Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell

The chapter opens in the third-person with schoolboy Ralph lowering himself down some rocks and making his way to a lagoon. He finds another boy, Piggy, and via their conversation, the reader learns the boys are on an island and that there are no adults present. It further emerges that there has been a nuclear war and the boys’ plane was shot down over the island then taken out to sea and that they have been separated from the other schoolboys and pilot. Other than the large open space, or ‘scar’, where the crashing plane levelled dense jungle and the ‘skull-like coconuts’, the setting is a lovely, palm-fringed tropical island from where coral reef extends to the vast blue sea. Piggy samples the island fruit to see if its edible, highlighting an intelligent nature, while the adventure-loving Ralph strips down and takes a swim in the ocean, delighting in the new adventure their predicament presents. Piggy confides in Ralph that he hopes the others will not call him Piggy.

The boys discover a cream-coloured conch shell in the lagoon and Piggy conveys his knowledge of how to blow it so that it may be used like a trumpet to call the others. After several attempts, Ralph is able to blow the conch so that it makes a series of short blasts. Boys who range in age from six to twelve start to appear and Piggy begins taking down names. A group of choir boys, marching in two parallel lines, military-style, and led by an older boy named Jack approach them, halting when Jack commands. When names are taken, Ralph breaks Piggy’s trust and shares his nickname with the others so that all the boys mock Piggy and his real name is never revealed.

The group decide to vote on a chief for the group. Despite Piggy’s obvious intelligence and Jack’s existing leadership over the choir, the group vote for Ralph, based on his calm demeanour and because he has the conch. This shows a democratic process albeit one based on superficial elements since it was Piggy who suggested the conch be used as a trumpet. Jack is displeased at having lost the vote.

Ralph forms a search party including himself, Jack and a boy named Simon to survey the land and decide for certain that it is an island. Piggy is disappointed not to have been selected and Ralph delegates him the role of taking down everyone’s names.

Other boys of note are the inseparable identical twins, Sam and Eric, and Roger who mainly keeps to himself.

The search party confirm that they are on an island and their exploration together forges a fast friendship. Ralph thinks he has found a mischievous friend in Simon, who is happy to play at joke around with him. They dislodge a large boulder and disrupt the serenity of their environment, sending animals and birds in flight. The boys become aware of their hunger and come across a piglet caught in bushes. Jack produces his knife and proceeds to bring it down on the pig but stops short. The pig frees itself and runs off and Jacks vows to kill the pig next time.

Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell Quotes

All round him [Ralph] the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat. Chapter 1

… he might make a boxer, as far as width and heaviness of shoulders went, but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil. (Ralph) Chapter 1

‘My auntie told me not to run,’ he explained, ‘on account of my asthma.’ (Piggy) Chapter 1

‘My auntie wouldn’t let me blow on account of my asthma …’ (Piggy) Chapter 1

‘I don’t care what [you] call me … so long as [you] don’t call me what they used to call me at school.’ (Piggy) Chapter 1

The children gave him the same simple obedience that they had given to the men with megaphones. (Piggy) Chapter 1

The two boys, bullet-headed and with hair like tow, flung themselves down and lay grinning and panting at Ralph like dogs. They were twins, and the eye was shocked and incredulous at such cheery duplication. They breathed together, they grinned together, they were chunky and vital. (Sam and Eric) Chapter 1

The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines and dressed in strangely eccentric clothing. Chapter 1

Inside the floating cloak he was tall, thin, and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger. (Jack) Chapter 1

‘He’s always throwing a faint,’ said Merridew. (about Simon) Chapter 1

He was intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the offhand authority in Merridew’s voice. (Piggy about Jack) Chapter 1

There was a slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy. (Roger) Chapter 1

For the moment the boys were a closed circuit of sympathy with Piggy outside: he went very pink, bowed his head and cleaned his glasses again. (Piggy) Chapter 1

… what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy while the most obvious was Jack. But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out … Chapter 1

