Aspects of Narrative

Beginnings:

• Beginning of the journey "Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up...."
• Sea creature foreshadowing the dead animals later in the novel "And on the far shore a creature..."
• Introduced to the father and then the son later "He woke in the woods....the child sleeping beside him..."
• Introduced to their way of life "....stinking robes and blankets....any light but there was none..."
• The memory of his wife in his dreams "....In his dreams his pale bride came to him...."
• Shown aspects of his previous life "Its the house where I grew up..."
• Introduced to the idea that God doesn't exist "He raised his face to the paling day....Are you there?"

Endings:

• World is ending- the light is disappearing "...cold glaucoma dimming away the world..."
• Loses faith in God "If he is not the word of God God never spoke..."
• Can't let go of his old life "This is where I used to sleep....My cot was against this wall..."
• Rhetorial Question- Debating whether he can kill his son or not " When the time comes? Can you?

Characterization:

• Lack of emotion in speech- father does not want to become to emotionally attached to his son in case something bad happens "Are we going to die?... Sometime. Not now..."
• Child is innocent and needs reassurance "Im really scared....Its alright. We shouldnt have come..."
• No names- no identity "He"
• Subtle hints of emotion "...he'd reach out to touch the child sleeping....sat with his arms around the boy trying to warm him...."
• Link between the child and Jesus "He knew only that the child was his warrant..."
• Weather- "cold glaucoma"

Settings:

• Key setting- the Earth "Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth...."
• Woods- "When he woke in the woods...."
• The Road- also a major key setting "....walked out to the road..."
• The petrol station- "...they came upon a roadside gas station..."
• Father's childhood home- "...they came upon an old frame house....It's the house where I grew up..."
• The shore- their final destination- " ...they were sitting on the beach....Cold. Desolate. Birdless...."



Destination:

• The South is the basic destination
• Note: The sea links to the memories of the uncle and better times, he thinks he goes to the sea it will be a better life for them both
• Always turn to the road in the end

Journey:

• "They were moving south" (physical destination)
• Emotional journey- whether the Father can kill his son or not when the time arrives
• Unsteady- unplanned route- not really sure where they are or where they are going; just need to head south

        Time:

• "...taking in the silence of the earth..." (just waiting- not time)
• never ending- monotonous "They bore on south in the days and weeks to follow"
• Time no longer means anything- key is survival

 

The Road Rat Questions

What element of forshadowing is employed in this section and why? (pg 62)

The boy playing with the truck "The boy took his truck from the pack..." foreshadows the arrival of the truck and the group of men,more specifically the arrival of the Roadrat. Also the innocent act of the boy playing gives an indication that something bad is about to happen because that tends to be the norm with this narrative, whenever something good happens normally something bad is about to happen. McCarthy does this to keep the reader interested and also to remind us that nothing is really good about the way the world is at this point.

What does the description of the men teach us about them? (Characterisation pg 62-3)

The description of the men suggests that they have adapted to living in the conditions that they find themselves in and it is a new normality for them. "....hooded heads...." suggests that the men are quite sinister and quite intimindating and powerful. The quotes "wearing canister masks....One in a biohazard suit..." suggest that they are well equipped for living in those conditions and the lives that they have been given doesn't scare them, they have simply adapted to the new way of living. "Slouching along with clubs...." also suggestes that they are intimidating characters and that they are not scared to hurt anyone who gets in their way. The fact that they are slouching shows their physical deterioration also, it shows that although they seem quite powerful and intimidating they are in fact very week characters and in fact put on an act of being sinister and powerful.

McCarthy uses a simile when describing the truck 'Lumbering and creaking like a ship'. Why does he do this?

McCarthy uses this similie to describe the truck because he wants us to realise the disintegration of everything in the world. It shows us that the truck is old and falling apart.It could also symbolise the size of the ship and the "creaking" could suggest the struggle that the men have to start the ship. However, it is also a biblical reference to Noah and the ark that he built to save the animals. This reference is quite ironic however as the ship was built to save the animals whereas the journey of the man and his son is about their survival and their survival only. The "creaking" could represent the cracks in the hope of the boy and his father as well as the low chance of their survival. The "lumbering" could represent their continuous and monotonous journey on the road.

