road2

= =

=THE ROAD =

by Cormac McCarthy
= = = = = = = Penalties =

1. No food on Friday. 2. A zero for the day.

Not upholding one's responsibilities within the Book Club is a serious infraction upon one's character and overall trustworthiness, which must be corrected through two main measures. First, in the incident that a member so chooses to be irresponsible, she will be refrained from bringing/consuming any food or drink that Friday morning. Finally, she will receive a "zero" for that day. In conclusion, we hope that these set penalties will prevent any problems from occurring within our group.

= WEEK 1 =

This novel is very unique. The author, Cormac McCarthy, uses a very choppy form of writing to describe the journey of a man and a boy through the desolate lands of a post-apocalyptic world. The two main characters (the only ones mentioned in the novel so far) are portrayed in a very vague way; McCarthy hasn't even written the names of the characters. Instead, he calls them "the man" and "the boy." Neither character is described in much detail, but the author shows the tight bond that the two have with each other. The reader does not know if the man and the boy are father and son, uncle and nephew, or just stranger and stranger; it is simply implied that the man and the boy care deeply for each other. The simplicity of the novel makes it very easy to relate to, and it is easy to fill in the blanks in the story about the two mysterious characters.
 * Tasks A and B - Group Leader and Quotes (Christina) **

1. "Nights dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than what had gone before (pg. 3)."
 * Note:** A description of the setting: a post-apocalyptic world

2. "The ashes of the late world carried on the bleak and temporal winds to and fro in the void (pg. 9)."
 * Note:** After the man and the boy get up, they observe the dry wind and ash surrounding them.

3. "What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you could be with me? Yes. So I could be with you (pg. 11)."
 * Note:** This quote is heartwarming in a bitter sweet way because it shows how much the boy means to the man.

4. "He pushed open the closet door half expecting to find his childhood things. Raw cold daylight fell through from the roof. Gray as his heart (pg. 27)."
 * Note:** The man was showing the boy his old house. It was a very depressing experience for him to see the house he spent his childhood in demolished.

5. "Ghostly pale and shivering. The boy so thin it stopped his heart (pg. 38)."
 * Note:** The man and the boy were bathing in a pond. The man was disheartened when he saw the extent of the boy's starvation.


 * Task C - Key Questioner (Kim) **

1. In what general time frame do you think this book takes place in? How do you know, or how can you justify your claim? //Our group decided that this book takes place either somewhere in the near future, or in the present (but in an alternate universe). We came to our conclusion after// //realizing that there appeared several objects within the text with which we were familiar with (this familiarity shows that the time period that the story takes place in is// //very near our own). Some of these objects included a soda machine and a coca-cola can, both indicating contemporary time. If this story were to take place in the// //future or the past, our group members would probably not have been able to find any recognizable objects within the text.//

2. Do you think that the simplicity of the language adds or takes away from the story? //During the discussion, our group came to a consensus that the simplicity of the language adds to the story. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where// //there is little life left, and everything is bleak and hopeless. Thus, it is understadable to conclude that any overly vivid use of language and too much imagery would// //seem out of place. By keeping the words simple, yet selectively descriptive, McCarthy is able to write in a surprisingly powerful voice.//

3. How do the sections of text speaking about the man's life before the disaster (or whatever type of catastrophe which lead to such a desolate world) add to the tone of the story? //These flashbacks make the tone of the book seem even more dismal. Overall, McCarthy brilliantly uses these sections of text to show the readers what had been, or to// //show readers that the man, and more importantly, the world, did indeed once have moments of happiness and normalcy in the past. The stark contrast of the past and// //the present provide for a shocking means of showing the readers just how barren and devastated the world has become. During these flashbacks, the author reveals a// //few details about the man's childhood and marriage.//