Ralph, looking with more understanding at Piggy, saw that he was hurt and crushed. He hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult.
‘Better Piggy than Fatty’, he said at last, with the directness of genuine leadership …’ Chapter 1

A kind of glamour was spread over them and the scene and they were conscious of the glamour and made happy by it. They turned to each other, laughing excitedly, talking, not listening. (Ralph, Jack and Simon on their first exploration of the island) Chapter 1

The pause was long enough for them to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be. (Jack’s first attempt at killing a wild pig) Chapter 1

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

Ralph, Jack and Simon have returned from their exploration and a meeting is called by Ralph blowing the conch. Ralph provides the details of the group’s findings to the meeting. When Jack calls out that a group of hunters will have to be assembled to hunt for wild pigs, Ralph announces that order has to be maintained around speaking and it is agreed that when a person wants to speak, the rule is he must put up his hand and take the conch. Only the person with the conch may speak and only Ralph can interrupt the speaker.

Piggy tells the group that nobody knows their whereabouts since they never arrived at their destination. Ralph, still believing they will be rescued by his naval father, tries to lift the mood by pointing out the adventurous opportunities provided by an island where there are no adults in the meantime.

A timid, small boy is pushed forward by some other smaller children to speak, however, when he is ridiculed and recoils from grabbing the conch. Piggy, no stranger to public humiliation, helps the boy speak. The boy wants to know what will be done about the snake-like ‘beastie’ he saw in the woods. Ralph and the older boys rationalise that he must have been dreaming. When the boy persists that he saw the thing, Ralph senses a need to reject the superstitious idea of a threat to the group and vehemently restates that there is no beastie.

Ralph redirects the group’s attention to the idea of having fun while they wait to be rescued and, in this regard, convinces the group that a ship will eventually find the island, probably his dad’s ship. The entire group grow in their respect for him. To help in their rescue, Ralph says they should light a fire on the mountain to attract ships that are passing, however, before he has finished speaking, Jack is on his feet and leading his group to the mountain to start the fire. Ralph tries to maintain order and order but it is useless, and he also follows the group up the mountain, trailed by Piggy who is disgusted at the group acting ‘like a crowd of kids’.

On the mountain, the boys find mainly dead wood and try to light the fire using Piggy’s eyeglasses, that Jack takes from him by force, to reflect the sun’s rays. Piggy’s concern that the conch that he is holding will be broken now that he can barely see without his glasses shows the value he places on its power to give him the right to speak and be heard. The fire grows large but soon dies out due to the dead, wet wood. Piggy finds that even with the conch in hand, which Jack says ‘doesn’t count on top of the mountain’, he is not allowed to speak, indicating that the rule of order that the conch represents is already starting to break down. Simon defends Piggy when Jack accuses him of not having helped with the fire, demonstrating a sensitive nature. Jack offers his group of choirboys to be the official keepers of the signal fire and lookout for passing ships, much to the applause of the assembly.

Piggy eventually gets to speak and highlights that whenever he says something he is told to shut up but if one of the others says the exact same thing, they are heard. His lack of rapport with the group contrasts the easy rapport Ralph or Jack have with the group and highlights how superficially people can follow leadership based on personal attributes that are considered desirable, for example, attractiveness, physical strength etc. Piggy points out that they have started a large forest fire and scolds the group for having rushed to light a fire when they should have been making shelters to sleep in as night was approaching. He raises the possibility that they may have lost some of the small children to the fire since he was not able to get all their names down to know exactly how many children there were. Ralph tries to lay this blame with Piggy and then tries to convince the group that the children are probably back down on the lower part of the island.

