feat was not appreciated, although he recognizes the justice of Ralph's reproaches. Out of impotent rage, he breaks Piggy's glasses and teases him. Ralph struggles to restore order and assert his dominance.

To maintain order, Ralph gathers the next meeting, now realizing how important it is to be able to correctly and consistently express his thoughts. He again reminds of the need to comply with the rules established by them. But the main thing for Ralph is to get rid of the fear that has crept into the souls of the kids. Having taken the word, Jack suddenly utters the forbidden word "beast". And in vain Piggy convinces everyone that there is no beast, no fear, “unless you scare each other,” the kids do not want to believe this. Little Percival Wims Madison adds further confusion when he claims that "the beast comes out of the sea." And only Simon reveals the truth. “Maybe it’s us…” he says.

At this meeting, Jack, feeling his power, refuses to obey the rules and promises to hunt down the beast. The boys are divided into two camps - those who represent reason, law and order (Piggy, Ralph, Simon), and those who represent the blind force of destruction (Jack, Roger and other hunters).

That same night, the twins Eric and Sam, who were on duty at the fire on the mountain, come running to the camp with the news that they saw the beast. All day the boys search the island, and only in the evening Ralph, Jack and Roger go to the mountain. There, in the false light of the moon, they mistake for a beast the corpse of a parachutist hanging on the lines from a downed plane and, in fear, rush to run.

At the new meeting, Jack openly reproaches Ralph for cowardice, offering himself as leader. Not receiving support, he goes into the forest.

Gradually, Piggy and Ralph begin to notice that there are fewer and fewer guys left in the camp, and they realize that they have gone to Jack.

The dreamer Simon, who has chosen a clearing in the forest where he can be alone, becomes a witness to a pig hunt. As a sacrifice to the “beast”, hunters impale a pig's head on a stake - this is the Lord of the Flies: after all, the head is completely covered with flies. Once seen, Simon can no longer take his eyes off “these ancient eyes that inevitably recognize”, because the devil himself is looking at him. “You knew… that I am part of you. An inseparable part, ”says the head, as if hinting that it is the embodiment of evil that generates fear.

A little later, the hunters, led by Jack, raid the camp to get some fire. Their faces are smeared with clay: under the guise it is easier to create excesses. Having seized the fire, Jack invites everyone to join his squad, enticing them with hunting freemen and food.

Ralph and Piggy are terribly hungry, and they and the rest of the guys go to Jack. Jack again calls on everyone to join his army. He is confronted by Ralph, who reminds him that he was elected by the main democratic way. But with his reminder of civilization, Jack contrasts the primitive dance, accompanied by the call: “Beat the beast! Cut your throat!” Suddenly, Simon appears on the site, who was on the mountain and made sure with his own eyes that there was no animal there. He tries to talk about his discovery, but in the dark he is mistaken for a beast and killed in a wild ritual dance.

Jack's “tribe” is located in the “castle”, on a rock resembling a fortress, where, with the help of a simple lever, stones can be thrown at the enemy. Ralph, meanwhile, is trying with all his might to keep the fire, their only hope of salvation, but Jack, who sneaked into the camp one night, steals Piggy's glasses, with which the guys made a fire.

Ralph, Piggy and the twins go to Jack in hopes of getting the glasses back, but Jack greets them with hostility. In vain Piggy tries to convince them that "the law and that we be saved" is better than "to hunt and destroy everything." In the ensuing fight, the twins are captured. Ralph is seriously wounded, and Piggy is killed by a stone thrown from the fortress ... The horn, the last stronghold of democracy, is broken. The killing instinct triumphs, and now Jack is ready to be replaced as leader by Roger, personifying stupid, bestial cruelty.

Ralph manages to escape. He understands "that the painted savages will stop at nothing." Seeing that Eric and Sam have become sentries, Ralph tries to win them over to his side, but they are too scared. They only inform him that a hunt is being prepared for him. Then he asks them to take the "hunters" away from his hiding place: he wants to hide near the castle.

