Conch Flashcards
Analyse quote “the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. “
The conch had been a tool for order and democratic discourse, but now, as it is violently shattered, any remaining semblance of civilization is eradicated.
The use of the word “thousand “ is a hyperbolic figure that stresses the magnitude of the collapse suggesting that there is no piece of order left intact after the event. The explosion of the conch could be read as an indictment of the human tendency to revert to savagery under pressure. It questions whether the veneer of civilization is as thin and fragile as the conch, and whether chaos is only ever one step away, ready to explode when authority is no longer enforced.
Analyse quote “delicate thing balanced on his knee”
The word “delicate” highlights the fragility of the conch—an object that, while a tool for enforcing civility and communication, is easily damaged and destroyed. This moment foreshadows the eventual collapse of civilization on the island, a central theme in Golding’s narrative. The balance on his knee implies a sense of instability—like a fragile object teetering on the edge of falling, the conch’s symbolic power is already under threat, and the boys’ tenuous hold on order is precarious.
symbolizes represents the rejection of civilization in favor of anarchy, and Golding uses this shift to demonstrate how easily humanity’s veneer of civility can crumble when confronted with the darker aspects of human nature.