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain Quotes

‘This is our island. It’s a good island. Until the grownups come to fetch us we’ll have fun.’ (Ralph) Chapter 2

‘We want to be rescued; and of course we shall be rescued.’ …
The simple statement, unbacked by any proof but the weight of Ralph’s new authority, brought light and happiness. (Ralph) Chapter 2

He had to wave the conch before he could make them hear him. (Ralph) Chapter 2

‘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.’ (Ralph) Chapter 2

Then, with the martyred expression of a parent who has to keep up with the senseless ebullience of the children, he picked up the conch, turned toward the forest, and began to pick his way over the tumbled scar. (Piggy) Chapter 2

Now the twins, with unsuspected intelligence, came up the mountain with armfuls of dried leaves and dumped them against the pile. Chapter 2

‘Here–let me go!’ His voice rose to a shriek of terror as Jack snatched the glasses off his face. ‘Mind out! Give ’em back! I can hardly see! You’ll break the conch! (Piggy) Chapter 2

‘We used his specs,’ said Simon, smearing a black cheek with his forearm. ‘He helped that way.’ (to Jack about Piggy) Chapter 2

‘I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything’. (Jack) Chapter 2

‘I got the conch,’ said Piggy, in a hurt voice. ‘I got a right to speak.’ Chapter 2

‘How can you expect to be rescued if you don’t put first things first and act proper?’ (Piggy to the group) Chapter 2

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

The chapter opens with Jack out on a pig hunt. Wearing just a pair of shorts, held up by his knife-belt and bearing a sharpened stick, his appearance is taking on a more savage quality and his behaviour is becoming more animalistic, as he walks ‘dog-like … on all fours’ and reacts to a bird’s call with ‘a hiss of indrawn breath . . . ape-like among the tangle of trees’. The ‘uncommunicative’ and ‘silent’ forest contrasts the group’s reliance on ordered communication via the use of the conch. Jack has no success in producing meat for the group and returns to where Ralph and Simon are working on building shelters.

After two days, they still have only two shelters up and Ralph is frustrated that all the other boys have run off to play and bathe and that only he and Simon are working on the shelters after everyone had agreed it was a priority. He is becoming disillusioned in his role as leader, pointing out everyone’s love of meetings but noting, sarcastically, that five minutes after they are finished, nothing of what they had resolved on at the meetings eventuates. While the group agrees that the practical things for their survival need to be done, few have the self-discipline to follow through without the parental influence to do so and are more prone to instant gratification such as bathing, playing and eating.

Ralph emphasises the need for shelters so as to resemble a home and help the littler boys feel safe and to keep the fire lit to attract ships that could rescue them. Jack emphasises the need for meat and tries to explain his compulsion to hunt, a growing impulse that is subordinating any rational thinking about being rescued, and shares that he himself is feeling hunted by a ‘beast’. Simon seems to want to understand Jack but Ralph turns the discussion towards the rescue plan, unwilling or unable to entertain the idea of a beast as it conflicts with his belief that, while awaiting rescue, the group will be able to remain civilised.

The chapter closes with the revelation that Simon has built his own secret shelter away from the others and has retreated there for some reason. Before heading there, unnoticed, he reaches the higher branches of the trees to retrieve fruit for the smaller boys, further establishing his compassionate nature towards those who are vulnerable, as he did when he previously stood up for Piggy against Jack. The bond that had been forged between the trio on their first exploration is beginning to splinter as Ralph, Jack and Simon pursue different priorities that impact their ability to effectively communicate with one another and appreciate each other’s perspective. Ralph realises first impressions of people can be incorrect as people do not always present their genuine selves.

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach Quotes

Then dog-like, uncomfortably on all fours yet unheeding his discomfort, he stole forward five yards and stopped. (Jack) Chapter 3

A sharpened stick about five feet long trailed from his right hand, and except for a pair of tattered shorts held up by his knife-belt he was naked. (Jack) Chapter 3

He passed his tongue across dry lips and scanned the uncommunicative forest. (Jack) Chapter 3

The silence of the forest was more oppressive than the heat … Chapter 3

‘Meetings. Don’t we love meetings?…’ (Ralph) Chapter 3

He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up. (Jack) Chapter 3

‘There’s nothing in it of course. Just a feeling. But you can feel as if you’re not hunting, but—being hunted, as if something’s behind you all the time in the jungle.’ (Jack, to Ralph and Simon) Chapter 3