However, fear turns out to be stronger than notions of honor, and the twins betray it to Jack. Ralph is smoked out of the forest, not allowing him to hide ... Like a hunted animal, Ralph rushes around the island and suddenly, jumping ashore, stumbles upon a naval officer. “We could have looked more decent,” he reproaches the guys. The news of the death of two boys shocks him. And imagining how it all began, he says: “Everything looked wonderful then. Just Coral Island.

Option 2

A group of children sent to evacuate - away from a nuclear explosion, finds themselves on a desert island. On the shore, Ralph sees a bespectacled fat man nicknamed Piggy. The guys find a large shell, blow into it. Boys from 3 to 14 years old are pulled up to the sound from everywhere. The church choir, led by Jack, comes in formation. The guys decide to choose the leader. When voting, Ralph wins, and the loser Jack is offered to lead a squad of hunters.

Ralph, Jack, and the frail chorister Simon are surveying the island. Teenagers feel unity and responsibility for the group. Going down into the mountains, they notice a pig entangled in vines. Jack hesitates: killing is not so easy. The animal runs away, and the newly-minted hunter takes an oath next time not to linger.

At the camp, Ralph proposes to set certain rules. Children do not yet realize the dangers, they hope to have fun until they are found.

A six-year-old boy says: he saw a snake at night, which turned into a liana by morning. The older guys consider this a fantasy, but just in case, they search the island. Ralph is convinced that they will be rescued, you just need to make a fire on the mountain - then they will be noticed from the ship. Piggy goggles are used to produce fire. Jack and his hunters are committed to keeping the fire going.

When it comes to work, it turns out that no one is eager to participate in the case. While Simon and Ralph are busy building huts, the others are resting. The hunters were carried away by the chase and forgot about the fire. The ship passing by did not notice the inhabitants of the island. This led to a quarrel. Jack was looking for praise for the first pig he killed, but he was reprimanded for putting out the fire. He takes out his anger on Piggy - teases him and breaks his glasses. Ralph struggles to put out the conflict

In the souls of the kids managed to settle fear. At the meeting, the elders try to calm the kids, but Jack utters the forbidden word “beast” in front of everyone, which leads to panic. Feeling the power, Jack assures that he will hunt down the beast himself. The boys are divided: someone takes the rational side of Ralph, Simon and Piggy, others support the power of destruction - Jack and his hunters. Over time, Ralph notices: there are fewer and fewer guys left in his camp, but Jack’s breakaway “tribe” is replenished.

Sitting in a clearing, Simon becomes a witness to the hunting of Jack's wards. As bait, they use a pig's head, put on a stake. She is covered in flies. Simon makes an unexpected discovery: this is the Lord of the Flies, evil incarnate, causing fear in souls. It seems to the boy that the devil himself is looking at him.

Jack and the hunters are raiding Ralph's camp - they need fire. Clay-smeared savages are trying to lure away the doubters. After a while, the hungry inhabitants, along with Ralph and Piggy, come to Jack. He again calls to join the ranks of the hunters. Ralph tries to argue about democracy, but Jack's power is based on fear. In some primitive dance, he begins to conjure: “Beat the beast! Cut your throat!"

Simon, who appeared, tries to explain to the guys that no animal exists, but in the darkness he himself is mistaken for an animal and killed. Jack's tribe from time to time throws stones from the cliff at the opponents' camp. Ralph is still holding fire in hope of being rescued.

One night, Jack steals the glasses. The guys follow them into the camp of the enemy. Once again they are trying to convince the "savages" to adhere to the laws, but all in vain. A fight ensues, in which Ralph's allies are taken prisoner, he himself is seriously wounded, and Piggy is killed by a thrown stone. Evil triumphs.

Ralph manages to escape, but he is being hunted. The pursuers are not far behind. Chased by a distraught flock, he jumps ashore and unexpectedly stumbles upon a naval officer. He makes a remark about the appearance of the guy. Having learned about the death of two guys, the man says thoughtfully: “Everything looked wonderful then. Just Coral Island.

