Vitruk,+Shelia

In chapter one, we are introduced to many of the characters and their surroundings. The island is something special to the boys’ and something new and interesting to explore. They start to realize that no one else is there and that they are going to have to survive and plan out their essentials. This leads me to civilization, the thought of living and maintaining something new, something your “own”. “Ralph turned to the others. This belongs to us” (Golding 28-29). In reference to the new island and the new experiences they will encounter. Ralph is explaining to the boys’ that this is theirs; this is their new home and their “empire”. Also, the thought of dealing with how to shelter, feed, and care for everyone through their time there, Ralph tries to set up plans for these necessities while dealing with everyone’s chaos. For example, in history when countries find and claim land, they expand their territory and maintain the rule of their new place. In addition, the conch is also symbolized in civilization, it keeps all the boys in order, to keep them civilized and help hold control.
 * Civilization:**

Our modern civilization today is set and at a stalemate, we aren’t expanding and we aren’t conquering others. But in a different aspect we are trying to deal with our own issues and our own problems as a country as well as helping others with theirs. The idea of civilization is trying to control and rule your new place and to modernize it while keeping everything under control. Our world is still trying to maintain its success while trying to grow. Like the government in reference to the conch keeps the world in control. “The little boys screamed a t them. Snakes! Snakes! Snakes! Look at the Snakes! Their faces were lit redly from beneath…. The boys looked at each other fearfully, unbelieving” (Golding 46,47). Groupthink works in the way of one’s idea that was some strong, that it hit everyone around and they follow to believe the same thing. Following that, the littluns idea of snakes and the beastie ignites the other little ones fear as well. The all are egging on each other to believe one thing that might not even be true. But their fear was so strong that it made others take on the fear as well.
 * Groupthink:**

Groupthink is in a relation to peer pressure, I feel as though Groupthink could be a part of every teenagers life. In many situations, one doesn’t know how to make a decision. Many factors of that is the thought of being isolated and left our socially in any situation. That affect many teenagers because of how society makes your social life extremely important. There for many teenagers don’t know how to express themselves because the fall into groups of the regular because of their fear of standing alone.

In chapters three and four, the idea and thought of the beastie has come more and more in play. Yet do the littluns and the bigguns know that the idea of the beastie not being an individual yet the “evils” of someone or something yet to be known. Jack’s controlling and evil ways have taken a toll on the littluns and has put a spell on their mind. Jack has also taken an “alter ego way” that he feels in control and possessive of others. “He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger. He split the water and leapt to his feet, laughing excitedly. Beside the pool hid sinewy body held up a mask that drew their eyes and appalled them. He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling” (Golding 63-64). Jack’s mind and overwhelming sense of himself has caused his to “mask” to take control.
 * Beelzebub:**

In history, Hitler for example let his mind take control which led him to cause chaos and destruction of multiples. Like Jack, Hitler lost himself in the evils and in the terror that it made him a new person is. The thought of there being an evil has always taken a toll on us because it’s a fear and like the Jews being afraid of Hitler, the littluns and Piggy are afraid of Jack. In chapter five, good verse evil hits many of the characters, especially the littluns, their innocence has been completely stripped because of their lack of an adult figure int heir life on the island. They try to be "good" and listen to everyone who is in charge but in chapter five the choas over thier meeting and finding the animal out their caused them to be a little rowdy and disrespectful. I wouldnt call it evil from the inside but evil in a sense of lostness. "For now the littluns were no longer silent. They were reminded of their personal sorrows; and perhaps felt themselves to share in a sorrow that were universal" (Golding 87).
 * Good and Evil:**

Everything in the world doesn’t run black or white. You can’t exactly determine good in evil in the world. I think everyone possesses features of both. One might outshine the other at times, but everyone has both. I also feel as though one can choose which (good or evil) they want to expose; depending on the situation at hand. Not only in chapter 6, but mentioned from the beginning of the book was the littluns fears. They started off with the fear of the beastie, which isn’t what they think it is, but makes them scared of anything out of the ordinary. The darkness mostly shocks them because it can hold many things. The idea of the dark and the fear of Beelzebub is led them to become paranoid of the unknown. “Soon the darkness was full of claws, full of awful unknown and menace. An interminable dawn faded the stars out, and at last light, sad and grey, filtered into shelter. They began to stir though still the world outside the shelter was impossibly dangerous. The maze of darkness sorted into near and far, and at the high point of the sky the cloudlets were warmed with color” (Golding 99). The littluns are terrified of the beastie and now the night. Their fear is of the unknown and revealed multiple times throughout the book. Their fear doesn’t die down without the help of Simon because of his “pure” being.
 * Nyctophobia:**

The world I think at most is afraid of the idea and concept of “Beelzebub” and nyctophobia or the fear of the unknown. I think the unknown is what so scary to many people. You grow up learning and understanding your surroundings and the teachings around you. But the idea of not knowing things or your surroundings scares people. The idea makes people freak out about the present and then leads to other fears coming to the surfaces. It might bring chaos to one’s life internally and mentally.

