Post Due Thurs. 4/7

-






In this post, please answer and discuss the following prompt:

 The idea of the beast has come up several times now, and in this chapter the boys actually believe (well, some of them) there is a beast and go looking for it. There are a lot of symbols in this book, but the beast is a major one. What does the beast stand for, as a symbol? Think about how the idea of a beast comes up in the story and the fact that they have been scared of this thing that may or may not even exist, for several chapters now. Why are they so scared of it even though they cannot confirm its existence?

Basically, what does the beast represent on the island, for the boys, and in this little “society” that they have landed themselves in?

And finally - Ralph doesn’t believe that there is a beast, but he still goes on the hunt. Why?





Again, remember to use specific examples and quotes from the book. The posts are graded out of 25 points.

Also, don’t forget to reply to your classmates! Check in every once in a while to see if someone has responded to your posts.

Everything is due by 6:30 AM.

In chapter 6, the boys decide to look for the fearful beasts within the island. Although the beast is most likely not real, it is not taken lightly within the group as they all decide it is time to search for it once the twins admit to seeing it. I think that in the society they have created on the island, the beast represents more than just an actual creature. It symbolizes all the unknowns within the island and the fear they are all trying to suppress to appear brave. Everybody is afraid of monsters under their bed as young kids, and now that these school boys are alone on an island without the sanctuary of authority, rules, and adult figures, these monsters are coming to life. Although Ralph does not believe in said beast, he still agrees to search for it. I think he does this because he wants to seem like he has courage and authority over the others.

The boys are afraid of nothing, the beast represents the fear of the unknown. The little boys are afraid of the dark forest. The bigger kids are afraid of death and not being rescued. Notice how the beastie was pointed out by a younger kid, darkness and unknown doesn't have a figure that you can blame so the boy makes up a "beastie" to blame his fear on. This making up something to blame for fear is what led the boys to believing that there was a beastie trying to kill them on the island, thus leading them into the hunt for this definitely figurative beast. Ralph doesn't believe in the beast but he still looks for it to show the kids that there was nothing to be afraid of and that it didn't exist. Ralhph did this to show that he was the "Boss" of the island and that there was nothing that could appose him or the small community that they have built from nothing. Ralph is showing good qualities of a leader but i think that Jack will somehow try and appose his rule and bring everything they built to the ground.

It is unfortunate that this idea of a beast was brought up in the first place (over the course of the story), because it has created some form of vicious cycle. The first boy who brings up the "beastie" is afraid that there might be something on the island that is hunting them, and what does this do? It makes the other boys afraid and, now that there is a "beastie", the boys have something to pin their fears on. Because the beast is continuously brought up, it plays into their already existing fears (those being fear of death and fear of not being rescued) and makes those grow, thus making the "beast" grow, which makes the others more afraid. For example, in Chapter 5, one of the "littluns" brings up how he had a nightmare, in which there were "twisty things" in the trees, and then woke up to find something "big and horrid" moving around int eh shadows. When this is mentioned, the other boys get scared, and the idea of a "beast" grows in their mind. Then, in Chapter 6, wen Sam and Eric are tending to the fire, a gust of wind blows and they get scared and, when they get back to the shelters, they claim that they saw the "beast" and it had big red eyes, which frightens the other boys. Although Ralph does not believe in the beast, he may have wanted to go on the hunt to prove his authority to both himself and Jack, who he may not trust, possibly because of his disregarding of the rules.

In chapter six they decide to find and hunt the beast that the kids are talking about. When the topic first came up between the boys, they weren't really worried. The beast is a symbol because it exists in each one of them and plays a role in there life in different ways. It represents evil, and the boys have it in all of them, but the beast is in there imagination because they are scared. Even though that there could not be a beast they are still scared because it could kill many of the boys. They went on the hunt because they want to get rid of it because they want to feel safe rather then scared all the time. Ralph chooses to go on the hunt because he wants to show what he can do, and also show that he is not just a ruler but a fearful, strong leader for the boys

Like yourneighborhoodorange said, the beast represents the fear of the unknown. The boys don't know what is on the island so anything that they hear could possibly be true. When the boys first heard of the beast from one of the little boys they didn't believe it. But as they heard it more from him and thought about how they don't know what could be on the island, they think its real. Except for Ralph. He doesn't believe that there is a beast, this is a good thing because if you believe that something frightening could be real its just going to make you more scared. But I think that Ralph goes to look for it just so he doesn't get picked on for not believing.

