Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain - Summary

Setting and Context

• Ralph blows the conch to gather everyone on the platform.
• Differences from the morning meeting include the afternoon sun and children wearing clothes due to sunburn.
• The choir has discarded cloaks.
• Ralph sits on a fallen trunk; the choir and larger boys are divided on either side.
• The small children squat in the grass.

Meeting Begins

• Ralph starts the meeting uncertainly but gains fluency.
• Announces they are on an uninhabited island surrounded by water.

Need for Hunters

• Jack insists on needing an army for hunting pigs.
• Ralph agrees, emphasizing the need for meat.

Self-Governance

• Ralph highlights the absence of grown-ups and the need to look after themselves.
• Introduces the conch as a tool for speaking order, mimicking school rules.
• Jack is excited about establishing rules and consequences for breaking them.

Piggy's Concerns

• Piggy emphasizes that nobody knows where they are, increasing the urgency of their situation.
• Ralph reiterates the point, stating they may be on the island for a long time.

Optimism and Exploration

• Ralph encourages having fun while waiting for rescue, likening their situation to adventure books.
• Ralph, Jack, and Simon's exploration of the island is described positively.

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