Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain Practice Quiz — Lord of the Flies
by William Golding — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain
What do Ralph, Jack, and Simon report to the group at the beginning of Chapter 2?
They report that they are on an uninhabited island with no adults, and that the island has fresh water, fruit, and everything they need to survive.
What rule does Ralph establish for meetings?
Only the boy holding the conch shell is allowed to speak during meetings.
Who is the first boy to mention the 'beastie'?
A littlun with a mulberry-colored birthmark on his face.
What does the littlun claim the 'beastie' looks like?
He describes it as a 'snake-thing' that he saw in the woods at night, saying it turns into jungle vines during the day.
What does Ralph propose building on the mountaintop?
A signal fire to attract the attention of passing ships so they can be rescued.
How do the boys start the signal fire?
Jack takes Piggy's glasses and uses them to focus the sunlight onto dry wood, igniting the fire.
What happens to the signal fire in Chapter 2?
It rages out of control and spreads down the mountainside, burning a large section of the forest.
What does Piggy notice at the end of Chapter 2?
He notices that the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark is missing, implying he died in the uncontrolled fire.
What does the conch shell symbolize in Chapter 2?
The conch symbolizes democratic order, civilized governance, and the right to free speech.
What does the signal fire symbolize?
It symbolizes hope for rescue and connection to civilization, but also the destructive potential of uncontrolled human impulses.
What do Piggy's glasses symbolize?
They symbolize intellect, reason, and the power of technology and science.
What does the 'beastie' represent thematically?
It represents primal fear and foreshadows Golding's central theme that the true beast is the darkness within human nature.
How does Jack undermine Ralph's authority in this chapter?
He declares the conch has no power on the mountain, snatches Piggy's glasses without asking, and redirects the group away from Ralph's plans.
What literary device does Golding use with the out-of-control fire and the missing boy?
Foreshadowing — the uncontrolled fire and the first death foreshadow the escalating violence and loss of civilization that follow in later chapters.
What is ironic about the boys' first major cooperative project?
The signal fire, intended to secure their rescue and demonstrate civilized cooperation, instead leads to destruction of the forest and the probable death of a child.
What role does Piggy play in Chapter 2?
Piggy serves as the voice of reason and practicality, advocating for taking names, building shelters, and maintaining order through the conch rules.
What central conflict is established between Ralph and Jack in this chapter?
The conflict between Ralph's democratic, order-based leadership and Jack's authoritarian, power-driven approach.
What does the word 'creepers' refer to in the novel?
Creepers are the thick jungle vines found throughout the island. The littlun claims the beastie resembles these vines.
What imagery does Golding use to describe the spreading fire?
He uses apocalyptic imagery, describing the fire with a 'drum-roll' sound and depicting it sweeping across the mountain like a living, consuming force.
Why does Piggy become angry after the fire gets out of control?
He is angry because the boys acted without planning, neglected to build shelters first, failed to count who was present, and a child has likely died as a result of their recklessness.