Year of writing:

1954

Reading time:

Description of the work:

Lord of the Flies is the first novel by William Golding. The novel is written in the allegorical genre. The lord of the flies is the head of a killed pig impaled on a stake by a hunter.

The novel was rejected by many publishers. Yet, when it was published after the revision of the first pages of the book, it did not receive recognition. Less than 3,000 books were sold in the first year. But after a few years, the novel was noticed, it literally became a bestseller and was even introduced into the curriculum of schools and colleges.

The duration of the action is not defined. As a result of a nuclear explosion somewhere, a group of teenagers who were being evacuated find themselves on a desert island. Ralph and a fat boy with glasses, nicknamed Piggy, are the first to meet on the seashore. Finding a large shell at the bottom of the sea, they use it as a horn and call all the guys. Boys from three to fourteen years old come running; the last formations are the church choir singers, led by Jack Meridew. Ralph suggests choosing a "chief". In addition to him, Jack claims leadership, but the vote ends in favor of Ralph, who offers Jack to lead the choristers, making them hunters.

A small party of Ralph, Jack, and Simon, a frail, faint-hearted chorister, go on a reconnaissance mission to determine if they have actually made it to the island. Piggy, despite his requests, is not taken with them.

Climbing the mountain, the boys experience a sense of unity and delight. On the way back, they notice a pig entangled in the vines. Jack already raises the knife, but something stops him: he is not yet ready to kill. While he hesitates, the pig manages to escape, and the boy is ashamed of his indecisiveness, swearing to himself that he will strike the killing blow next time.

The boys return to camp. Ralph calls the meeting and explains that now they will have to decide everything for themselves. He proposes to establish rules, in particular, not to speak to everyone at once, but to let the one who holds the horn speak, as they call the sea shell. The children are not yet afraid that they may not be rescued soon, and they are looking forward to a fun life on the island.

Suddenly, the kids push forward a frail boy of about six years old with a birthmark on half his face. It turns out that at night he saw a beast - a snake, which in the morning turned into a liana. The children suggest that it was a dream, a nightmare, but the boy stands firm. Jack promises to search the island for snakes; Ralph angrily says that there is no animal.

Ralph convinces the guys that, of course, they will be rescued, but for this you need to build a large fire on the top of the mountain and keep it up so that they can be seen from the ship.

Together they build a fire and set it on fire with Piggy's goggles. Maintenance of the fire is taken over by Jack and his hunters.

It soon becomes clear that no one wants to work seriously: only Simon and Ralph continue to build huts; hunters, carried away by hunting, completely forgot about the fire. Due to the fact that the fire went out, the guys were not noticed from the ship passing by. This becomes the occasion for the first serious quarrel between Ralph and Jack. Jack, who just at that moment killed the first pig, is offended that his feat was not appreciated, although he recognizes the justice of Ralph's reproaches. Out of impotent rage, he breaks Piggy's glasses and teases him. Ralph struggles to restore order and assert his dominance.

To maintain order, Ralph gathers the next meeting, now realizing how important it is to be able to correctly and consistently express his thoughts. He again reminds of the need to comply with the rules established by them. But the main thing for Ralph is to get rid of the fear that has crept into the souls of the kids. Having taken the word, Jack suddenly utters the forbidden word "beast". And in vain Piggy convinces everyone that there is no beast, no fear, “unless you scare each other,” the kids do not want to believe this. Little Percival Wims Madison adds further confusion by claiming that "the beast comes out of the sea." And only Simon reveals the truth. "Maybe it's us..." he says.

At this meeting, Jack, feeling his power, refuses to obey the rules and promises to hunt down the beast. The boys are divided into two camps - those who represent reason, law and order (Piggy, Ralph, Simon), and those who represent the blind force of destruction (Jack, Roger and other hunters).

That same night, the twins Eric and Sam, who were on duty at the fire on the mountain, come running to the camp with the news that they saw the beast. All day the boys search the island, and only in the evening Ralph, Jack and Roger go to the mountain. There, in the false light of the moon, they mistake for an animal the corpse of a paratrooper hanging on the lines from a downed plane and, in fear, rush to run.