Why does Mccarthy describe the Road Rat in such detail? (Characterisation pg 65)

McCarthy describes the Road Rat in such detail because he wants to show the reader how humanity has decreased and how most people have turned to cannabilism and violence as a way of survival. The similie "Like an animal inside a skull looking out the eyeholes.." shows the deterioration of the mans physical state and also gives us the indication that the man has turned to violence in order to survive. It also shows us that he has lost all of his humanity and the only thing is left is the uncontrollable need for survival. The description also gives us the sense of the difficulty they face to be good in a world of bad and violence and that sometimes it is easier to just 'follow the crowd.' In this case it seems as though the Road Rat has decided that it is easier to turn to violence and cannabilism rather than fight for survival like the father and son.

Why is the Road Rats character so explicit whilst the man is so implicit?

What do we learn about the man through his exchanges with the Road Rat? (Pg 68. Consider the Man's impressive medical knowledge, look at the description of the grabbing of the boy and the shooting of the Road Rat)

"A single round left in the revolver. You will not face the truth. You will not" Who is the man echoing here? How do you believe these words are uttered?

Why don't the other men chase after the boy and the man following the shooting? (there are clues on pg 73-4).

It is not until page 77 that the man finally cleans the "gore" and "dead mans brains" from the boys face. Why? (Be aware that in the intervening pages he has kept him warm with blankets, fed him etc yet not cleaned his face)

The End

The ending was an anti-climax. It should have ended when the father died because it would have been more of an effective ending.

Limited Palette

The pared down language of the narrative reflects the pared down life the characters have to live- essentials only

• We as readers are only told what McCarthy thinks we need to know, the descriptions are very basic and only important details are given " In the knapsacks were essential things. In case they had to abandon the cart and make a run for it..."
• It could be said that the details are not important to them, as characters there only worry is their survival, so if the details are not important to them, then why should we be told them, they are no importance to us, as readers "They ate their poor meal cold...." There is no indication of what they ate, this reflects the idea that their only need is to survive and what the food is, is not important. There is no importance to them so why should there be any importance about it for us?
• The gaps in time during the novel reflects the unimportance of the events between two points " They bore on south in the days and weeks to follow..." Yet again there only worry is their survival. Between this point and the previous point nothing of importance has happened. McCarthy has also probably done this to speed the story along and to keep the reader interested and wanting to read on. 
• The language is very simplistic which reflects their simple lives, they go day to day just trying to survive. It could also reflect the increasing tiredness of the pair and how they just continue a long the road, day after day. "They kicked snow over the fire and went on through the trees and circled and came back." Covering up their tracks is yet again a part of their survival and their simple lives, it has become routine to them.

Avoiding emotional language and keeping it simple makes the narrative all the more emotionally engaging

• At first glance there seems to be little or no emotion in this narrative, especially when it comes to the father "We have to go...." Their is no ergency in his voice, yet again trying to keep them both same has become normality, there seems to be no fear anymore.
• There are hints of emotion however, when we look deeper and 'read between the lines' "It'll be okay..." This line is an example of the hidden emotion that can be found in the narrative. The father loves his son dearly and sees it as his job to protect the child from harm. On the other hand, he does not want to become to emotionally attached to the child because, he knows that there is a chance that either the child or he himself will die and he believes that if there is no strong bond between them it will some how be easier emotionally if something does happen to either of them.
• The aspects of emotion during the novel shows the struggle that the father faces to hide his emotions from his son "If you died I would want to die too." This quote in particular shows the struggle that he faces, it also shows his love for his son. By keeping the emotion to a minimum it makes the novel more engaging and it makes us want to read on as readers, almost in hope that the father will begin to show more love and emotion towards his son.

Writing in the style of..... Little Red Riding Hood By Laura Hopkinson and Amy Mckay

She was walking in the woods. The sky. Gloomy. Dark. She turned a corner and heard a crack! She couldn't see anything but the shadow of the trees. She went on. The wolf appeared from behind a tree. The wolf was black, illuminated by the sun rays. Savage. Awaiting its victim.
Hello my dear, where are you going with that basket?
I should not talk to strangers.
Here I picked you some flowers.
Thank you. She went on.
She arrived at the cottage. She put the basket on the bed. Oh Christ. O Christ. What big eyes you have.
All the better to see you with.
Oh Christ. Oh Christ. What big ears you have.
All the better to hear you with. What big teeth you have.
All the better to eat you with.
 She screamed. A woodcutter burst through the door. An axe in hand. He chopped off the wolf's head. The head lay motionless on the floor. He opened the cupboard door. Coldness and damp. A high pitched squeal came from the corner of the room. The woman's arms were tied up. The woodcutter cut her free.
Okay?
Okay.
You okay Granny?
Im okay.
Sure?
Okay. She kissed her granddaughter on the cheek. The woodcutter left. They sat down and ate the food from the basket. Then Little Red Riding Hood went home.