**Journal Evaluation**

Name __________________________________________________________________


 * **Criteria** || **Point Values** ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Overall **focus** and flow and use of transitions to make the piece **cohesive** || **5** || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 ||
 * **Content** & textual evidence reflect the appropriate themes in the journal options || 15-**13** || 12 || 11 || 10-9 || 8-0 ||
 * **Analysis** of quotes are accurate and thorough || 15-**13** || 12-10 || 11 || 10-9 || 8-0 ||
 * Personal **connection** responses are articulate and thought-provoking || 10-**8** || 7-6 || 5-4 || 3-2 || 1 ||
 * **Mechanics**, Spelling and Grammar || 5 || **4** || 3 || 2 || 1 ||


 * Total ___43___/50**

__$_ Provides unique and insightful perspective on the reading ___ Uses effective verbs and word choice to create strong sense of voice ___ Content is simplified or too general __$_ Proofread more closely __$_ Elaboration needed
 * Feedback**:

=**DIARY ENTRIES**=

Chapter 7 Dear Journal,

My name is John and I am 9 years old. I am pretty old for a littlun but I am still under that title. As things got more hectic on the island I decided to start a journal. Ralph, our leader and Jack, the hunting “leader” are starting to have more problems with control. We are so young that it is very confusing and very scary not understanding what going on, on this private island. I think I prefer Jack because he always reassures us that he is helping to kill the beastie. Also, we went hunting today for a boar to feed everyone. We almost killed him but he go away from Ralph’s spear, we were all a little upset then things got really out of hand, and then Jack said, “use a littlun” (Golding 115) to practice with. We decided to reenact the scene and act like we were hunting and attacking the boar. While in a frenzy we accidently attacked Roger but I think he is okay. We are too excited about hunting but I think Jack is good at that and I hope I can help him hunt for the group one day. I miss home a little bit but I am trying to distract myself from it.

I’ll write later, Johnny

Chapter 8 Dear Journal,

I just had to choose sides on the island. Jack and Ralph argued a lot today about so many different things but it always went back to ruling. They both have different opinions on what is more important on the island, civilization, food, or getting help. Jack for sure thinks it is food and hunting the beastie while Ralph disagrees. I want to go help Jack kill the beast and be apart of the hunting group and he under him but Ralph is a good leader and understands us littluns. We sat and watched them argue, with our heads down, until Jack said, “I’m not going to be apart of Ralph’s lot-“ (Golding 127). We had to choose which group we wanted….. I chose Jack.. I want to kill the beastie, he doesn’t help me here.

I’ll write later, Johnny

Chapter 9 & 10 Dear Journal,

I have been walking around camp all day mourning. We just killed Simon..?!!!??! I can’t believe what I took apart in. I fear the beastie so much that Jack screaming it convinced us all that Simon was the beast coming out the jungle. All I heard was, “kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood” (Golding 152). Next thing you know ,we were all running to kill him, Jack had us all convinced. I still am in Jack’s tribe, I still believe he will find the real beastie; I do apologize for Simon’s death. Also, today we went and stole Piggy’s glasses, stealing is a sin, but I am trapped here, I have to do what I have to do to help Jack. He protects us.

I’ll write later, Johnny

Chapter 11 Dear Journal,

Things are so crazy now, we almost have control! Ralph only has SamnEric and Piggy left, all us littluns work for Jack. We do what ever he says so we don’t get in trouble with him. He said his job is to take control and kill the beast, and no one can stop him from that. So today Ralph and Piggy came to Castle Rock, our name, to get Piggy’s glasses that we stole. He ended up dead and flushed with the current. I told them not to argue with Jack he is the ruler. Piggy said, “Which is better - to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?” (Golding 180). That added to their problems over control and civilization. Ralph feels like Castle Rock is full of scavengers and lost cite of civilization. Piggy tries to break up the argument and ends up getting a rock thrown at his face, which kills him. Jack said, “I’m chief” (Golding 181) after he breaks the conch. Jack has total power now, I wonder what will happen to Ralph … he is in Jack’s way still.

I’ll write later, Johnny

Chapter 12,

Dear Journal,

I am lost in every way. I thought I would enjoy Jack’s tribe, and help him with finding the beastie. Jack takes his power too far, he killed two of Ralph’s friends and fair people on the island. It was all because of his power in his head. Jack is trying to be a ruler and at first I understood that he was trying to hunt and be protective but his goal was to take over. His control scares many of us that we just listen to everything he says so he doesn’t hurt us. Jack is telling us to kill Ralph or lure him out of the brush because that’s his target. Jack just decides to set the brush on fire so he will just come out or burn in there. Ralph runs past the boys into open sand and falls. We chased after him when we saw a big man standing over him. He was here to save us! He all ran over and starting crying in happiness, fears of the future, and relief. I finally was reunited with civilization. Unfortunately, all of our parents have died due to the atom bomb but we have found sponsored homes right by each other so we can all still hangout. But Ralph split ways when we all got back. And we heard Jack is in a huge amount of trouble for his actions. I am so relieved that we were saved. I felt like things have gotten worse.

I’’ll write later,

Johnny