At the new meeting, Jack openly reproaches Ralph for cowardice, offering himself as leader. Not receiving support, he goes into the forest.

Gradually, Piggy and Ralph begin to notice that there are fewer and fewer guys left in the camp, and they realize that they have gone to Jack.

The dreamer Simon, who has chosen a clearing in the forest where he can be alone, becomes a witness to a pig hunt. As a sacrifice to the "beast", hunters impale a pig's head on a stake - this is the Lord of the Flies: after all, the head is completely covered with flies. Once seen, Simon can no longer take his eyes off "these ancient eyes that inevitably recognize", because the devil himself is looking at him. “You knew... that I am part of you. An inseparable part, ”says the head, as if hinting that it is the embodiment of evil that generates fear.

A little later, the hunters, led by Jack, raid the camp to get some fire. Their faces are smeared with clay: under the guise it is easier to create excesses. Having seized the fire, Jack invites everyone to join his squad, enticing them with hunting freemen and food.

Ralph and Piggy are terribly hungry, and they and the rest of the guys go to Jack. Jack again calls on everyone to join his army. He is confronted by Ralph, who reminds him that he was elected by the main democratic way. But with his reminder of civilization, Jack contrasts the primitive dance, accompanied by the call: “Beat the beast! Cut your throat!" Suddenly, Simon appears on the site, who was on the mountain and made sure with his own eyes that there was no animal there. He tries to talk about his discovery, but in the dark he is mistaken for a beast and killed in a wild ritual dance.

Jack's "tribe" is located in the "castle", on a rock resembling a fortress, where, with the help of a simple lever, stones can be thrown at the enemy. Ralph, meanwhile, is trying with all his might to maintain the fire, their only hope of salvation, but Jack, who sneaked into the camp one night, steals Piggy's glasses, with which the guys made fire.

Ralph, Piggy and the twins go to Jack in hopes of getting the glasses back, but Jack greets them with hostility. Piggy tries in vain to convince them that "the law and that we be saved" is better than "to hunt and destroy everything." In the ensuing fight, the twins are captured. Ralph is seriously wounded, and Piggy is killed by a stone thrown from the fortress ... The horn, the last stronghold of democracy, is broken. The killing instinct triumphs, and now Jack is ready to be replaced as leader by Roger, personifying stupid, bestial cruelty.

Ralph manages to escape. He understands "that the painted savages will stop at nothing." Seeing that Eric and Sam have become sentries, Ralph tries to win them over to his side, but they are too scared. They only inform him that a hunt is being prepared for him. Then he asks them to take the "hunters" away from his hiding place: he wants to hide near the castle.

However, fear turns out to be stronger than notions of honor, and the twins betray it to Jack. Ralph is smoked out of the forest, not allowing him to hide ... Like a hunted animal, Ralph rushes around the island and suddenly, jumping ashore, stumbles upon a naval officer. “We could have looked more decent,” he reproaches the guys. The news of the death of two boys shocks him. And imagining how it all began, he says: “Everything looked wonderful then. Just Coral Island.

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The plane crashed into the sea after the crash. There are teenagers on the island. A fat man with glasses who suffers from asthma; slender, skilful Ralph. And Jack knows the hunt. And with them a lot of kids.

The children decided to wait for salvation and live by the rules.

They hold meetings, many talk about how real Englishmen should live. It was decided that the one with the “horn” - a large shell - has the right to speak.

Ralph was chosen as the main one as smart. But children cannot control their whims. Besides, they don't know how to do what they once heard about.

So they guessed to kindle a big fire - as the ship sails past, the sailors will see high smoke and save everyone. Nobody has a match. They guessed to take off the Fat Man (he is very offended when his name is Piggy) glasses and collect sunlight through the lens. The hearth blazed - there was a fire. One of the little boys disappeared in the fire.

They began to build shacks - most of the guys fled to hunt. Only Ralph, Simon and Fat Man worked. Daring Jack claims that the main thing is hunting.

