Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters

Imagine that a third film version is now being contemplated. Who would you cast in the following roles? Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Roger, Samneric

Select ONE of the characters and write an interview with the CAST MEMBER selected for the role. The star will only answer TWO questions (agent’s rule) . Make them count!

Logan Lerman as Simon

Interviewer: Out of all the characters in the novel, why do you believe the producers chose you to play the role of Simon?

Logan: At first I didn’t really have a clue why the producers wanted me to be Simon. I’m used to playing action packed roles while Simon is a quiet sophisticated boy. Then I thought about my role in Percy Jackson and that gave me a better understanding why I would make a good Simon. I’m used to playing roles with disabilities from the Percy Jackson movies. Percy has ADHD and dyslexia so I am good at getting into the minds of these unique people. Getting into the head of epileptic Simon will be no problem for me as I already have the experience.

Interviewer: Very interesting. If given the choice would you choose another role to play and why?

Logan: Hm, that’s a tough one. Like I said before it would be easy to get into Simon’s head, but in other movies I don’t play such a calm and quiet role. Don’t get me wrong, I love being Simon but had I been granted the choice I think I would want to be Jack. I feel it would be interesting taking on the role as the antagonist for once and Jack is a warrior in the novel. I have taken tons of acting classes for fake fighting and I think over the years I’ve pretty much nailed it. I think I could win an Oscar battling Ralph at Castle rock!

Interviewer: Wow Jack that’s a really good way of thinking, maybe the producers could let you play both roles! Well, since your agents only granted us two questions today I think we’re pretty much done here for the day. Thanks for coming in!

Logan: My pleasure!

Chapter 10 and 11: The Shell and the Glasses/ Castle Rock

Q: In chapter 10 and 11, Ralph undergoes the loss of two very important friends; Simon and Piggy. If you were Ralph, how would you feel about the death of Simon and Piggy? How does the boys actions relate to today’s society? Have you ever lost someone close to you? If so, how can you relate to Ralph?

A: If I were Ralph, not only would I be mourning the death of Simon and Piggy, I would also be terrified. Ralph is not a natural born leader, he doesn’t have high intelligence or empathy as Simon and Piggy did. Being the only remaining source of intelligence on the island would be scary and confusing. If I were Ralph I would probably have an emotional break down because not only was Piggy a friend, but he gave Ralph all of his brilliant ideas. Had it not been for Piggy, Ralph would have never thought to call a group meeting with the conch or light a signal fire at the top of the mountain and hold meetings. On top of that, Piggy was the most adult like person on the island and he gave Ralph a sense of security.

As sad as the book seems near the end, is it really surprising? In today’s society people live by the rules of leaders and are expected to follow them on a daily basis and to avoid consequences. If there was no government or dictatorship there would be complete anarchy and the whole system would fall to pieces. Without rules there would be no order, and that is exactly what is happening in the novel. As soon as Ralph begins to lose power, the savages begin to get rowdy and lose their senses for what’s right and what’s wrong. 

In a way I can relate to Ralph because when I was twelve my grandfather passed away. Although I had a different relationship with my grandpa than Piggy and Ralph, I still understand how it feels to lose someone close. At first it doesn’t even seem like they’re even gone at all. The shock of reality takes time to seep in and as it does, the harder it is to keep a hold of things. Like my grandpa, Piggy was filled with wisdom and knowledge that an everyday person probably wouldn’t have. They both have good survival instincts and know how to get the job done even if they can’t do it themselves. The circumstances of Ralph’s loss were far more tragic but I still know what it is like to have someone in your life and then the next minute they’re just gone. The loss of my grandfather is how I can relate to Piggy’s feelings in the book and make connections as to how he is feeling. 

Chapter 8: A Gift for the Drakness/A View To A Death

Alike Team Jacob and Team Edward in the Twilight series, there is an evident divide between the two groups on the island. If you were in the position of a big one on the island what team would you be a part of? Would you join Ralph’s team, Jack’s team, or even make up your own team? If you decide to make your own group explain what it would be like, if not explain why you chose Ralph or Jack’s team.

It’s hard to think about which team I would join on the island. They both have their benefits but they also have their downs. If I were to join Jack’s team, I would be surrounded by the other ‘children’ and I would have plenty of meat to eat. Also, there would be lots of celebration and recreational activities to pass time on the island. Although Ralph’s team is a party of four, it is very civil and organized. They have food, shelters, sanity and a rescue plan. The down fall of Jack’s group is that the savages have no self control and there is lots of violence and abuse. One wrong move and I could be strapped to a tree, beaten, teased or killed. The problem with Ralph’s team is that they are outcasts and practically defenseless. They live by rules and order but there is no value to that when the majority of the group supports utter chaos. If I were to go my own way on the island I would probably go insane so for me that is not an option. On the other hand I would probably become psychotic if I joined Jack’s side so I would choose Ralph’s side. Ralph, Samneric and Piggy are all logical, intelligent people who know what is truly important; getting rescued. I couldn’t see myself wasting away my time with childish games, face painting and hunting when I have a warm bed waiting for me across the ocean. And plus, being a vegetarian can’t be that bad. I would want to help Ralph and Piggy formulate ideas on how to get rescued faster and how to enjoy the remaining time on the island without becoming a savage. In the end, Ralph’s team is the way to go!

