The two boys obtain a and use it to call the other boys from across the island. The conch is a large shell that, when blown, makes a dark, low-pitched sound. It is described as pretty, interesting and a worthy plaything. When you read this, from the book, you think it is going to be something pretty and nice but when you read about the description of the noise, it makes you think otherwise. It makes a deafening, dark noise when you blow into it. This tells us that some things that might seem good could actually be bad, like one of the children. When the children all gather round Ralph and Piggy at the lagoon, a boy named Jack Merridew stood up. He was the leader of the choir boys and is described as a tall, thin bony boy with red hair beneath a black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of is face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn to anger. This description gives a sense of eeriness to the character Jack as he might turn against the other boys and have the choir on his side. When the boys all decided to have names, “Kids’ names,” said Merridew, “Why should I be jack? I’m Merridew.” Ralph turned to him quickly. This was the voice of someone who knew his own mind. This suggests that Ralph might be a little intimidated by the presence of Jack and Jack might try to overthrow Ralph as chief. Jack also carries a knife which furthermore gives a sense of foreboding in his character.
The island is in the shape of a boat with a jungle in the middle, a lagoon on the beach with a bridge next to it, a scar in the jungle where the plane crashed and some pink granite cliffs. It is evident that these sharp rocks on the cliff give a sense of foreboding in the book as they are described as big, sharp rocks, “The assault on the summit must wait while the three boys accepted this challenge. The rock was as large as a small motor car,” and that something bad might happen there.
Whilst the three boys, Jack, Ralph and Simon, where exploring the island, they came across a small piglet caught in some creepers in the jungle. Jack immediately took out his knife and went towards the pig. He lifted his knife but before he could kill the piglet, it escaped and ran away. This tells us that Jack has a knife and he is willing to use it to get what he wants, even though he didn’t kill the piglet, it doesn’t mean he won’t not use it. This gives a sense of foreboding in the book as well.
My conclusion is that the rest of the book will build up to something really bad and dangerous that might get someone killed.
Ashley Morris
22/9/06