A ship sailed past the island and did not notice the smoke, because those who were assigned to watch the hearth neglected their duties.

Children turn into savages. They painted their faces. Two twins killed a pig. They cut her throat. There is no more discipline. Ralph is not listening. He is very concerned about this. Moreover, rumors spread that a terrible beast or spirit lives either in the forest or in the sea. The children are terrified. With a homemade spear, the boys killed another pig and made a stuffed animal from its head. It's like an idol - the owner of flies.

Children are becoming more and more like animals. Simon, Ralph, Fat Man and the twins separate from the others because they want to be human. Simon dies of a fever. In a fever, it seems to him that he is talking to the owner of the flies.

The hunters are led by Jack. They are completely wild. When their hearth went out again, they attacked the Fat Man and stole his glasses.

The fat man walks on his glasses and dies under the rubble of the rock, they pushed him on. Ralph wants to convince himself that this is an accident, but he guesses that it is murder.

The existence of Ralph for savages - like salt in the eye and colic in the side. The twins moved to Jack's camps, because he is stronger and has meat. But they still warn Ralph that they want to kill him with spears, like a pig.

Ralph hides in the forest.

When help finally arrives, the officer sees wild and predatory creatures that have almost nothing human left.

And at first it seemed that this was just an adventure - a coral island, freedom, a fun game ...

William Golding

Lord of the Flies

WILLIAM GOLDING

Chapter 1

The blond boy climbed down the cliff and headed towards the lagoon. Although he took off his school sweater and carried it in his hand, his gray shirt was soaked with sweat and his hair stuck to his forehead. It was hot, like a steam room, on the strip torn up in the jungle, which ran in a long clearing almost to the very shore. He was making his way with difficulty among the vines and broken trunks, when suddenly a bird - a flash of red and yellow - darted upwards with a magical cry, and immediately another cry echoed:

Hey! Wait!

The thickets on the edge of the clearing shook, and raindrops fell like shots.

Wait a minute. I'll catch up.

The blond stopped and pulled up his stockings with such a casual movement that the jungle for a moment seemed no more terrible than a grove in England.

There are such creepers here - I can’t move!

The screamer crept out of the thicket, backing away, and branches scraped against his dirty leather jacket. The thorns of the vines trailing behind him scratched at his plump, bare legs. He bent down, removed the splinters, and turned. He was shorter than blond and very fat. Looking down at his feet, he cautiously stepped forward and then looked at the fair-haired man through thick glasses.

Where is the man with the megaphone?

The blond shrugged.

This is an island. Anyway, I think so. There's a reef over there, see? There are probably no adults around here.

Fear appeared on the fat man's face.

And the pilot? True, he was not in the passenger compartment, he was in the cockpit.

The blond squinted at the reef.

All the rest are children,” the fat man continued. "Probably some of them got out, huh?"

Are there really no adults?

I think so.

The blond said this solemnly, but then he was overwhelmed with delight. Right in the middle of the clearing, he stood on his head and grinned at the fat one.

No adults for you!

Fatty thought for a second.

And the pilot?

The blond lowered his legs and sat down on the steamed earth.

Flew, I think, when he dropped us. He couldn't land. You can't sit here on a plane with wheels.

We've been hit!

He will come back. Fat shook his head.

As we went down, I looked out the window. I saw that part of the plane. That's where the flames came from. He glanced over the gap. - And the fuselage did all this.

The blond reached out and touched the jagged stump.

And what happened to him? - he asked. - Where did he go?

The storm dragged him to the sea. Around the trees fell - horror! Some people must have stayed inside. - Hesitating, he continued: - What is your name?

Fat waited to be asked the same question, but the blond smiled vaguely, rose to his feet, and strode toward the lagoon.

Fat followed close behind him.

There are probably many more of us around. Have you seen anyone?

The blond shook his head and walked faster, but, catching on a bough, flew to the ground.

Fat, breathing heavily, stopped over him.

My aunt didn't tell me to run, he explained. - I have asthma.