Chapter Seven: Shadows and Tall Trees

In the beginning of the chapter, Ralph recalls a happy memory, where he was with his mother and father in England. He mentions having cornflakes, with cream and sugar waiting for him at his bedside. we all have foods that we prefer more than others, and other valuables that are particularly sentimental. If you were on a deserted island, and could have an unlimited supply of a certain food, what would you choose? Also, if you were to bring one personal item, what would it be and why? How would these two luxuries impact your time on the island? (i.e. would you be comfortable enough to stay forever, or would they motivate you greater to find rescue?)

If I could have an unlimited supply of any food on the island, I would have to say lasagna hands down. It is a universal comfort food and just thinking about it brightens up my mood. Also, there are certain types of food that I like, but I only want to eat them at certain times. Lasagna on the other hand is perfect for anytime and I will always want to eat it no matter what. That’s a good thing because it means I will never get tired of eating it so I wont feel so lousy eating the same thing over and over again. I’m not quite sure how I would find lasagna on a deserted island but if I did I would take it as a sign of hope. As if everything was going to be alright.

I don’t really own a whole lot of personal items but an object I would really like to have on the island would be a camera. I would take pictures of my experiences on the island so that when I’m rescued I can show people what I did that whole time. It would give me motivation and inspire me to survive so I can share them with others. I would explore the island and take pictures of the scenery and myself so I can see how my appearance has changed from when I first arrived on the island. If I had lasagna and a camera I probably wouldn’t be able to stay on the island forever, but I would definitely have lots of hope and determination to get rescued.

Chapter Six: Beast From Air

At the beginning of chapter six it is evident that Sam and Eric are really close. They not only have fire duty together, but they also must sleep together. This close bond is a very good thing to have on a deserted island to help and encourage you through the tough times. Assume you were in their position. Who would you want on the island for support and comfort? (Be creative. You could have celebrities, family members, or even a classmate) Explain your answer.

When I think about Sam and Eric I almost see them as one person, as if they would not be able to function on their own. Since I do not have a twin I would probably choose my closest friend to be stranded with me on a deserted island. I’m already stranded with her on the same driveway so why not an island right? If I had my best friend (Tamara) with me I’d probably be perfectly fine actually. Chances are that we’d make a huge joke of it all and just play a long. We’d probably sit there laughing because we wouldn’t have to go to school, do chores or have any responsibility really.

I would want Tamara to be on the island because we understand each other really well and know how to keep ourselves sane. Tamara finds humor in just about anything so when I’m going mentally insane on an island, she would be sitting there laughing at me which would make me feel more comfortable. We talk about the most random things all the time so we would always have a conversation going even if there was absolutely nothing happening on the island. At night, we would make jokes and fill the island with laughter to drown out the scary noises. The best part of being on the island with Tamara would be that, like Sam and Eric, we never get tired of each other. Although Tamara and I are not dependent on each other we still have an unbreakable bond like the twins. We can complete each other’s thoughts and know how the other is feeling without even asking. So basically it would be like talking to myself, just not as creepy because there’s actually someone else there.

Tamara has always been a good friend to me and I know that we wouldn’t encounter any problems with each other if we were in a tricky situation. Our biggest problem on the island would be not having a hairbrush and being too scared to hunt, but we could just get dread locks and become vegetarians so that’s okay. Over all, Tamara is dependable, relatable, and an optimistic person so I would have no problems with being stranded with her, as long as she doesn’t take any of my food, then we’d have a problem.

Chapter Five: Beast From Water

Q: In chapter 5, Ralph, as chief, was clearly having difficulty controlling the group of rambunctious boys. If our grade 10 enriched English class were stranded on the deserted island, who do you think would best handle the stress and responsibility of being chief? Select one classmate (not including yourself or Mrs. Wittmann) and explain why you believe they would make a better chief than Ralph

Who would I choose to be chief? Well first of all, our English class would need somebody with a high level of responsibility; someone who is dependable. We would need a person who is capable of working under high stress without caving under pressure, and can come up with logical decisions and strategies on how to be rescued. So basically, not me. In my opinion, I think Aurra would make a better leader than Ralph. Why? Because she is much smarter than a twelve year old boy and she possesses the best traits in each of the main characters. She has Ralph’s leadership skills and survival instincts, Piggy’s sense of high intelligence and Jacks ability to take on any assigned role. Along with good leadership traits, she makes really good brownies so she could most likely whip up something tasty on a deserted island in no time. In conclusion, Aurra would be most suitable to be leader because of her high intelligence, responsibility, charisma and good hospitality.