Introduction to McCarthy's style

" Slow water in the flat country. The sloughs by the roadside motionless and gray. The coastal plain rivers leaden serpentine across the wasted farmland. They went on. Ahead in the road was a dip and as stand of cane. I think there's a bridge there he said. Probably a creek.
Can we drink the water?
We don't have a choice.
It won't make us sick.
I don't think so. It could be dry.
Can I go ahead?
Yes of course you can." (page 214)


Sentence structure:

• Shows finality of the situation, there is no choice but to drink the water. 
• Short sentences create a slow pace, this then creates a sense of monotone, there is no excitement and it becomes quite boring to read

Vocabulary: 

• Most of the words are monosyllabic, this also creates a sense of monotone.
• No description- shows the importance of the task- to find water. The description of the setting is not important because it is not the characters' main focus so why should it be important to us, as readers.

Effect on reader:

• I felt like there was a lack of enthusiasm due to the lack of the characters' feelings. Also, I felt that there was no excitement when reading this section and a lack of interest to carry on reading. This was due to the lack of emotion from the characters, in particular the father and also the slow pace of this particular section, it did not flow well which made it difficult and boring to read.

Key Episodes

As you read The Road you will come across some key episodes


- coming across the man who has been struck by lightening (pp. 50-53)- This episode was quite shocking to read and I felt sympathy not just for the man but also the father and his son. I sympathised with the man because it must have been a very terrfying and unreal experience for him. I also sympathised witht the father because it must have been hard to make a decison not to help the man although the text suggests that the father is very unemotionally attached and it also must have been very hard for the son to walk away and do nothing especially at such a young age. To evoke this response the writer uses descriptive language when describing the man and his phsyical appearance "his clothing scorched and black" this suggests that the man has gone through a terrible ordeal and that he also has no means of changing his damaged clothes. The bluntness of the fathers speech " He's been struck by lightening"This quote is quite a intriguing quotation as the reader is unsure whether the the father and the son will help the man and offer him food or whether they will leave him as he is too badly injured and there is not enough food to ensure everyone's survival. Due to what we have read previously it is more likely to be the latter due to the selfishness of the father. This quote also creates questions for the reader; will the man survive? What is next for the man, the father and the son? This part of the novel made me feel really sad and the tension definitely increased when I read this section. It I was clear to see why the father had decided that they could not help the man yet I hoped that he would for the man and the son's sake. The tension also increased because I wanted to know the father's decision and also I also became worried for the man and his survival. This section really made me feel like I was part of the story, it draw me in and made me want to read on to find out what was going to happen next. This part of the novel shows the love and the growing tension between the father and the son. It is clear that the father loves his son dearly and that he will do anything to keep him safe and to ensure their survival. However, due to the tiredness and lack of food the tension between the pair is beginning to increase. This is made clear when the father becomes angry with the soon due to the fact that the son cannot understand why they cannot help the man. The son becomes angry with his father but then realises that helping the man is not possible. "He didn't answer....I'm talking now..." This section also gives the reader a clear insight into the father's selfishness. It also shows us just how self-centred the father is, yet when we look deeper, we realise that may be he is not so selfish but just simply wants to keep his son safe and most importantly alive. The language that is used in these pages is in keeping with the rest of the novel, the description about the setting is quite simple and basic "thin black trees", yet the description about the man is quite descriptive and the author has used a metaphor to describe him also "He was as burnt looking as the country...." This metaphor in particular gives us a clear image of the man and his physical state. The image is quite grotesque and disturbing but gives the reader an insight into what has happened and the lives that people have been forced to live.The dialogue that is used between the father and the son is emotionless which shows the reader that they have been accustomed to the things that they have seen such as the man who has been struck by lightening and it shows us that they are no longer really shocked at what they see. It also shows the reader that although the father loves his son he does not want to become to emotionally attached to him because he know the inevitable might happen, his son might die.  The man in this part of the novel could be seen as an omen, a sign of hope. The fact that he has survived such a terrible ordeal is amazing even though he has terrible injuries and a very small chance of survival. However, he could also be seen as a symbol of destruction of the human race and a symbol of the lost hope and the sadness that the characters must feel. McCarthy uses the boy as a symbol of innocence and hope. The boy has no idea that they can not help the man and he can not understand why they can not offer him food and shelter. He could also been seen as sign of hope, if his father can get him to safety then there is a chance that the boy will survive and continue to grow up and have a family of his own. I think that this section is a very important section in the novel. It gives the reader a clear image of what the human race has become after what has happened. It shows us how selfish they have become although, it could also be showing us something that happens in day to day life and how selfish people really are. However, because we have not suffered the pain they have suffered we do not always notice it or acknowledge it, or if we do notice we never say anything about it. It also gives us an insight into what might happen in the future and what might become of the Earth and the human race. This section also shows the relationship between the father and his son and the tension is beginning to build, this could foreshadow the problems that they face together in the future and how they both deal with the situations. This section stands out because it is short, not a lot happens and yet it shows us so many things and has so many hidden meanings and morals. It shows us that although we want to do anything we can to help others, it is not always possible and sometimes we need to be selfish and refuse to help people to aid our own individual survival and maybe we should not be "branded" as selfish as such by people that do not know the facts about a particular situation. The son is a good example of this, he just assumes that they will help the man without realising that it is not possible due to the fact that they don't even have enough food for themselves. This section is also key because it shows how McCarthy has started to blend the boundaries between the characters and the landscape. I think that he has done this to show how the characters in the novel do not really belong any more, they do not have a place to call home and they are alone apart from having each other. Their existence is being to fade; physically because they are beginning to die from starvation and metaphorically because they have no one to help and protect them apart from each other. 