Jack had to think for a moment before he could remember what rescue was. Chapter 3

They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate. (Jack and Ralph) Chapter 3

He was a small, skinny boy, his chin pointed, and his eyes so bright they had deceived Ralph into thinking him delightfully gay and wicked. (Simon) Chapter 3

‘He’s queer. He’s funny.’ (Ralph, about Simon) Chapter 3

Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands. Chapter 3

The candlebuds opened their wide white flowers glimmering under the light that pricked down from the first stars. Their scent spilled out into the air and took possession of the island. Chapter 3

Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair

The chapter opens with a description of the cyclic life on the island, the coolness and carefreeness of the morning before the oppressive heat of midday when many of the boys nap then the coolness of the evening again when it becomes dark and frightening. The younger boys form a culture of their own made of play and eating fruit. Their innocent play with sandcastles is interrupted when two of the older boys, Roger and Maurice, trample through them deliberately, showing their unkind natures.

Jack develops a new hunting strategy and uses clay and charcoal to camouflage his face and directs his hunters, including Sam and Eric to join him. He finds that with the paint on, he is ‘liberated from shame and self-consciousness’ and able to act on whatever impulse arises.

On the beach, Ralph and Piggy see a ship out on the horizon of the sea, and thinking that the ship will see the smoke from the fire, they race to the top of the mountain. They discover the fire has gone out, having been left unattended, and the ship does not see them. At the same time, Jack and his hunters return, chanting, and with the carcass of a pig that is carried by Sam and Eric, who should have been keeping the fire alight.

Ralph is furious with Jack for having allowed the fire to be deserted for the sake of the hunt, and they have a heated conversation, their open conflict indicating the growing power struggle between them. From the beginning, Jack has been envious of Ralph’s role as leader and having just achieved his first success as a hunter, he is furious that Ralph continues to focus on denouncing his failure to keep the fire alive. Jack eventually apologises, which gains the respect of the group, but Ralph remains angry, believing the apology was tactical, designed to end the conflict, and not genuine.

Jack is obsessed by the amount of blood that was involved in the killing and continues to focus on this. Piggy criticises him again for letting the fire go out and Jack responds by slapping him which results in one of the lenses of Piggy’s glasses being broken. The conditioning effect of previously-learned rules is fast fading and Jack is beginning to find that he can act without restraint and do whatever he wants without consequence. This also compares with Roger’s throwing of rocks around Henry earlier where he left a clear space so as not to hurt the boy, a recognition of the social discipline that had been instilled in him in his previous life. Ralph continues to exert authority by not moving from the original fire site so that Jack and his hunters have to build the fire in a new location. The mood becomes lighter as the pig is roasted and the group eat, then more sadistic as the hunters re-enact, encouraged by the others, the gruesome details of how the kill took place.

When Simon gives Piggy some of his meat because Jack won’t give him any, Jack lashes out and throws Simon more meat, demanding that he eat it and, in an aggressive display of authority, reminds everyone that he has provided them with food. The group responds with a new respect for Jack but not borne from an understanding that he would be a good leader but because he has gratified their desire for meat.

In an exertion of his authority, presumably envious of Jack’s success before the group, Ralph calls an assembly down on the platform.

Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair Quotes

Nevertheless, the northern European tradition of work, play, and food right through the day, made it possible for them to adjust themselves wholly to this new rhythm. Chapter 4

In his other life Maurice had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand. Now, though there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand, Maurice still felt the unease of wrongdoing. Chapter 4

Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Chapter 4

Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins. Chapter 4

He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness. (after Jack applies war paint to his face) Chapter 4

The rock-pools which so fascinated him were covered by the tide, so he was without an interest until the tide went back. (Piggy) Chapter 4

They were chanting, something to do with the bundle that the errant twins carried so carefully. Chapter 4

Simon looked now, from Ralph to Jack, as he had looked from Ralph to the horizon, and what he saw seemed to make him afraid. (witnessing the hunters return with the slaughtered pig) Chapter 4