Figas-sma?

Asthma. I'm suffocating. I was the only one with asthma in the whole school,” he said, not without pride. I have been wearing glasses since I was three years old.

He took off his glasses and handed them to Ralph, blinking and smiling, then began wiping them on his dirty jacket. Suddenly, his face changed. Sweat smeared down his cheeks as he hurriedly adjusted his glasses.

Fruit…” He shook his head uneasily. - It's all from them. I think ... - He put on his glasses, climbed through the blockages of boughs and squatted down. - Just a minute...

Ralph carefully disentangled himself from the vines and, crouching, began to creep among the heaps of leaves and boughs. In less than a few seconds, a fat chug was heard behind him, and Ralph hurried to the row of trees that remained between him and the lagoon.

The shore was feathered with tall palm trees. Distinct against the bright background, they stood upright, leaning on top of each other, and leaning back, their green fans a hundred feet off the ground. The terrace, on which rose palm trees, was overgrown with coarse grass; the turf was bulging everywhere, torn by the roots of fallen trees, rotten coconuts were lying about and palm shoots were sticking out. Behind the forest blackened and a clearing corridor could be seen. Ralph stood with his hand on the gray trunk, squinting at the shimmering water. There, about a mile from the shore, the white breakers were crawling on the coral reef, and behind it was the dark blue of the open sea. Within the jagged arc of coral, the lagoon was as calm as a mountain lake, blue in every hue, twilight green, purple. The narrow beach, slightly curved like an onion, seemed endless, because to Ralph's left the vista of palms, beach, and water converged somewhere at an indefinite point, and over it all there was an almost visible heat.

He jumped off the terrace. Black boots sank into the sand, the sun burned with fire. He felt the weight of his clothes and violently shook off his boots, then yanked off his stockings in two jerks. Leaping onto the terrace, he threw off his shirt and stood among the skull-like coconuts, the green speck of shadows gliding across his skin. He undid the buckle on his belt, pulled off his shorts and underpants, and straightened up, looking out over the water and the dazzling beach.

He was quite large - he was in his thirteenth year - and had already lost the childish bulge of his tummy; and, however, has not yet turned into an awkward teenager. Judging by the width and massiveness of his shoulders, over time he could have turned out to be a boxer, but the barely noticeable meekness in the eyes and lines of the mouth did not portend the devil in him. He drummed his fingers lightly on the trunk of the palm tree; finally forcing himself to believe that he was not dreaming of the island, he laughed with happiness and stood on his head. Deftly turning over, he fell to his knees and with both hands pressed a pile of sand to his chest. Then he leaned back and looked at the water with burning eyes.

Ralph ... - Fat climbed down from the terrace and carefully sat down on its edge, as if on a bench. - Sorry it took me so long. These fruits...

He was wiping his spectacles and quickly applying them to his upturned nose. On the bridge of the nose, the bow squeezed out a pink bird. He looked critically at Ralph's golden body, then down at his clothes.

My aunt…” He resolutely pulled the zipper and pulled the jacket over his head. - Here!

Ralph squinted and said nothing.

I think we need to find out who's name, - said the fat one, - and make a list. And arrange a meeting.

Golding wrote Lord of the Flies in 1954. An allegorical work is considered an anti-robinsonade. The author describes how ordinary English schoolchildren, finding themselves on a desert island, quickly abandon the values ​​of civilization and become bloodthirsty savages. The book touches on the topic of nuclear war, the topic of confrontation between democratic and totalitarian authorities, religious Christian and carnival (“mask”) motives are traced.

Main characters

Ralph- fair-haired boy, 12 years old; the first time he was elected chief on the island.

Jack Meridew- "skinny, tall" boy, with red hair; the leader of the church choir, and then the hunter and leader of the savages.

Other characters

Piggy- a fat boy suffering from asthma was brought up by an aunt; Piggy got the nickname because that's what they called him at school.

Simon- “a small, skinny boy with a sharp face”, one of the church choir singers.

