LOTF-Ch12-Summary

Ralph is alone as Chapter Twelve opens. He recalls the deaths of both Simon and Piggy and thinks about how senseless their destruction and the destruction of order and civilization on the island have been. While pondering this, Ralph comes across the sow's head, which has been reduced to a gleaming white skull: Ralph notes this with some irony.

As the chapter progresses, Ralph visits Castle Rock in order to "rescue" Samneric. The twins have "gone savage" and refuse to join him, fearing Jack. Instead, the twins give Ralph some food and give Ralph some idea of Jack's plans for Ralph.

Ralph hides in a thicket and falls asleep only to wake up discovered the next morning. He overhears one of the twins (who have been tortured) giving away his location. A fight ensues but ultimately ends when Jack lights the thicket on fire, forcing Ralph to flee.

Ralph makes his way to the beach and stumbles, pursued, at the feet of a naval officer who has been drawn to the island by the smoke and flame of the burning jungle. The naval officer finds it hard to believe that a group of "civilized" boys could lose their sense of civilization in such a short time.