4. So far there is a lot of repetition about the cold, about the fear of dying, and overall, about the man and they boy's struggles to survive (by salvaging food, hurdling natural obstacles, and avoiding violent rogues). Does this get boring? Or do these details work well in context? //After the discussion, our group decided that the emphasis on the struggle to survive is crucial to the content of this particular story. The more details that the author// //includes about the hardships that the man and boy face on a daily basis, the more believable their plight becomes. Furthermore, although some of the details in the// //story have been a bit redundant, they are hardly extraneous. Our group members believe that these details establish a necessary pattern of behavior that the man and// //the boy exhibit, which adds to the realism of the story (we agreed that since in real life everyone has a specific routine that they perform everyday, this aspect should// //also be emulated within the book). The pattern of behavior exhibited by the man and his son on a daily basis are the collection of food and other survival essentials.// //Again, these aspects greatly contribute to the believability of this story.//

5. Where are the father and son headed? What do you think they expect/hope to find there? //They are journeying towards the shore. Although the author was quite vague on what they expect to find there, our group members were able to infer based on the man// //and the boy's current situation (they are both hungry and low in spirits). By taking this into consideration, we were able to infer that they are probably trying to locate// //new food sources (perhaps the last of the vegetation can be found there, near the vast waters of the ocean), or trying to find other people, like them, that they can// //potentially befriend. Besides, they run the risk of depleting their resources should they stay in the same place for too long. As stated before, there already exists a lack// //of vegetation, and there are no more animals to hunt. Meanwhile, the houses and supermarkets that they raid are, more often than not, empty. They might as well move// //on and try to see what they can find ahead.//


 * Task D- Group Summarizer (Joanne) **

Once the book club began, our group started to express our first impressions of our book, //The Road//. We all agreed that the overall structure of the book was choppy, but intentionally choppy. While Kim showed fondness to the choppiness, Christina, however, did not. Furthermore, Kim brought up how the structure may be a little annoying, but since the general plot of this book has to due with an apocalypse which occurred, there is not much opportunity to develop the structure and wording of the story more so to our liking. There are no sign of people; no sign of life. Therefore, it wouldn’t make sense to have such a developed structure to the text, when the author was left with no choice but to be straightforward and choppy. Kim added on by stating that if the author tried to make the wording more vivid, it would actually take away from the book, making it seem as though the author is trying to hard. We weren’t definitely sure if we fell in love with the book yet, but we didn’t want to be too quick to judge. Therefore, we hoped to become fonder of the book by the second book club meet.

During the last half of the book club, Kim read her questions, leaving Christina and I to discuss our responses. We first discussed the time period in which we thought the book took place in. Kim and I had a general idea of the plot, assuming that this book overall has some futuristic characteristics (ie. the apocalypse), but not too futuristic to the point where it’s beyond our time period. There are some parts of the book which gives that away, such as the Coke can which the two main characters find in a rundown market. The plot, overall, has a modern feeling, like in our own time period, but it’s almost as if the plot takes place in an alternate world—or so Kim said. Furthermore, Kim went on by asking to explain the effectiveness of the occasional flashbacks which the father has, and our group agreed that it gave the story a much more gloomier mood because it emphasizes on how devastating the apocalypse was. It was sad to know that there actually were happy times before the apocalypse, but now the two characters had nothing. We concluded the book club meet by finishing up some quick discussion about the formatting of the book, along with the constant repetitions regarding the struggle to survive. Christina ended us off with some quotes she found interesting, and we discussed the pages in which we were to read by next book club meet.

= = = = = = = WEEK 2 =

1. On your group's wiki page, discuss the type of language that your book contains. Is it easy to read? Conversational? "Classic"? Does it use a lot of words you don't understand? What grade level do you think the book is written at, and why? (A) Throughout the book, //The Road// by Cormac McCarthy, the language simultaneously changes, depending on the situation. For instance, the language can be seen as very vivid during flashbacks, while it can be choppy and abrupt throughout the rest of the text. Overall, the book does not contain difficult language to the point where it is difficult to comprehend; the language is generally easy to read, especially for high school students, but often incorporated with vivid use of description. In some parts of the book, McCarthy attempts to make the book text seem a bit more conversational by adding in dialogues; however, the dialogues have proven to be very choppy.
 * Tasks A and B - Group Leader and Quotes (Joanne) **

1. "All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes. So, he whispered to the sleeping boy. I have you (pg. 46)."
 * Note:** The man is in deep thought about many different things, one being the past. He almost reminisces about the memories, but finally pulls himself together with a reality check that this is now, and not then. He needed to accept the fact that it's only him and his son now, and they have a long journey ahead of them. Then, he goes about saying this quote, and to his sleeping boy, he says, "So, I have you."