I believe that the beast represents the unknown. The boys don't know how long they will be in the island, or anything about the island, so the beast represents things in the book that may or may not happen. I think Ralph servers for the beast to humor the other boys. Also, he could have some curiosity that he diesnt express. He might be just going along with the boys, so that they think he is a good and helpful leader. So, the beast, although it isn't proven to exist, represents the unknown because the beast itself is unknown.

In chapter six, the boys come up with the idea of "the beast" and it is representing their fears. They are so scared of this thing that they cannot confirm is alive because like WildPineapple said, they fear the unknown. The young boys are the ones most affected by this and bring it to everyone's attention because they are living their days on this island fearing what could be. The beast represents the darkness of the island and the fears of the students. Although Ralph does not believe that there is a beast he still goes on the hunt because I believe he is trying to be successful in leading this "society" he has become in charge of. He is trying to set and example for them so I am assuming Ralph wants to hunt the beast to please the other boys. He wants to show how he is a great leader and they made the right choice putting him in charge instead of Jack. The boys are beginning to let their imaginations run wild and let their fears take over forming this idea of the beast. Ralph does not buy into it but goes along with the hunt to prove his leadership to all of the boys.

As a symbol, the beat stands for the instinct of fierceness and cruelness inside the boys. Even though the boys have not confirmed its existence they are still afraid of the beast. This is because they are so worried about being by themselves on the island and being ruined by the beast. As the boys fear becomes stronger their belief in the beast becomes more real "there were eyes-teeth-claws we ran as fast as we could"(par 65-67). The boys fear makes them see illusions and turns them fierce and cruel. Lastly, Ralph goes on the hunt to prove to himself that the beat is not real.

In ch/ 6 the boys go looking for "the beast". The beast is known for tormenting the littleuns. The beast however could be a symbol for some overarching theme.
We know that the beast has been known to torture the littleuns, we also know that the littleuns are sometimes talked down of by the older boys and that could be seen as a form of torture. So a possibility is that the littileuns view the older boys as the beast. It is also possible that the beast does not exist, but is a symbol of the boys growing separation from from civilization and them becoming more wild than the English school boys they once where.
Read all the chapters!

In chapter 6 the boys believe there is "the beast" on this island and it brings out the fear in them about being on the island. The boys are unfamiliar with just about everything on this island and the beast could represent the unknown. They fear the beast even though they are not sure it really exist. Ralph does not want to believe there is anything out there but searches for it anyway.

The beast represents anything unknown on the island and that is why Ralph thinks it's not real but he still goes on the hunt anyway. The beast is the "darkness of the island."page77. For the boys, it is a creepy and mysterious adventure, not a good adventure. They don't know much about there little island"Society" that makes them scared of the "beasty".

In chapter 6, the boys believe that there is some "beast" living on the island. The "beast" may represent anything unknown about the island, or the scare that they actually are stranded on the island. What i mean by this is, the boys have gotten so used to being stranded on this island with little fear at all. It is abnormal to be not scared on a stranded island. Therefore, they probably use this beast as an excuse to be afraid. I think Ralph goes looking to kill any rumors and to put the little fear in himself at rest. He is the chief of the camp and does not want everyone afraid, he wants to be in control rather than chaos all around.

In chapter six, the kids are trying to hunt down the beast and stop the littluns nightmares. Technically they cant say what is a beast and what isnt because they dont know what the beast looks like butin the book they try to search it through the unknown parts of the island, caves and other places they didnt look through before. Of course Ralp doesnt believe in the beast but he still tries to check on what people saw. The beast is something the kids never saw or explored yet on the island, and it also might be a symbol saying that they wont be found, or they will not go home, especially when every time there are people around the boat, the signal fire is off.

In chapter six, the kids are trying to hunt down the beast and stop the littluns nightmares. Technically they cant say what is a beast and what isnt because they dont know what the beast looks like butin the book they try to search it through the unknown parts of the island, caves and other places they didnt look through before. Of course Ralp doesnt believe in the beast but he still tries to check on what people saw. The beast is something the kids never saw or explored yet on the island, and it also might be a symbol saying that they wont be found, or they will not go home, especially when every time there are people around the boat, the signal fire is off.