Lord of the Flies: Important Quotations from Chapters 7-8
Comment on the importance of each of the following quotes in relation to the novel as a whole. Your comments
should reference applicable themes, characterization, symbols, motifs (hair, clothing) and foreshadowing.
Chapter 7
“He pulled distastefully at his grey shirt and
wondered whether he might undertake the
adventure of washing it” (109).
“On the other side of the island, swathed at
midday with mirage, defended by the shield of the
quiet lagoon, one might dream of rescue; but here,
faced by the brute obtuseness of the ocean, the
miles of division, one was clamped down, one was
helpless…”(111)
“Simon was speaking almost in his ear… ‘You’ll get
back to where you came from’” (111).
Read the 2 full paragraphs on page 112, beginning
with the sentence, “Once, following…”
“Ralph talked on, excitedly. ‘I hit him all right. The
spear stuck in. I wounded him!’ He sunned himself
in their new respect and felt that hunting was
good after all”(113)
Find 2 quotes from pages 120-123 about Roger
and insert them in the column to the left.
“A stain in the darkness, a stain that was Jack,
detached itself and began to draw away” (121).
Chapter 8
“ ‘And now that thing squats by the fire as though it
didn’t want us to be rescued-‘
He was twisting his hands now, unconsciously. His
voice rose.
‘So we can’t have a signal fire…We’re beaten’” (125).
“The two boys glared at each other through screens of
hair… ‘I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you’”
(126-127).
“For the first time on the island, Piggy himself
removed his one glass, knelt down and focused the
sun on the tinder” (130).
“Simon stayed where he was, a small brown image,
concealed by the leaves. Even if he shut his eyes the
sow’s head still remained like an after-image. The half
shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult
life” (137).
“After a while these flies found Simon. Gorged, they
alighted by his runnels of sweat and drank. They
tickled under his nostrils and played leapfrog on his
thighs. They were black and iridescent green and
without number; and in front of Simon, the Lord of the
Flies hung on his stick and grinned. At last Simon gave
up and looked back; saw the white teeth and dim eyes,
the blood- and his gaze was held by that ancient,
inescapable recognition” (138).