- shooting the 'roadrat' (pp. 62-69) This section of the novel is quite disturbing and shocking. I felt quite worried when reading this section, for the boy and his father and also worried about what the father might do. I was quite shocked also because I did not think that the father was capable of shooting and killing someone. At first it just seemed like empty threats and that the father would not kill the 'roadrat' so when he does shoot him it is more of a shock for the son and for the reader. The writer used descriptive language and a fast pace to to evoke this response. The dialogue that is used is quite strong and shows the anger and the tension between the characters which creates an tense atmosphere. " If you look at him again I'll shoot you." This encourages the reader to read on to find out what is going to happen next. The descriptive language creates a clear and shocking image for the reader which helps us to realise just how tense the situation is. After reading this part of the novel it is unclear what will happen next. It is unclear whether the father and his son will be safe now the father has killed someone and there is also the added worry that they are running out of food quite rapidly which has increased their chances of dying from starvation. Now that the father has killed someone there is also an increased chance that the men will come after them and get revenge on the father. By killing the man, the father has put himself and his son in unnecessary danger. When reading this section of the novel I felt quite depressed and I did not really want to read on, I was almost dreading finding out what would happen to the man and the father and his son, I did not want to know what was going to happen. The tension increased as the section went on and although I did not want to read on I felt compelled to by the tense atmosphere that the writer had created. I found myself reading faster as I felt like I had to keep up with the fast pace of the section and part of me also really wanted to know what was going to happen to the man. After reading this section it is clear that the father will do anything he can to protect his son, even if it involves killing someone. It also shows the reader that the the father also has hidden anger and the stress of everything e.g. lack of food and shelter has increased the level of anger and it could be said that shooting the man helped to release some of the tension and anger that the father was experiencing. The bond between the father and son is clear in this section. The father does everything he can in his power to protect the boy and at the end of the section he reassures him that everything will be okay in his own way of course. He does not say many words to do so but "It's okay....It's okay" reassures the son that he is safe and that his father loves him dearly. Just like the rest of the novel so far the language that is used is simple and basic and not very descriptive. Although the language is not very descriptive the writer has written it in a way that still gives the reader clear imagery when reading the novel "He wiped the blood from his face..." this quote gives us a very clear image yet there a no adjectives or metaphors used to describe what is being written.The dialogue between the man and the father shows the emotion that both of the characters are feeling. It shows the anger that the father is feeling and just how much he loves his son "Do I look like an imbecile to you?" This quote shows the reader that the father is angry and that he thinks that the man is treating him as though he is stupid. It also shows the pride that the father has and that he takes being called an "imbecile" very seriously. I think this is because he feels like he has lost everything and his pride is one of the very few things that he has left. The killing of the man could be a symbol for dominance, the father feels like he has lost all control of other aspects of his life and everything around him and the only way he feels that he can reclaim the dominance and once again become superior is to kill what seems to be an innocent man. It could also be seen as a symbol of the lack of control that the human race now have. Everything that they know has been taken from them and by killing the man the father feels like he has regained control in some way. I think that this is a key episode in the novel because I feel that this a key point where the father decides to take back control. Also, it shows the reader just how much he cares for his son and just exactly how far he is willing to go to protect him. Also, it shows the reader how everything has changed and the desperation people face to find enough food for survival. This is also a key episode because it clearly stands out in the story and I personally think that it shows the clear bond between father and son. This section has also given the reader a clearer insight into the every day struggles that people face and what they will do to ensure their survival.