Chapter Four: Painted Faces and Long Hair

Today, irked by the mention of rescue,

the useless,

footling of rescue,

even the green depths of water and the shattered,

golden sun held no balm

(Page 68)

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

If I was stranded on an island, I would have a complete different mindset as I do now. My life consists of school, friends, family, chores, technology and sports. Sustaining life just happens and it’s nothing to worry about. However, being stranded on an island would change all of that. I would be in charge of my survival and nothing else.

When I imagine myself stranded on an island the first thing I see is me in deep shock unable to move. After the realization of reality my inner scouter would start to kick in. I was never a scout but my brothers were and my dad was a scout leader so I picked up a few things here and there. I would probably check my phone just to confirm I’m stranded without a signal, then I would begin creating a suitable camp. I would survey the island for any potential threats, food, water sources and shelter material. I would fashion a hut half way up the beach made with sticks and i would use large leaves as tarp on top of the roof structure so if there’s rain it will run off the roof instead of leaking in. I would collect dry wood and tinder to create a fire for heat and then I would find a way to boil some water so I have something to drink.  After I find food i would have to create a plan to be rescued.

To be rescued, I would use large rocks and arrange them into a triange so planes notice the odd rock formation. If i have enough rocks I would spell “SOS” with them to be more specific. After I have my food, water, shelter and distress signal I would find hobbies to keep myself sane. Until my rescue I would most likely find myself drawing in the sand, hiking, exploring, doing puzzles etc to keep my mind going. The last thing I would do on my island is keep some sort of calender so I’m not totally out of the loop when I’m rescued.

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

How would you solve the mystery of the beastie?

To solve the mystery of the beastie, I would first have to find it. Since i have never seen the beastie before I would have to talk to the children who have seen it. I would ask the boy with the mulberry birthmark to give a detailed description of the snake like creature. I would ask him how big it is, what colour it is and how fast it moves. To get a more detailed image I would ask the other children who have seen it to describe it as well. This way I can have a more accurate image. I would ask the children where they saw the beastie so i have a general idea of where to look for it. After I know what the beastie looks like and where it hides I can begin my search.

The beastie is described to be ‘snake like’ so I would start by searching the area for snake trails. I would start looking where the boys originally saw it because there is a good chance I could find it there. The next step is to follow the snake trails until I find where it lives. After finding out where the beastie lives I would stalk it for a few days until I have a reasonable idea of its daily routine. Once I gain a sense of the beastie’s lifestyle I would figure out the best time to capture it; most likely while it is sleeping. When the beastie falls asleep I would take a net woven tightly from creepers and drape it over the beastie and tie the ends of the net tightly. After the beastie has been captured I would take it back to the beach.

On the beach I would kill the beastie in front of the young boys to assure them that it could no longer harm them. Since nobody has been able to hunt a pig I would kill the beastie and cook it for meat. I would also use its skin to create protective clothing for the hunters. This way not only will I have solved the mystery, but I would be relieving the young children’s worries and giving the hunters more materials to work with.

Chapter One: The Sound of the Shell

It is hard to know a lot about a book just by reading the first chapter; however, in “Lord of the Flies” the first chapter has many examples of good writing. Some parts kind of stood out to me more than others for different reasons. I would have to say page 12 displayed very good writing because it related to the title of the chapter (The Sound of the Shell) and because of the well thought voice and fluency.

“Doubtfully, Ralph laid the small end of the shell against his mouth and blew. There came a rushing sound from its mouth but nothing more. Ralph wiped the salt water off his lips and tried again, but the shell remained silent. ‘He kind of spat’ Ralph pursed his lips and squirted air into the shell, which emitted a low, farting noise, This amused both boys so much that Ralph went on squirting for some minutes, between bouts of laughter” (Golding 21).

It is pretty obvious how this passage relates to the title of the chapter. The title is The Sound of the Shell and this is the part where Ralph is able to properly blow on the conch and signal for all the other boys to come meet. The author of this book, William Golding, said he wrote this book about little boys because he was once a little boy, and it was easier for him to relate to. When it says the boys were amused by the farting noise, there is a noticeable connection between the author and the novel. There was lots of thought and detail put into the behavior of the characters because the author lived his life relating to these boys. Aside from the detailed thoughts, the words on page 21 are very fluent and sound nice when read aloud. The author’s thoughts fit very well together and it links the chapter to its name.

Overall, the whole book shows good writing and I am eager to read about how the boys survive on the island with no adults.