Question

Question about "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.

What do the changes to the signal fire represent?
A. a sense of helplessness for everyone
B. the need for reliance on each other
C. the boys' inability to accept their situation
D. a gauge of the boys' desire to return to civilization

Answer 1

I believe answer choice D. is incorrect.

Answer 2

*digging into my memory of junior high* XD

Answer 3

XD

Answer 4

This is the changes to the signal fire is when Jack and the other boys used the fire to cook the pig, and they don't use the fire to get rescued right? That means that they don't care about being rescued because the fire is the only way for them to get rescued. They probably don't care about returning to regular civilization.

Answer 5

Yes...

Answer 6

It's just that I am confused on what the word "gauge" means in the sentence, so I did not understand...

Answer 7

gauge: an instrument or device for measuring the magnitude, amount, or contents of something, typically with a visual display of such information.

^ Not the best definition, but it's basically like a symbol of how eager they are to return home...something like that.

Answer 8

So I am correct to say that D. is incorrect... Right?

Answer 9

Yes you're correct, it's not D.

Answer 10

"The signal fire in the story is a symbol of hope of the boys' return to civilisation. By keeping the signal fire going they hope to attract the attention of a passing boat or aircraft who will then rescue them. It starts off on the mountain but then later moves to the beach. Because it is linked so closely with the boys' return to civilisation, it becomes an indicator of the boys' connection to civilisation. For example, in the early parts of the novel the boys want to maintain the fire and keep it going which is a good sign as it shows they want to be returned to civilisation. However, when the fire is allowed to burn low or even goes out, it is highly symbolic of their rejection of civilisation in place of the barbaric savagery that runs amok on the island. It is highly ironic that at the end of the novel a fire does attract a ship, but it is not the signal fire, instead it is the fire that Jack and his mob start to hunt and kill Ralph."

Source: http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-fire-represent-79523

Answer 11

So, any ideas on which is correct?

Answer 12

Hmmmm.... I think the answer is... B. or C.

Answer 13

It's neither B or C.
B is incorrect because the gang went up against a few outcasts, and C is incorrect because the boys actually decided and accepted the possibility that they would never return home.

Answer 14

Oh gosh, I am horrible at this stuff. :( The answer would then have to be A.

Answer 15

The fire was a symbol of hope that they would return home in the beginning of the story, and it changed later on (symbolic in killing the pig).

Answer 16

Yes, it is A. They felt helpless that they would ever return home and decided on forming their own society with a dictator (Jack).

Answer 17

Well, thank you for your explanation. And sorry for not understanding correctly.

Answer 18

It's my fault for being too roundabout. You did nothing wrong. XD