Answer to Question #285428 in English for Kelsey Jand

Question

Lord of the Flies Study Guide Questions

Direction: Your answers need to be thorough, and where possible, quote the text (with citation).

Chapter 7

Symbolism: What are the purposes of Ralph’s daydreams about home?

Answer 1

He dreams about a past home where everything was all right; everything was good-humored and friendly. It was a form of escape from the realities of his life on the island. In his daydreams, he remembered feeding ponies and snow. He remembered having supper in a comfortable bed and reading his favorite books. These images contrast with the brutal killing of pigs, the intense heat of the midday sun, sleeping among dead leaves in a makeshift shelter, and the total lack of any intellectual stimulation. The contrast of these two images, the reality, and the daydreams help to emphasize just how much Ralph has changed (and by inference so have all of the other boys) over the course of the novel. He mentioned books, even in their "dog-eared and scratched" state, were a civilized comfort worth having. These longings for comfort highly contrast what is about to happen to him. They pointedly demonstrate the change that is about to arise.