2. "What in God's name are you talking about? We're not survivors. We're the walking dead in a horror film (pg. 47)."
 * Note:** While speaking to his wife across the flame of a lamp, it is assumed that this was the beginning of the apocalypse, as he tells his wife that they are the "survivors." She immediately responds back saying that rather than survivors, they are like the walking dead in a horror film. There is no sign of life surrounding them, and she is greatly losing her faith in surviving.

3. "I should have done it a long time ago. When there were three bullets in the gun instead of two. I was stupid. We've been over all of this. I didn't bring myself to this. I was brought. And now I'm done (pg. 47)."
 * Note:** The man and his wife are arguing about several matters. The wife has become so faithless and skeptical to the point where she is willing to kill herself and leave her husband and her on their own. The man pleads and begs, asking her not to leave them, but most importantly, their son. She regrets not having killed herself earlier, and then she blames him for making them (her, him, and their son) all wait for the bad. Following this quote, a few lines after, she says, "They are going to rape us and kill us and eat us and you wont face it. You'd rather wait for it to happen. But I can't."

4. "I've taken a new lover. He can give me what you cannot. // Death is not a lover // (pg. 48)."
 * Note:** Following the conversation found in the third quote, the wife is constantly emphasizing on death. She does not wish to wait to be possibly killed, nor does she wish to take on a long and perilous journey with her son and the man. The man and her are still disputing amongst themselves, as she is saying things with no regards how badly it will eventually affect her family. She tells the man that she has taken on a new lover, which can give her what he (the man) cannot, and the man responds back saying, "Death is not a lover."

5. "Will you tell him goodbye? //No. I will not.// Just wait till morning. Please. //I have to go// (pg. 49)."
 * Note:** The man is pleading to the woman not to leave without saying goodbye to their son. In this quote, the father's mind is focused on his son, which shows his constant mindfulness along with compassion towards him. He is worried about what he would tell his son about his wife forsaking them, really, for her own well-being.

6. "You will not face the truth. You will not (pg. 58)."
 * Note:** There can be a few interpretations of this quote, which was said by the man, obviously directing it to his son (who happens to be sleeping). Perhaps the man did not want to reveal the bitter reality that they will go through much hardships and pains, and eventually die; or perhaps the man did not want to tell his son about what happened to his wife, as he said this quote while looking at the single round left in the revolver. However, it is quite plain and clear that the man wants to do what's best for his son, and give him the least amount of pain as much as possible.


 * Some quotes are dialogues. The differentiation of who's saying what should be easily determined by the italicized words.**


 * Task C - Key Questioner (Christina) **

1. How have the extreme circumstances of the novel affected the relationship of the father and his young son? //The circumstances that the father and his son face throughout the novel have surely made their bond stronger. The man and the boy act as two halves - together, they make a whole, functional both physically and emotionally. The boy is new to the world, so he needs guidance to learn how to survive. He looks to the man for knowledge, survival, and comfort. The man depends on the boy emotionally; he has seen so much hardship, and the boy provides him with the will to push on and keep living.//

2. Why do you think the author hasn't mentioned the names of the two characters in the story? //The author hasn't mentioned the names of the characters because they aren't important. In fact, naming the characters would most likely take away from the power of the novel. Names are used to differentiate one person from another in a group of people; there are only two characters that matter, so giving them titles is unnecessary.//

3. Is the man handling his situation well? //The man is a good father. He has been put in a terrible situation, and yet he is still constantly looking out for his son and doing what is best for him. The world in the novel is a hard place to live in, but he uses the love he has for his son as motivation to keep going.//