- finding the cellar of naked and mutilated people (pp. 112-121) This episode was very shocking to read. The images of the people in the cellar was horrifying to read and I felt quite sad and shocked at the same time. I also felt worried for the father and the son towards the end of this section. I found myself reading faster because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen to the pair. At first I thought that it was just an abandoned house where they were going to look for food but as I read more I became more shocked about what I was reading and part of me did not really want to read on because I was uncertain about what was going to happen. To evoke this response McCarthy has used grotesque imagery "legs gone to the hip....stumps of them blackened and burnt..." this quote shows the reader the horrific nature of what life has become for many people. He also uses a tense, fast pace. This encourages the reader to read on to find out what will happen next. The tense atmosphere is a very useful tool when wanting the reader to carry on reading and McCarthy has used it very well in this episode. After reading this section, it is clear that the father and his son will have to find safety soon and fast. They also have to find food and shelter if they want to ensure their long term survival. It is unclear how long the father is going to survive, it is mentioned that he is suffering from a cough "....stifle the cough..." and due to the conditions that they live in and the lack of medicine it is unlikely that he will get better, if anything his cough will continue to become worse. When I thought that they had found food and shelter in the house there was definitely a lighter moment, a feeling of relief. However, that soon changed when I read the section about the people in the cellar, it made me feel depressed and the imagery that had been used made me feel quite sick and horrified. It also shocked me and made me wonder how a man with injuries like that had managed to survive. I also felt quite tense when reading this section because I really did not know what to expect next, I think that McCarthy is great at writing in a way that does this. I also felt tense because I wanted the son and father to find safety and remain alive for as long as possible. The tension between the father and son also made me feel quite tense because part of me could not understand why the father chose to shout at his son yet, I realised that the reason he was doing so was to make sure that his son was kept safe from danger. This section continues to shows the increasing tension between the father and the son. The love for each other is still clear and the father makes it clear that he will never leave his son alone "Shh...I won't leave you..." Although the father is scared he knows that the only thing that he can do is to stay and protect his son. In this section he is not the selfish character we have seen before but the loving, caring father we can relate to as a reader. The tension between them however is beginning to increase and the father is continuously getting angry and frustrated with his son as the son does not really understand what is happening and why they must do and must not do certain things."No. Do you understand?" This quote shows how frustrated the father is becoming with his son but only because he loves him and wants to do what is best for him. The language used in this section is again quite grotesque and creates a very clear image for the reader " An old mattress darkly stained..." this shows us the terrible conditions that the people have found themselves living in and just want the father and his son might have to result to as well. Unlike some parts of this book McCarthy has described the house and its surroundings, the description is very detailed which gives us a very good idea of where they are and the state of the building. "Handmade brick....kilned out the dirt it stood on...." "Gray trampled grass...Gray snow...." The writer has also used different senses in this section. He has used words to describe the smell in the house such as " Smell of mold and excrement..." which really helps us to try and imagine what the house must smell like after such a long time of being empty. The writer has also used dialogue between the son and his father in this section. The dialogue shows the reader how scared the son is and how desperately he wants to leave "We should go. Papa." this quote in particular shows how scared he is and how tense he feels being in the house, it's almost as if he knows something is wrong and knows that they should not wait around to find out what it is. The speech also shows the increasing frustration that the father is feeling "We've got to eat." The lack of food is making him angry and annoyed at his son, he knows that they have to find food soon if they want to survive. Again, the boy could be seen as a symbol of innocence "....he went cold all over.." this shows the reader that what he has seen has really upset him and scared him. It also makes us realise that someone as young as him should not witness such things but because of the situation that he is in, he does not really have much choice unfortunately. The man with the injuries "...On the mattress lay a man with his legs gone to the hip...." could been seen as a sign of hope, if someone with injuries such as his can survive then most people can. However, he could also be seen as a sign of death and sadness. There could also be a religious link here; surely God would not leave him to suffer in such a horrible way? He is a man that has escaped and survived death yet he is so close to death. I think that this is a very key episode to the novel, it gives the reader a very clear insight into how life has changed for so many people. It also shows us the continuous struggle that the father and his son face everyday to find food. I also think that this section holds a hidden moral," be grateful for what you are given." It shows us how much we take food for granted and the desperation and anxiety we feel when can not access it straight away. The section also shows us anxiety and desperation can affect a strong relationship such as a father and son relationship and that the father will do anything he can to protect his son, even contemplating risking his own life to save his son.