‘You should have seen the blood!’ (Jack, referring to the killing of the pig) Chapter 4

The two boys faced each other. There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of longing and baffled commonsense. (Jack and Ralph) Chapter 4

He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach. (Jack) Chapter 4

Piggy cried out in terror: ‘My specs!’ He went crouching and feeling over the rocks but Simon, who got there first, found them for him. Chapter 4

Not even Ralph knew how a link between him and Jack had been snapped and fastened elsewhere. Chapter 4

Simon, sitting between the twins and Piggy, wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it. The twins giggled and Simon lowered his face in shame. (When Jack wouldn’t share any meat with him) Chapter 4

Jack looked round for understanding but found only respect. Chapter 4

The twins, still sharing their identical grin, jumped up and ran round each other. Then the rest joined in, making pig-dying noises and shouting. (Sam and Eric) Chapter 4

Chapter 5: Beast from Water

Ralph realises he is starting to find it difficult to verbalise his thoughts and ponders how so much of life is watching where you walk, watching out for your physical survival, suggesting a reduced capacity to focus on mental survival. He calls a meeting with the conch and, becoming conscious that he lacks the ability to think in the way a wise leader should, begins to value Piggy’s counsel. Armed with this newfound revelation, Ralph presents a rational agenda to the group, reminding them of the agreed-upon rules and that they are failing to carry them out – keeping up the fresh drinking supply, building shelters, toileting in the designated area, and keeping the fire alight. He restates the importance of the signal fire and announces that the group needs to come up with a common understanding of the fear that is starting to overwhelm some of the boys, especially the smaller ones, and restates his previously stated position that there is no monster.

Jack takes the conch and confirms there is no monster but does nothing to allay the children’s fears, berating them for being ‘cry-babies and sissies’. Piggy is next to take the conch and also confirms there is no beast, and that life is scientific, and that fear can be explained in psychological terms. He floats the idea that people could be afraid of each other, which may refer to his feelings towards the bullies he has experienced throughout his life and on the island. He suggests the frightened children verbalise their fears so the group can come up with explanations thus demonstrating that the fears are irrational and not real.

When one of the children claims to have seen someone moving about at night, Simon reveals that he had gone to his secret place, however, the group interpret it as him having gone to the toilet and his secret place remains undisclosed. When one of the boys, Percival, suggests the beast can come up out of the sea, the assembly is sent into an uproar. Percival’s crying as he relives the episode sets off crying in other small children, a sign that they still are capable of feelings of empathy.

Simon raises the possibility that maybe there is a beast, but that the beast may be within them, within human nature itself. However, Piggy and the other boys, denounce any such possibility so that Simon does not pursue it. Instead, the talk leads to ghosts so Ralph calls a vote on whether the group should believe in ghosts. This vote sparks an outburst from Piggy and Jack who openly disputes Ralph’s authority. Jack directs the children to feel fear if they want but not to fear the beast. He confidently assures the group that he and his hunters will kill any beast which brings the group relief and releases the emotional tension.

Piggy and Simon urge Ralph to blow the conch and recall the meeting, however, his faith battered, Ralph realises that blowing the conch and noone returning will be evidence of the demise of their established society. The trio discuss the unpredictable nature of what life would be like with Jack as leader.

Chapter 5: Beast from Water Quotes

He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s waking life was spent watching one’s feet. (Ralph) Chapter 5

He lost himself in a maze of thoughts that were rendered vague by his lack of words to express them. Frowning, he tried again. (Ralph) Chapter 5

… The trouble was, if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise. … This made you think; because thought was a valuable thing, that got results.
Only, decided Ralph as he faced the chief’s seat, I can’t think. Not like Piggy. Chapter 5

‘… fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream … There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island … Serve you right if something did get you, you useless lot of cry-babies! (Jack) Chapter 5