4. How will the conditions that the boy has to face in such tender years of his life affect him in the future? //The boy has known nothing but struggle since he was born. He is growing up fast, always aware that there is a high chance that he and his father will die at any moment. The boy does not know what a normal, happy childhood is; he has matured in a place where only the strong and lucky will survive. This is kind of sad, but it is necessary. This way of life will certainly give him an advantage that will help him survive in the future.//

5. What are some examples of themes that McCarthy portrays in the novel? //The words in McCarthy's novel are laced with death. The characters experience a constant fear of dying, and it seems they face it everywhere they go. There are constant subtle reminders that death is everywhere.//


 * Task D- Group Summarizer (Kim) **

During this week's discussion, our group was asked to focus on the language of the book. Christina, Joanne, and I agreed that within the pages that we have read thus far, McCarthy's wording, even more so than the setting, seems to create the overall tone of the book. Although the setting does indeed enhance the mood, the wording and the //structure// of the wording serve a greater purpose of setting the mood of the story. First and foremost, we noticed that while flashbacks are written with vivid usage of language, the wording becomes significantly bleaker and straightforward when in real time (real time meaning as the book progresses in the present). We agreed that this technique/style of writing is especially useful in contrasting the happiness of the past (the world when it was normal; when it was //alive//) with the world now, with all of its devastation/loneliness/struggles that the man and his son must now face. Furthermore, we realized that the lack of names for the characters within the book is actually very powerful. Our members reasoned that because McCarthy's post-apocalyptic world is so empty, and is so devoid of life, the names of the characters have become almost... irrelevant. We concluded that these details are extraneous since the father and son seem to be the only signs of life. To give them names would be almost out of place, and unnecessary (since names are meant to differentiate between several people; however, as already mentioned, the world seems too empty to assign names to characters, as there seems to be no one else out there to differentiate from). Our members also agreed that by omitting names, McCarthy provides the reader a unique opportunity to develop better focus on the developing plot line and the intricacies of the story rather than the details that rest just on the surface. Aside from the mood of the story, our group discussed the relationship between the father and son. We realized that as time progresses in the book, their bond, although already formidable, only grows in strength as they encounter more and more struggles. With each obstacle that they experience, their relationship is tested. However, with each obstacle that they successfully overcome, the tie between them strengthens. We also noticed that while both depend on each other for support, the father mainly depends on his son for companionship (the father's dependency on his son is rooted mainly in emotional necessity). On the other hand, although the son, who is very young, does depend on his father for emotional stability, his main reason for staying dependent seems to be out of necessity for survival (because of his age).

As for general reflections on what we read, all of us agreed that the book seems to be increasing in its appeal to the reader (it's becoming more interesting). However, we came to a consensus that the main reason behind why it is suddenly becoming more intriguing is because by now, the reader has grown accustomed to McCarthy's distinctive voice, and with this aside, is more able to enjoy the story. While Joanne specifically stated that she admires the book for the precision and vivacity of the flashbacks, Christina pointed out that at this point in the book, the reader has developed such a better understanding of the characters that he/she becomes to actually care for their safety. She furthered her sentiment by saying that the man and the boy have become more dear to the heart of the reader, and that they are more than just "the man," and "the boy." As for myself, I agree with both Joanne and Christina. But what I'm still dying to know is, "What the hell happened for the world to be like this?!" Hopefully we'll find out soon in next week's reading.

= WEEK 3 =

This week, our group was asked to focus on the mood of the book. As mentioned in a previous posting, the language plays a huge role in setting the tone of __The Road__. As can be seen in the quotes below, McCarthy tends to use forthright wording to display the harshness of his post-apocalyptic world. Thus far, the book has proven to be rather morbid, as it focuses mostly on the struggle with staying alive and the struggle of coping with the ghosts of the past. In our discussion, Christina mentioned that if she were to assign the story a color scheme, she would most likely choose a sepia tone. Joanne and I agreed with her that the setting does come across as rather dreary and colorless. However, I personally picture McCarthy's world in black and white (sepia seems to hold too warm of a tint in my opinion).
 * Tasks A and B - Group Leader and Quotes (Kim) **

1. "He shielded the glare of it with his hand and when he did he could see almost to the rear of the box. Human bodies. Sprawled in every attitude. Dried and shrunken in their rotted clothes. The small wad of burning paper drew down to a wisp of flame and then died out leaving a faint pattern for just a moment in the incandescence like the shape of a flower, a molten rose. Then all was dark again" (pg 47). **Note:** The boy and his father stumble upon an abandoned trailer in the woods. The father lights a small flame and shines it into the trailer to investigate. He sees several dead bodies within. The reference of the dying flame as a molten rose in the dark is an especially powerful image.