- the baby on the spit (pp. 210-215) This episode was really shocking too read, especially the  part when the son sees the baby roasting on the spit. The image was grotesque and very weird, something we would not normally expect to read. I really sympathised with the son and the father for witnessing such a horrible thing, more so the boy because of him being so young and innocent. I also sympathised with them because of the struggle that they are facing to find not only food but clean water too. McCarthy used descriptive language to evoke this response " charred...headless and gutted..." This quote creates a very clear and quite horrifying image of the infant on the spit. It is almost to shocking to read.The pace of this section is quite slow which helps to create tension which again makes the reader want to read on to find out what is going to happen next. He also keeps the description about the infant quite short which actually makes the image more horrifying. After reading this part of the novel it is clear that the son may never talk again due to the shock and upset over what he has seen. It is also clear that they must find water and food quickly "They'd not eaten in two days..." if they want to make it to the end of their journey. There is also an uncertainty whether both of them will actually make it to the end of the journey, however there is hope that the son will survive the journey even if his father does not "...He'd not seen him run in a long time..." this quote shows us that the boy has not lost all hope and a part of him can still feel happy. Will they both survive to the end of the journey? Will they come across any more sights like the one in this section? When reading this section I definitely felt tense, not knowing whether they would be caught or not and what they might find. When I read about the baby I could not believe what I was reading and this made me even more tense. However, when I read that they had found water however little it was, it was definitely a lighter, happier moment and for a split second I thought that there was hope for the pair. On the hand, I did feel worried for them at the same time and I also felt quite sad and sorry for them also. I realised just how hard life must be for them, not knowing when their next meal or drink is which really made me sympathise with the father and his son. This section of the novel shows us just how much the father loves his son and that he feels that he must protect him "Okay. Let's wait a while." This quote shows the reader that the father is trying to reassure his son that everything is okay and there is no reason to be scared. During this section also, we see more of a caring side to the father than in previous sections and there is no sign of selfishness here. He feels guilty for making the boy witness such a thing "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." and he is scared that because of this, the boy has been psychologically damaged and that he may never talk again "He didn't know if he'd ever speak again."  This part of the novel also shows the reader how much the son relies on his father for emotional support and how he seeks affection from his father " Can I hold your hand?" McCarthy uses descriptive language when describing the infant on the spit "headless....gutted...blackening..." This creates quite a horrific image in the readers' mind and makes us realise just what a horrible situation the pair are in. He also uses minimal dialogue in this section which could represent just how shocked the pair are over what they have seen, however McCarthy uses speech to voice the father's concerns and emotions " We don't have a choice." This is quite different to how he has been previously in the book where he has not really voiced his emotions. He also uses description to show the audience what they are doing "....wrapped the cloth over the jar..." this quote shows us how hard life is for the pair and it also gives a clear image to the reader about what is happening, this makes it easier for us to understand how something as easy as finding drinking water has become almost an impossible task for the pair. He also uses words such as "Elbows out, flapping along in his outsized tennis shoes..." this sentence gives us an idea of what the son is wearing as well as how little the pair have and the poverty that they have been forced to live in.  Symbolism is also used in this section. For example the mutilated baby could be a sign of cannibalism as well as showing the reader that there is no respect any more. It also shows us how desperate and animal- like the people have become, they do not really have many human qualities left. This section is a key episode in the novel because it shows us the lengths and the extremes that people will go to in order to survive. It also shows us the problems that the father and son face each day to find food and water. It also shows us the amount of danger that the father will put his son in to ensure their survival. It shows us that the father is quite contradicting; he wants to make sure that his son survives until the end of their journey however, he seems to put him in extreme danger, almost life- threatening danger to do so. This could show how lack of sleep and nutrition and bad health is beginning to confuse the father and his judgements. 


