Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

linca
linca
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In Lord of the Flies, what is the significance of the chapter title "Fire Mountain"? What does it foreshadow?

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Posted by linca on Monday September 17, 2007 at 1:24 PM and tagged with chapter 2, fire, fire mountain, symbols.


Answers:


  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    Fire is an important symbol throughout the book. Fire can be a good or a bad thing, depending on whether it is kept controlled. This is representative of the boys as well. In this chapter, Chapter 2, the boys try building their first rescue fire on top of the mountain. The fire gets out of control, and the system of order the boys started also breaks down, getting out of control just like the fire. The breakdown of organization parallels the introduction of the "beast", introducing fear into the minds of the boys. This is the beginning of chaos on the island. The fire becomes a symbol of the power of brute force. Uncontrolled, the result is destruction.  The end of the chapter ends grimly since one of the small boys is presumed to have died in the fire. The boys learn that fire is power; used unwisely, it can only lead to death and destruction.

     

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    Posted by bmadnick on Monday September 17, 2007 at 4:27 PM

  2. linca
    linca Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    thanks a lot!!!

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    Posted by linca on Tuesday September 18, 2007 at 12:40 PM

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