Previous
Piggy's Glasses
Fire is a complicated symbol in Lord of the Flies. Like the glasses that create it, fire represents technology. Yet like the atomic bombs destroying the world around the boys' island, fire is a technology that threatens destruction if it gets out of control. Fire also symbolizes the boys' connection to human civilization: their signal fire gives them hope of rescue.
Fire Quotes in Lord of the Flies
The Lord of the Flies quotes below all refer to the symbol of Fire. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Ralph waved the conch.
"Shut up! Wait! Listen!"
He went on in the silence, borne on in his triumph.
"There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire."
"A fire! Make a fire!"
"Shut up! Wait! Listen!"
He went on in the silence, borne on in his triumph.
"There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire."
"A fire! Make a fire!"
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12
Quotes
His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Lord of the Flies LitChart as a printable PDF.
Fire Symbol Timeline in Lord of the Flies
The timeline below shows where the symbol Fire appears in Lord of the Flies. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Ralph says he's confident they boys will be rescued. He suggests they build a fire on the mountaintop to alert rescuers.
(full context)
Excited by the idea of building a fire, the boys jump up and run to collect wood and bring it to the mountain...
(full context)
The fire burns out because the wood is so dry. Piggy starts to criticize the boys, but...
(full context)
Ralph says they have to keep the fire burning every day without fail. Jack volunteers himself and his hunters to do the job.
(full context)
Piggy notices that sparks from their signal fire have set the trees below them on fire. He argues that instead of running off...
(full context)
Chapter 3
...the conversation back on getting rescued. He mentions Jack and the hunter's responsibility for the fire, which causes another argument. Jack claims hunting is work. Ralph shouts that while Jack likes...
(full context)
Chapter 4
...horizon—it's a ship! Everyone looks at the mountain, but there's no smoke from their signal fire. They run to the mountaintop and discover the fire is dead and the ship has...
(full context)
Eventually Jack apologizes for letting the fire die. Ralph asks Piggy's permission to use his glasses to light the fire. Ralph realizes...
(full context)
Chapter 5
...the things they said they'd do, but didn't: store water, build shelters, keep the signal fire going. He says the fire is the most important thing on the island.
(full context)
...He asks the boys if they're humans or savages? He mentions the hunters letting the fire go out. Jack furiously rips the conch from him.
(full context)
Chapter 6
...says they have to go search the mountain for the beast and relight the signal fire.
(full context)
Chapter 7
...finally stop and discuss how to do the dance properly. Maurice suggests a drum and fire. Robert says they need to use a real pig next time, so they can really...
(full context)
Chapter 8
...should do. Ralph isn't sure. He says the beast is sitting up by the signal fire as if trying to intercept their rescue.
(full context)
...the mountain. Piggy considers the suggestion insane. He says they should just build a signal fire on the beach.
(full context)
...(a female pig). Jack cuts off its head. He decides they'll raid Ralph's camp fore fire to cook the pig, and invite everyone to a feast. Roger, meanwhile, sharpens a stick...
(full context)
Jack emerges from the forest into Ralph's camp. As his followers steal fire from the signal fire, he invites Ralph's group to come his feast, then disappears.
(full context)
Chapter 10
...Piggy's glasses. Meanwhile, Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric discover four people aren't enough to keep the fire going. They decide to keep it burning only during the day. That night, Jack and...
(full context)
Chapter 11
Ralph demands that Jack return Piggy's glasses. He mentions again the importance of the signal fire. Jack's tribe has only a cooking fire, he points out. In response, Jack orders his...
(full context)
Chapter 12
...then tries to storm it. They can't get in, so they set the thicket on fire. Ralph breaks from the thicket and runs into the jungle. The tribe follows, spreading out...
(full context)