- getting to the shore (pp. 227 - 230) After reading this section I was quite disappointed. Throughout the novel there had been a massive build up to the beach and how amazing and beautiful it would be, however it was nothing like they had imagined and could have been seen as a waste of journey. I really felt for the pair, I felt their disappointment and sadness also when reading this section. To evoke this response McCarthy uses words such as "Cold....Desolate...Birdless." He does this to emphasise the disappointment of the beach, it was not beautiful like the pair had hoped but it was grey, dull and bleak like the rest of the places that they had visited previously in the novel. The pace of this section is also quite slow, this gives the reader a sense that something amazing is going to happen or that the beach is going to be something that it isn't. This section starts off quite exciting but end with an anti- climax. I think that McCarthy did this to show us that life is full of anti- climaxes and that life is never how we plan it. After this anti-climax it is not clear what is going to happen next in the novel. It seems as though they are going to just sit for a while and try to imagine what might be happening in other places and trying to imagine what the beach used to be like. However, they may also decide to try and find some food and shelter, maybe even try to create some kind of life for themselves now after their long journey although this is very unlikely. There is still an uncertainty whether the father will find a cure for his illness and whether they will find a way to survive on the rations that they can find. At the start of reading this section there was definitely a lighter moment because it seems that they have finally come to the end of the journey and they have reached a point in their lives where they can begin to rebuild their lives and feel safer when doing so. However, when they realise that it is not exactly what they were expecting my mood dropped and the tension began to rise again. What would happen to them now? How would this effect the boy and his psychological state? This section does not really show us much about their relationship as there is not a lot written about the boy and his father. It does show us that the father feels guilty that the sea is not what he promised the boy " Im sorry it's not blue", it also shows that that the boy is not really bothered that it is not what he expected because he is with his father and that is what matters to him the most. However it does show us a lot about them as individuals. It shows us that the father is quite a disturbed character maybe due to the lack of food and sleep but may be also because of his illness " The dead came to light lying on their sides with their legs drawn up..." It also shows the reader that the son is very excited about reaching the beach because he continuously looks at the map, working out the distance left until they reach their destination "....he measured their progress daily..." McCarthy uses alot of description when describing what the characters are doing, this is quite different to other areas of book where he does not always describe in detail what is happening. "He found a wheelbarrow....tipped it over and turned the wheel slowly..." The reason why the author has decided to write a lot of description about the things they are doing is because the characters are nearing the end of their journey and he wants us to focus on them more than before; what they are doing and their thoughts and feelings. He also describes what the boy is wearing " blue tennis shoes with rags stuffed into the toes..." he does this because he wants us to remind us how poor they pair are and how they must be thankful for anything that they can find. McCarthy also uses a metaphor in this section " Like the desolation of some alien sea..." he does this because he want to reiterate that the sea and beach are completely different to what the characters and us as readers expect. He also uses it to show the reader just how much things have changed and to make us realise just how different things really are. He also uses another metaphor " ....like a slowly heaving vat of slag.." this is to show the reader that sea is laden with many things and coated in ash and sludge which makes it seem as though it is heavy and is struggling to move "....shifting heavily..." McCarthy also uses very little dialogue in this section. This is because he wants the reader to concentrate on what is happening as they reach the end of their journey rather than focusing on the characters themselves. Also, it is used to show that the characters are excited about reaching the beach and that they are occupied with their own thoughts and feelings about what is going to happen when they reach their destination. Finally, he uses cold, emotionless words such as "Cold. Desolate. Birdless." The writer does this to remind us just how desserted the beach is and how cold and empty it seems. This is a stark contrast to how the characters have imagined the beach; "blue" and beautiful. The coast could be seen as a symbol of their past life that has been washed away and the grey beach could represent how tired and dark their lives have become, just like the beach their lives have been ruined by the destruction of the Earth. However, it could also be seen as a sign of hope. The idea of reaching the coast is what encouraged them to keep going and not to give up. They continued to fight and risk their lives on the basis that when they reached the coast they would start a new life together, that it would be a safe place to live and that it would still be the beautiful and colourful place that they had imagined. This part of the novel is definitely a key episode. It has brought their long, tiresome journey to the shore to an end.  It has also taught us that life is not easy and that obstacles are put in our way for a reason. The fact that the beach is not what they expected is just another hurdle for the pair to overcome. It also teaches us that when an obstacle is put in our way we can either fight to overcome the hurdle or we can let it stop us from achieving our goals. It is also significant because it shows us that the love the pair share is unconditional just how a father and son relationship should be. The father feels guilty because he feels that he has broken his promise of the coast being 'perfect', yet the son is not bothered by this "That's okay." This shows us that the son is only concerned about the fact that he still has his father and it does not matter where they are as long as he has the love and support from the one person he loves the most, his father. Finally, this episode has shown us, the reader that nothing is made perfect in life, the people that we share the experiences with are the ones that make it perfect.