‘Life . . . is scientific … I know there isn’t no beast … but I know there isn’t no fear, either … Unless we get frightened of people.’ (Piggy to Ralph) Chapter 5

To Ralph, seated, this seemed the breaking up of sanity. Fear, beasts, no general agreement that the fire was all-important: and when one tried to get the thing straight the argument sheered off, bringing up fresh, unpleasant matter. Chapter 5

‘Maybe … there is a beast … maybe it’s only us.’ (Simon) Chapter 5

The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away. Chapter 5

‘Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong—we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!’ (Jack) Chapter 5

Chapter 6: Beast from Air

As the boys sleep, an overhead explosion takes place followed by a figure in a parachute descending to the earth, eventually landing on the mountaintop. This confirms that beyond the boys’ world, the war is continuing. The breeze inflates the parachute every now and then so that the figure’s head rises and falls giving the impression he is alive, however, he is in fact dead. Sam and Eric, who have fallen asleep when they were supposed to be on duty, are first to discover the body and rush to tell Ralph.

Ralph calls a meeting where the twins tell their story, exaggeratedly on account of their fear, adding that the figure chased after them. The existence of a beast is finally accepted by the entire group. Jack announces that it needs to be hunted and killed while Piggy rallies to have them stay within the platform area and perhaps the beast will not come for them. Ralph finds a logical and reasonable middle ground, and directs that the group seek out the beast on the only section of the island yet unexplored by Jack and his hunters and then if they do not find it, they will return to the mountaintop to relight the signal fire while Piggy will stay behind with the smaller children that Jack was ruthlessly happy to abandon to themselves. Ralph’s authority is still intact for the time being, the group able to see through to Ralph’s concern for the welfare of the group compared to Jack’s personal glory in the hunt. However, Jack is fast changing the narrative of the group to one where only those who are useful to their survival are valued. The conch and all it stands for is slowly being devalued when he raises the point that even Simon, the boy with the closest insight to the true identity of the beast, was unable to use it to communicate.

When the group of older boys reach the rocky area, Ralph finds his courage and exerts his leadership over Jack in taking the group forward, despite realising that he would not know what to do if he saw the beast anyway. They do not find the beast but find a cave which Jack suggests could be used as a fort and soon the group is in play mode again. Ralph reminds them that they were to attend to the fire if they did not locate the beast. However, relieved at having not fronted with the beast, the group are easily swayed by Jack’s suggestion of play and once again the group’s superficial allegiance totters between the two.

Chapter 6: Beast from Air Quotes

But a sign came down from the world of grown-ups, though at the time there was no child awake to read it. Chapter 6

In theory one should have been asleep and one on watch. But they could never manage to do things sensibly if that meant acting independently, and since staying awake all night was impossible, they had both gone to sleep. (Sam and Eric, on keeping the fire alive) Chapter 6

The twins shared their identical laughter, then remembered the darkness and other things and glanced round uneasily. (Sam and Eric) Chapter 6

Even the sounds of nightmare from the other shelters no longer reached him, for he was back to where he came from, feeding the ponies with sugar over the garden wall. (Ralph) Chapter 6

By custom now one conch did for both twins, for their substantial unity was recognized. (Sam and Eric) Chapter 6

The bright morning was full of threats and the circle began to change. It faced out, rather than in, and the spears of sharpened wood were like a fence. Chapter 6

‘Conch! Conch!’ shouted Jack. ‘We don’t need the conch any more. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.’ Chapter 6

Simon, walking in front of Ralph, felt a flicker of incredulity—a beast with claws that scratched, that sat on a mountain-top, that left no tracks and yet was not fast enough to catch Samneric. Chapter 6

However Simon thought of the beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick. Chapter 6

He sighed. Other people could stand up and speak to an assembly, apparently, without that dreadful feeling of the pressure of personality; could say what they would as though they were speaking to only one person. (Simon) Chapter 6

He noticed that the sweat in his palm was cool now; realized with surprise that he did not really expect to meet any beast and didn’t know what he would do about it if he did. (Ralph) Chapter 6