2. "Bye and bye they came to a set of tracks cooked into the tar. They just suddenly appeared. Someone had come out of the woods in the night and continued down the melted roadway. //Who is it?// said the boy. //I don't know. Who is anybody?//" (pg 49). **Note:** At some point walking down the road, the boy and his father see a series of footprints. The boy asks his father to whom they belong. His father replies that he doesn't know. He also mutters the rhetoric question, "Who is anybody?," a particularly bitter comment on the fact that most of the human population has already been obliterated.

3. "As they passed he looked down. As if he'd done something wrong. His shoes were bound up with wire and coated with roadtar and he sat there in silence, bent over in his rags. THe boy kept looking back. //Papa?// he whispered. //What is wrong with the man?// He's been struck by lightning. Can't we help him? Papa? No. We cant help him. The boy kept pulling at his coat. Papa? he said. Stop it. Can't we help him Papa? No... There's nothing to be done for him" (pg 50). **Note:** Soon, the two stumble across the man who had made the footprints. He is crumpled on the ground, and the boy wants to know what happened to him. The boy's father explains to him that the man had been struck by lightning, and that there is nothing that can be done to save him. These few lines are really important because they illustrate the young boy's first true sighting of Death. Although he had prior knowledge and fear of it, he had never encountered it until now.

4. "He'd carried his billfold about till it wore a cornershaped hole in his trousers. Then one day he sat by the roadside and took it out and went through its contents. Some money, credit cards. His driver's license. A picture of his wife. He spread everything out on the blacktop... He pitched the sweatblackened piece of leather into the woods and sat holding the photograph. Then he laid it down in the road also and then... stood and they went on" (pg 51). **Note:** The father takes his wallet out and throws it into the woods. Meanwhile, he leaves all his valuables (or at least what used to be of value in the past, i.e. cash, cards, etc.) out on the road, and both father and son continue onwards. This quote is significant because it, in essence, shows that the man is willingly leaving behind his past.

5. "Once in those early years he'd wakened in the barren wood and lay listenening to flocks of migratory birds overhead in that bitter dark. Their half muted crankings miles above where they circled the earth as sensely as insects trooping the rim of a bowl. He wished them godspeed till they were gone. He never heard them again" (pg 53 ).
 * Note:** Heartbreaking description about how the father used to be fond of listening to the migrating birds. However, he didn't realize that that he would ever have such an experience again.

6. "He came forward, holding his belt by one hand. The holes in it marked the progress of his emaciation... (pg 63)." **Note:** Scene in which the father and son are confronted by a rogue. These lines show that they are not the only ones who are alive and fighting for survival. This section of the text adds an even deeper element of danger.

7. "No I want you to wait here. Please, Papa. Stop it. I want you to do what I say. Take the gun. I don't want the gun. I didn't ask if you wanted it. Take it (pg 70)." **Note:** The father forces his son to take the gun for protection. This shows the beginnings of the boys' loss of childhood and innocence (if he hasn't already lost them).

8. "There was noting there. Dried blood dark in the leaves. The boy's knapsack was gone. Coming back he found the bones and the skin piled together with rocks over them. A pool of guts. He pushed at the bones with the toe of his shoe. They looked to have been boiled. No pieces of clothing (pg 71)." **Note:** The father makes a grisly discovery. The man who he had shot the night earlier in self protection appears to have been boiled and eaten by his companions. This sections shows the shocking extent of hunger.


