5/4/2011 --Lord of the flies chapter uno

We started the first chapter of Lord of the Flies. The story begins with two boys that encounter each other. Their characteristics are almost the exact opposite. One boy, Ralph, has good looks. The other boy is somewhat nerdy and is rather chubby. I noticed throughout this chapter that they did not seem to have similar characteristics and thought maybe this could foreshadow something… “Opposites attract.” One prediction towards the beginning was that maybe they would be partners in the mission to escape the island.
Later, these two boys discover other boys who had also landed on the island. They also meet a boy named Jack who seems fairly commanding. I did not take a liking to this character right away, but that opinion may change throughout the book. All of the boys decide that they need to work together to accomplish their goal. They choose Ralph to be the leader. This surprised me because Piggy was intelligent and made smart decisions. Jack showed wonderful leadership skills. I think Ralph will pull through, though, and will be the perfect leader for the group.
The author, William Golding, used different literary elements throughout this chapter. I think the conch that Piggy finds will eventually symbolize something later in the story. Golding uses polysyndetons to create a dramatic effect or style. Personification is used throughout the chapter also. I think the author does this to enhance the story. When certain literary elements like this are used, it seems to create more excitement for the reader. Golding describes the scenes well and it this could be considered imagery. We readers are able to form a mental picture in our head. This contributes to the story because we can picture the island and how challenging it will be to accomplish their mission with the setting they are in.
Overall, I think the book is moving along quite nicely and I am enjoying it so far.