Twins Eric and Sam, Maurice, Roger, Robert, Percival Wims Madison- the boys who ended up on the island after the plane crash.

Officer

Chapter 1

There was a plane crash with the boys. The guys were thrown onto a desert island. On the way to the shore, Ralph and fat Piggy met. Ralph noted that there appeared to be no adults on the island. As they walked towards the shore, the fat man said that he had asthma and had been wearing glasses since he was three years old.

Piggy remembered how the pilot had spoken about the atomic bomb and that everyone had died. Ralph noticed a "juicy creamy" shell in the seaweed and blew into it like a horn. At the sound of a bugle, boys began to appear from the forest. A group of guys in black raincoats approached from afar - singers from the church choir, led by Jack Meridew. After voting, the boys chose Ralph as the leader. They decided to make the guys from the choir hunters.

Ralph, Jack and Simon went on a reconnaissance trip and stumbled upon a pig stuck in the vines. Jack raised the knife, but the piglet managed to extricate himself and run away.

Chapter 2

At the meeting, Ralph suggested that anyone who wanted to speak should raise his hand, after which he would be given a conch horn as the right to vote. A baby stepped forward with a "crimson birthmark" on half of his face and asked what they would do with the snake - he saw a terrible "beast" in the forest at night. Jack promises to explore the island.

Ralph said that sooner or later a ship would be sent for them, so they needed to light a signal fire on the mountain. No one had matches, but Jack thought to start a fire using Piggy's glasses. The boys from the choir were entrusted with watching the fire and guarding the ships. Suddenly, the fire from the fire spread to the trees, the forest. The kids ran around the fire. Piggy noted that he does not see a baby with a "mark on his face."

Chapter 3

Only Ralph and Simon built huts for spending the night, the rest of the boys only swam and sunbathed, which Ralph did not like much. Returning from the hunt, Jack shared that in the forest it sometimes feels “as if it’s not you who are hunting at all, but you are being hunted.”

Chapter 4

The boys discovered a lake with white and red clay. Jack smeared clay on his face and ordered everyone to line up and go hunting. "The mask fascinated and subjugated."

While the boys ran with Jack to hunt, a ship passed by the island. No one was watching the signal fire, so it went out and the ship sailed past. The choristers, who were supposed to be on duty at the fire, returned with prey - a killed pig. Jack began to talk enthusiastically about the victory over the pig, but Ralph was only worried that the ship had passed by.

Jack apologized for the fire, which only angered Ralph. Ralph could only answer: "This is meanness" and ordered to kindle a fire. By this he "asserted his supremacy".

Chapter 5

Ralph introduced a rule to burn a fire only on the mountain. Jack reported that he combed the entire island and saw nothing. One of the kids told how at night near the hut he saw something big and terrible. Another baby, Percival Wims Madison, sobbing, said that the beast was coming out of the sea.

Suddenly, Piggy snatched the horn from him and yelled: “Who are we? People? Or an animal? Or savages? ". Indignant, Jack began to attack Piggy, Ralph defended the fat man. Jack, angry, ran away, followed by the other boys.

Chapter 6

A parachutist was thrown onto the rocks at night. Ralph was awakened by the twins, screaming that they had seen the beast. The older boys in search of the beast went to a sheer cliff "a hundred feet high", where they discovered a cave. Ralph noticed that there was no fire signal, and ordered to immediately return to the mountain.

Chapter 7

On the way to the mountain, Jack offered to hunt pigs. Ralph hit the boar with his spear, but the animal got away. The boys, imitating the hunt, closed in a ring around Robert, who played the role of a boar. They danced and sang: “Beat the pig! Cut your throat! Kill the pig! Get it! ".

It began to get dark and only Jack, Ralph and Roger decided to go to the top. Along the way, Ralph admitted that he was scared. Jack went up the mountain himself, but soon returned in a fright. Going there together, they saw in the darkness a parachute fluttering in the wind, mistaking it for something terrifying.