 * Task C - Key Questioner (Joanne) **

1. Why does the father seem so determined to find ways to survive, even though there really isn't much left after the apocalypse? (There is not much sign of life, food, people, etc.) //The father is determined to make the best of the situation, and try to find better opportunities for his son. He is trying to be a good father.//

2. Although the author does not specifically state what caused the apocalypse, his descriptions of the surroundings may hint what went on. For instance, often times, McCarthy states that the surroundings are burned and scorched. Therefore, what do you think caused the apocalypse? //There is a clear emphasis as to the burnt and scorched surroundings, which may hint to a possible nuclear war or explosion.//

3. Has the author's style of writing developed in any way? Does he seem to get more descriptive in the text, rather than only during the flashbacks? //As you read further into the book, you start realizing how vivid the descriptions have become. Although McCarthy still retains the choppiness, he starts using more descriptions within the text, rather than only in the father's flashbacks. This, overall, makes the reading experience become more enjoyable and interesting.//

4. We've mentioned that the author's style of writing seems to be very choppy at times. How would the book be different if the book was less choppy? Do you think it would just take away from the book, or make the text more interesting and vivid? //Due to the overall plot and theme of the story, it would be strange if the author was more vivid, and made the transitions more smoother. It would take away the mood of the book, rather than leading to a positive effect. However, if the author decided against the choppiness, the book may be easier to read, and possibly more interesting.//

5. Do you see a relationship growth between the father and his son? Name a few examples that may portray this growth. //Towards the beginning of the book, their relationship seemed loving, yet a little awkward. But now, they converse more freely, and the father reveals his loving and caring attitude towards his son, by always watching out for him. He gives the son advice as to what to where, where to go, and what to do, which is ultimately for the son's own good. Due to the fact that they only have each other, they really have no other choice but to become closer, and look out for each other. It's as if they're each others' halves.//


 * Task D - Group Summarizer (Christina) **

The discussion that Kim, Joanne, and I had during weeks book club meeting had a clear focus on the details and style of writing of the story. After Kim shared the quotes she selected, we all agreed that the author's use of language has changed drastically since the beginning of the book. The first few chapters were written with a very choppy structure, but as we have read, it is noticeable that the novel is becoming much more descriptive and fluent. All three of us agree that we are liking The Road more and more as we read it. The author's style is very unique, and once we got used to it, we are began to truly appreciate the novel.

Kim, Joanne, and I noticed that the story focuses on a theme of survival of the fittest and hardship. The boy has been exposed to the process of death for the first time, and he is forced to go through more and more hardship as the story progresses. An important part of the novel is the growing acceptance that the old world is gone and there is nothing that can fix it; an apocalypse has occurred, and they have to make the best of it. The man has finally let go of the pain he was holding about the death of his wife, and the two of them are ready to move on and do what needs to be done to survive.

= WEEK 4 =

Throughout the story, the author clearly uses certain themes and images to convey a deeper meaning. An example of this is the gun that the man carries with him at all times. The gun is often described in the book and the man brings it out very frequently (whenever there is a threat). The gun represents the constant danger that surrounds the father and son as they journey across the desolate wasteland. The fact that the man carries the gun around even in the scarce happy times shows how at this point, there is no escaping the possibility of dying at any moment. There are three themes that seem very evident in the story: apocalypse vs. ability to move on, struggle for survival, and selfishness vs. purity. The setting of the story is always described as a desolate wasteland...a reader might find themself wondering if it is possible for the man and the boy to move on in a world so bleak. The man and the boy are always faced with a fight to stay alive, and at points the man even questions if it is worth it to keep moving. It would be selfish for him to give up and leave the young boy to fend for himself in a place so cruel. Whenever there is someone in danger, the boy shows no signs of selfishness; he is always looking to help anyone who needs it. This innocence contrasts greatly with the man's subliminal hate for the world and what has become of it.
 * Tasks A & B - Group Leader / Quotes (Christina) **

1. "Do we know where Mars is? Sort of. If we had a spaceship could we go there? Well. If you had a really good spaceship and you had people to help you I suppose you could go. Would there be food and stuff when you got there? No. There's nothing there. Oh" (pg 157).
 * Note:** The author expresses the boy's innocence and wish for a better place in this short conversation between the father and his son.

