Chapter Summaries

• CHAPTER I The Sound of the shell


  Children arrive on the island. Ralph blows the conch and boys convene. Ralph, Simon, and Jack walk around the island and up the mountain. On the way down, they pass a piglet. Jack raises the knife to kill it but doesn't have the heart
• CHAPTER 2 Fire on the Mountain


  Ralph, Simon , and Jack report what they have found in a meeting. The Conch is decided to have democratic power. A small boy (with a mulberry birth mark) describes he has seen a " beastie," this is dismissed by Ralph but Jack talks of hunting it. The boys build a fire on the mountain but it sets fire to the forest, killing the small boy. The choir is delegated the task of keeping the fire
• CHAPTER 3 Huts on the Beach


  Time has passed. Jack hunts whilst Ralph and Simon build shelters. Everyone else plays, and Ralph complains about this. Jack has become obsessed by hunting and meat. Simon leaves to his quiet hiding place in the jungle
• CHAPTER 4 Painted Faces and Long Hair


  Roger and Maurice torment some littluns (Henry, Percival ). More time has passed. Jack paints his and the hunters' faces, and the effect of this is explored. Piggy sees a ship, but the hunters have let the signal fire out. In the meantime, a pig has been killed , but Ralph is very angry
• CHAPTER 5 Beast From water


  Ralph calls a meeting after the fire incident. Rules are re-established. The topic of the beast is raised again. Percival suggests it comes from the sea. Simon confuses everyone by saying there is a beast but that "maybe it's only us". The meeting breaks down, and tensions between Ralph and Jack rise. Ralph considers stepping down as chief, but Simon and Piggy dissuade him
• CHAPTER 6 Beast From Air


  In the night, Sam and Eric see a parachutist that has fallen dead onto the mountain. They think it is the beast. Ralph is shaken and the biguns, minus Piggy , go on a hunt. They go to Castle Rock to see if it is there. All but Ralph think Castle Rock is a good spot for a camp
• CHAPTER 9 A View to a Death


  Simon regains consciousness, climbs the hill, and realises the beast is just a parachutist. He seeks to share the news. Ralph and Piggy decide to go to Jack's party where they eat. Many join the feast. The famous chant is started, and Simon appears from the forest. The littluns think it is the beast, and Simon is killed. The chapter ends with the wind taking the parachutist away. Simon's body is washed away with religious allusions
• CHAPTER 7 Shadows and Tall trees


  The boys continue on towards the mountain. Ralph and Simon talk about how lost they are. The boys find a pig which Ralph hits with a spear. Robert is used to simulate a pig and is hurt. Simon is sent to check on Piggy whilst Ralph, Jack and Roger climb the mountain through the soot and see the silhouette of the parachutist.
• CHAPTER 10 The Shell and the Glasses 


  Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric are the only bigguns left. They pretend the Simon incident didn't happen. Meanwhile Jack has set up camp at castle rock with Robert guarding. Jack has tied up and beaten Wilfred for no reason. In the night, Jack, Maurice and Roger go and attack Ralph's lot and steal Piggy's glasses. The boys end up injuring each other in the dark.
• CHAPTER 11 Castle Rock


  Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric plan to get the glasses back and proceed to castle rock with the conch. Jack and Ralph fight and injure each other. Piggy makes a speech. Roger pushes the big rock. Destroying the conch and killing Piggy. Samneric are taken captive and Ralph runs.
• CHAPTER 12 Cry of the Hunters 


  Ralph encounters the Lord of the Flies. He goes to castle rock and

  secretly talks to Sameric acquiring food and the knowledge that the savages are going to hunt him. He hides in a bush where he narrowly misses big rocks. He runs and hides elsewhere, When he is eventually found he runs right up to the Naval Officer. All the boys gather round- Ralph takes charge and the boys are saved.
• CHAPTER 8 Gift for the Darkness 


  Jack calls a meeting declaring they have seen the beast. Jack Decides to leave and start his own tribe after failing to get Ralph voted away from being chief. Jack and the hunters which joined him kill a sow right in front of Simon and they put its head on a spike - the Lord of the Flies. It talks to Simon and he faints. Meanwhile Ralph and Piggy start a new fire but don't know how they will keep it going. Jack, Maurice and Robert arrive to steal some fire and invite all to join him for a feast.