- the theft of the man and boy's belongings (pp. 270-278) After reading this section I was quite shocked at the fathers' behaviour and what he had just done. I was also shocked that after everything they had been through that he had not thought about leaving everything unatteneded, probably because he believed that they would be safe. I was also quite sad and worried for the boy, it must have been terrifying to witness his father doing such a horrible thing. However, I felt relieved when they managed to retreive their belongings and decided to give the clothes back to the man who had stolen their belongings. McCarthy used a fast pace in this part of the novel to create a tense atmosphere, which in turn encouraged the reader to read on to find out what would happen to the man, the father and his son. He also used a lot of dialogue, again to create tension and also to show us just how angry the father was at the man for taking their posessions "I'll kill you where you stand." This quote in particular shows the anger that the father is feeling and it also shows us that after everything he has been through, the father would not think twice about killing someone. He uses dialogue also, to express the fear that the man is feeling to the readers, which makes us sympathise with him " I'm begging you." After reading this part of the novel it is unclear what will happen next. It is likely that the pair will continue on their journey to find shelter and food. However, it is uncertain whether the man will go back for his clothes due to the fact that he fears the father will kill him, which makes the man's fate also uncertain. It is also uncertain whether the pair will survive much longer, especially the father because we are not told whether he has found any treatment, his survival is unlikely. We do not know whether they will find somewhere permanent to live or whether there are any more survivors that the pair are likely to meet on their journey. Will they both survive? What will happen to the boy if his father does die? At the start of this section there was definitely a lighter moment and a release of tension because I  thought that they had finally begun to make a life for themselves on the beach, however simple it may have been. However, when the father realised that their belongings had been stolen I found myself becoming more tense and even angry at whoever had stolen the posessions. I really felt for the father and his son and found myself reading faster because of the increasing tension. I wanted to find out what was going to happen next and what the father was going to do when he found the man. This episode shows us a angry, desperate and selfish side to the father "He pulled the pistol from his belt..." this quote in particular shows the anger that the father is feeling and gives us an insight into what he is capable of. It also shows the innocence of the boy and how the event has effected the boy psychologically. "But we did kill him" This line suggests that the boy feels guilty and has been very deeply effected over what his father did and what his father may have done. It also shows the increasing tension between the pair and how angry they are at each other. "He was just hungry papa...." "He's going to die anyway...." The father can not understand why the boy is being so difficult and why he can not understand why they can not help the man. On the other hand, the boy can not understand why his father refuses to help the man and why his father almost killed him. The writer uses lists in this section to show the reader the father's desperation and anxiety "The tarp was gone.... Their blankets...The waterbottle...." He also uses more dialogue in this section than description to show the anger of the characters and also to show what is happening from the characters view point "What happened Papa?.... They took everything. Come on...." However, he does use description almost to fill in the gaps between the dialogue and to create a clear image of what is happening for the reader as well describing the physical state of the man they are chasing "....the fingers of his hand had been cut away...." this is quite a grotesque image and really creates a vivid and realistic image for the reader. He also uses simple words to describe the man; "scrawny, sullen, bearded....." the simplicity of the words and short sentences create a very vivid image of the man which also helps us to understand why he stole the cart and the belongings. This description of the man also makes us sympathise with him. The quote "rotting pieces of leather" help to remind the reader just how poverty- stricken the survivors are which again helps us to understand why the man took the cart. "Standing there raw and naked..." is a very powerful line because it shows us how low and powerless the man has become, he has lost all self- respect and pride. The man could be seen as a symbol of the lost hope and poverty that has overcome the remaining people. Although he took the cart he feels guilty about doing so which shows that he has not lost all of his morals and principles "I'm starving man. You'd have done the same." The fact that the father did not kill the man and the fact that he gave back the clothes could be a sign that he is trying to prove to himself that he is not evil or inhumane and that he only did what he did in anger and frustration. Also, he wanted to prove to his son and most importantly himself that he is not a murderer. This is a significant episode because it reinforces how desperate everyone has become and that nothing will stop them or get in their way of survival. It also shows how poverty can change a person and sometimes we need to be reminded of who we really are by someone who is close to us. The episode also reminds the reader that the father is quite selfish and maybe what he does was more to protect himself rather than his son "I'm scared...Do you understand? I'm scared...." Finally, the episode shows us and reminds us as readers the difference in the personalities of father and son. The son is kind and wants to help the man, yet his father only wants to cause the man harm and what he does is inhumane. This section definitely shows the stark contrasts between father and son and their opinions on different issues and the problems that they face.

Remember to write about 


How the episode impacted on you?
What was the writer doing to evoke this response?
Plot progression (what will happen next?)
Your experience (change of mood? A ligher moment? Increase or release of tension?)
How does this develop character and their relationship?
The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded?
Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles?