Well, I didn't start updating my reading focus tracker until after I finished chapter five. So I had to go back to all of the previous chapters to look for quotes to support my explanations. Sigh... I've learned my lesson. However, I could think of the different symbolic objects so far in the book at the top of my head. So it wasn't too bad. I'm glad I chose this topic, because I'm the type of person to over-analyze things which makes analyzing the specific symbols in the book fun and easy for me.
William Golding included pretty specific objects in the book so far. The conch shell definitely symbolizes the unity of the civilization as well as power to whomever holds the conch. Piggy's glasses, I think, symbolizes clarity and truth. Piggy's intellect shines through as he uses his glasses to recognize and understand things that the rest never considered. Piggy knew that nobody knew where they were and that they might not be rescued because the plane was shot down. The rest of the boys didn't know about that until Piggy said it. The final important symbol is the fire. Ralph emphasizes in chapter 5 how important the fire is to the civilization. Without it, they would die. I think it represents their hope of being rescued and getting off of the island. If the fire were to burn down, then their hope will also be gone. But if the fire stays burning, their hope is alive, and they too will survive. I think those are the most important symbolic objects so far (even though I have more on my tracker.)
Reading details:
William Golding, Lord of the Flies
11/12: 60 min., 11/13: 60 min., 11/14: 60 min., 11/22: 60 min.
Pages: 32-94
Total time: 240 min.
Piggy's glasses is one that I didn't consider. It is a good point that his glasses would symbolize something, another possibility is that Piggy himself might even be a symbolic "object".
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