Civilisation Key Quotes

Question 1

“We’ll take you off. How many of you are there?” - Chapter 12

Answer 1

~ The boys are finally going to go home after the torment and sadness that the island has brought to them
~ Returning back to civilisation and normality

Question 2

“A navy officer stood on the sand looking down at Ralph in wary astonishment” - Chapter 12

Answer 2

~ The boys are finally being rescued after being stuck on the island and longing civilisation by lighting fires in the hope of getting rescued

Question 3

“We ought to have a meeting… We ought to find the others” - Chapter 1

Answer 3

~ Right from the start Piggy’s intellect has really shone and the fact that he is a very logical and practical thinker

Question 4

“The fire is the most important thing, without the fire we can’t be rescued” - Chapter 1

Answer 4

~ Ralph understands he importance and significance of keeping a fire going
~ He always has that hope that they will eventually get rescued no matter what

Question 5

“I got the conch, you let me speak!” - Chapter 2

Answer 5

~ Piggy is signalling the purpose of the conch and why it is there
~ It is there to maintain the peace amongst the boys

Question 6

“They keep running off. You remember the meeting? How everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished?” - Chapter 3

Answer 6

~ Ralph is sick with the boys continuously going off to go and hunt
~ Himself and Simon are the only ones trying to bring normality and civilised ways of living to the island

Question 7

“conch, conch!… We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things” - Chapter 6

Answer 7

~ Jack is simply explaining that the conch is no longer needed and of importance like it used to be
~ He wants everyone to be able to be free to express themselves without the conch, showing the end of civilisation

Question 8

“The most important thing on the island is the smoke, you can’t have no smoke without a fire” - Chapter 160

Answer 8

~ Ralph has his head screwed on the right way and knows his priorities
~ Jack and the other boys have gone and left Ralph with Piggy and Simon but the boys still have faith that they will get rescued

Question 9

“You haven’t got it with you… You left it behind and the conch doesn’t count in this end of the island” - Chapter 9

Answer 9

~ Jack seems to think that he is all powerful and dominant by telling people what to do and what he believes is right
~ Since the island has been split in half, his half doesn’t seems to need civilisation and laws opposed to Ralph’s side

Question 10

“Then maybe a ship’ll notice the smoke and come and rescue us and take us home… Without the smoke… We might wait years till we’re old” - Chapter 11

Answer 10

~ Ralph still has his civilised attitude right to the very end and stays true to himself showing him as a pure and strong character

Question 11

“The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” - Chapter 11

Answer 11

~ As Piggy fell of the cliff and unfortunately died so did the conch along with him
~ represents that Piggy, a civilised character has gone and so has the conch. End of civilisation and humanity
~ WW2 Context - end of civilisation and democracy during war as well as on the island