2. "The boy took the tin and handed it to the old man. Take it, he whispered. Here. The old man raised his eyes and looked at the boy. The boy gestured at him with the tin. He looked like someone trying to feed a vulture broken in the road. It's okay, he said" (pg 163).
 * Note:** This is when the boy goes out of his way to try and help an old stranger. The passage truly shows how kindhearted and innocent the boy is despite the hardship he has faced in such tender years.

3. "After a while they just looked our through the silted glass to where the track curved away in the waste of weeds. If they saw different worlds what they knew was the same. That train would sit there slowly decomposing for all eternity and that no train would ever run again. Can we go, Papa? Yes. Of course We can" (pg 180).
 * Note:** This is a description of the old train that the father and son discovered. Seeing it was depressing because it was a reminder of the world that was lost without return.

4. "Three days. Four. He slept poorly. The racking cough woke him. Rasping suck of air. I'm sorry, he said to the pitiless dark. It's okay said the boy."
 * Note:** The man is very sick. This is an important part of the story because it is the first time the boy has been left to fend for himself.

5. "The land was gullied and eroded and barren. The bones of dead creatures sprawled in the washes. Middens of anonymous trash. Farmhouses in the fields scoured of the paint and the clapboards spooned and sprung from the wall-studs. All of it shadowless and without feature."
 * Note:** The author describes the road that the man and the boy are traveling on. He uses very choppy sentence structure and limited description to convey the emptiness and desolation that the characters are facing.


 * Task C - Key Questioner (Kim) **

1. Although the circumstances appear to lack promise, what are some of the most distinguishing moments that continue to encourage the father to keep on striving for survival? //Although the man exhibits some pessimistic thoughts that all his efforts are futile (and that he and his son will die eventually, no matter what he does), there still exist several reasons for his continuing struggles to survive. His main reason for going on is undoubtedly his love for his son. Together, they continue their journey towards the coast, which by now, not only bears the physical promise of survival, but a symbolic meaning as well- hope.//

2. On page 170, the boy and his father meet a blind man named Ely. Ely declares to the father that "there is no God and we are his prophets." What does he mean by this? What is the significance behind the man's response: "What if I said he's a god (pg 172)?" <--- The "he" refers to his son. //Ely is proclaiming his loss of faith in God. This is understandable, concerning the state that the world is currently in. Furthermore, by proclaiming himself, as well as the father and son, as a prophet of this nonexistent deity, he is implying that they are all doomed for an unpleasant end-> To be the "prophets" (the messengers) of a god that has abandoned His people, and no longer exists, almost means that these three have become "proof" of a disastrous fate for all of humanity. However, when the man responds, he disagrees with Ely, saying that his son is like a god to him. The boy has become something of a savior to the father, in that he is the main inspiration/reason for the father to keep on living.//

3. If all the events of the book were reality, how do you think people would act? Do you think that they would act as the characters do in the book? Would society ultimately resort to evil or goodness in their struggle for survival? //Our group came to a consensus that most individuals in today's society are much too infantile to survive in such a harsh environment- many of us have become so accustomed to (and so reliant on) the luxuries and privileges of comfortable living. We thereby concluded that only a minority of people would be prepared if such a disaster were to occur in our world. We decided that for the most part, society, feeble from having been "babied" for most of its existence, and weak in its inherent fear of death, would most likely resort to evil in desperation for survival.//

4. Although the readers probably view the man and the boy as the good characters (because they're presented as the protagonists), and most of the people that they have encountered thus far as the evil characters, what similarities have you noticed between them? What are the distinguishing traits between them that make us automatically assume our protagonists' goodness? //Our members decided that although the father and son, while compared to the rogues that they have encountered on the road, seem good, they are not completely free of guilt and evil either. They are similar to the rogues that they have encountered in the way that their fight for survival has made them selfish, and almost// //feral. The father, in particular has lost much hope and has taken on an unpleasant attitude of protecting his and his sons' lives even at the expense of others'. In doing so, he has lost a vital piece of humanity. For instance, earlier on in the novel, when faced with danger, he shot and killed another man. Although the killing was done out of self defense, it is still truly frightening for readers to see a world that has become so unforgiving that the characters do not even stop to think twice about the pain and damage that they are causing others. However, our protagonists' goodness is apparent mainly in the father's prevailing tenderness for his son, and the son's purity and love for his father.//

