Final answer:
Jack becomes angry and confrontational when Ralph calls his hunters 'boys armed with sticks,' emphasizing the escalating tension and conflict between them.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel Lord of the Flies, when Ralph calls his hunters "boys armed with sticks", Jack gets angry and confrontational. This comment demeans the hunters and diminishes their role and contribution to survival on the island.
Jack's intense reaction showcases the growing tensions between the two characters and the conflict over leadership and power. Jack's insistence on the hunters' importance reflects the savagery and loss of innocence that is a central theme in the novel.