Chapter 8

Ralph believed that the animal sat down by the fire on purpose so that they would not be rescued. Jack told everyone that Ralph was afraid to go to the top at night. Therefore, Jack is no longer his servant and will hunt separately - whoever wants can join him.

Piggy and Ralph made a fire on the beach. Most of the older boys are gone.

The boys who joined Jack now called him "leader", went hunting with him. After killing another pig, "Jack lifted the pig's head and poked a sharp stake with his soft throat", saying that this was a gift for the beast. Simon watched the scene from hiding in the bushes. “Above the black lump of intestines, like a saw, buzzed flies,” “and directly against Simon, the impaled Lord of the Flies grinned.” It seemed to the boy that the Lord of the Flies was talking to him, saying that he was the Beast. “But you knew, right? That I am part of you? ". “The mouth swallowed Simon. He fell and lost consciousness.”

Chapter 9

Waking up, Simon went to the mountain and found a fallen parachutist on top, whose body was heaving from the wind along with the parachute. “The Beast was harmless and creepy; everyone should have been informed about this as soon as possible.” Simon hurried down, but his legs gave way.

Ralph, with the remaining boys who had not joined, went to Jack. The savages had a feast. A strong thunderstorm began. Jack shouted to everyone to dance, the boys set off to pretend to hunt. Simon came out of the forest. He was shouting something about a dead man on the mountain. The boys surrounded him like a Beast. Simon "was run over, beaten, bitten, torn". When everyone dispersed, "only the beast was left lying." A strong wind carried the dead parachutist to the open sea. Soon the sea washed away Simon's dead body.

Chapter 10

Only Piggy, the twins, and a few babies remained with Ralph. Ralph was very worried that they had killed Simon on the shore, but the others tried to pretend that nothing had happened. At night, Ralph, Piggy and the twins were attacked by savages and took Piggy's glasses.

Jack invented a mechanism made of logs on a rock that worked like a lever and could drop a stone block down when pressed.

Chapter 11

Ralph, Piggy, and the twins, who needed fire, cleaned themselves up, took their spears, and went to Jack. Armed, painted savages were waiting for them at the castle-like cliff. Piggy, who couldn't see anything without his glasses, Ralph told him to get on his knees and wait.

Jack and Ralph started to fight. On Jack's orders, the twins were captured. Suddenly, Piggy shouted that the boys were "like little children." At this time, upstairs, Roger leaned on the lever and threw a huge stone on Piggy. “The stone walked over Piggy from head to knees; the horn shattered into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” The sea carried away Piggy's body. Jack launched a spear at Ralph. Ralph took off running and disappeared into the thicket.

Chapter 12

Ralph was wounded - there was a large bruise on his right side. He knew that Jack would not leave him alone. Not far from the place of residence of the savages, Ralph discovered a sacrifice - a pig's skull impaled on a stick.

At night, the sentries of the savages changed - the twins took up duty. Ralph said that he would hide here tomorrow, and asked the boys to lead the savages away from his hiding place. The frightened twins reported Ralph's planned hideout. In the morning, the savages began to pursue the boy, and then set fire to the island to smoke him out.

Ralph fled from the hooting savages with the last of his strength. Suddenly, on the shore, he saw a naval officer - the military from the boat noticed smoke and swam to the island. To the officer's questions, Ralph replied that there were no adults here, and two boys had been killed.

Seeing the painted savages, the Officer said that, like the English, they could look more decorous. Ralph noted that this was the case as long as everyone was together. The officer nodded in understanding: “Well, yes. And everything looked wonderful then, just 'Coral Island'".

"Ralph had tears in his eyes, and he was shaking with sobs." "Infected by him, other children also started crying."

Conclusion

In the novel Lord of the Flies, Golding contrasts the images of Ralph as the embodiment of a rational, civilized principle, and Jack, as the embodiment of a wild, irrational, primitive principle. "Lord of the Flies" in the book is called the head of a killed pig, impaled on a stake. According to literary historians, the Lord of the Flies in the novel symbolizes the devil. Simon, killed by the boys during the ritual dance, is a type of Christ.

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