5. So far, whenever the boy and his father come across strangers on the road, the boy always wants to offer help. How do you think the boy is still capable of wanting to help others, while his father is losing that quality? //After much discussion, we concluded that there are two main factors which affect the characters' attitude towards the life that they now find themselves living: age and the amount of life experiences. It is widely accepted in our culture to equate young age with purity/innocence. In this case, that assumption proves to be true. The son is younger than his father, and has therefore, seen less of the world and its inescapable cruelties. Because he has less knowledge of the true nature of how harsh life can be, and the evil that this harshness can bring forth from human nature, he is more susceptible to the belief that all people are deserving of living. Furthermore, the father is not evil in his frequent failure to help others. Rather, many of the people that they had encountered on the road were either already dying/beyond help or were too dangerous to befriend. While his refusal to help others makes him appear inhumane on the surface, his nature is anything but cruel. In actuality, he is also making an effort to shield his son from the evils/hardships of the world. He also wants to avoid prematurely exposing his son to death.//


 * Task D - Group Summarizer (Joanne) **

While waiting for Kim’s arrival, Christina and I started off the morning’s book club compiling our foods, and talking about overall impressions for the pages that we read for Week 4. We agreed that there was an obvious development to the story plot, which made this week’s reading quite enjoyable. Furthermore, we shared our growing fondness towards the book and our own predictions to the plot line. Once Kim arrived, she started us off with some of her discussion questions, which was the main focus of this week’s book club. First, we discussed the father’s motivation to strive for survival, which was undoubtedly heavily influenced by his fatherly love for his son. Although there seems to be an obvious lack of life in the environment they live in now, the father still retains some hope inside his heart that perhaps there will be a better future for himself, but most importantly, his son. Moreover, we discussed more further into the father’s compassion towards his son from a scene in the book where they both meet a blind man named Ely. Ely states that “there is no God and we are his prophets,” which the father disagrees with, responding that his son was like a god to him. The father’s response to Ely’s statement showed that his son has become almost a savior to his father, being the ultimate reason to live. Furthermore, we discussed the characters shown in the book, discussing their motives, and if it is fair to judge some as the “good guys” and the others as “bad guys.” Everyone in the story has the same motives, which is to find ways to survive. Kim and I then talked about how the readers make the assumption that the main characters are always the protagonists, which is not necessarily true in this particular book because all the characters have been affected in some way by the apocalypse, and are desperately trying to strive for survival in their own particular way; some may resort to violence while others (like the father and son) are constantly moving about, looking for the right path. We concluded the book club with a few more questions regarding the book, a significant one which was about how humans today would react to an apocalypse such as the one in the novel. All three of us agreed that in today’s society, humans are dripped in such luxury, to the point where we do not even consider it luxury. Therefore, many would most likely resort to panic and possibly death, rather than considering possibilities in a more calm way, similar to how the father and son reacted.

= WEEK 5 =


 * Tasks A & B - Group Leader / Quotes (Joanne) **

Overall, it's probably safe to say that our group has grown some fondness towards this book. Although there could have been so much more that McCarthy could have done in order to further the book's potential, the book was good as it was. It was great being able to read a completely different style of writing and plot, as compared to our first book club book. We were able to learn many different things about McCarthy's distinctive traits as a writer after reading this book. Throughout the book, it was fairly noticeable that McCarthy emphasized the importance of perseverance, along with love and compassion for others. I believe that he was constantly trying to teach the readers to treat everyone kindly, as you do not know the battle that they may be facing themselves. He showed this throughout many instances in the text, mostly pertaining to the father and son. Furthermore, McCarthy shows the readers that what we consider just everyday-things, could be considered luxuries to others. Therefore, he is telling us to be grateful for everything we have, as there is always a possibility of losing them. This book is definitely recommendable to peers, due to the book's overall simplicity to read, along with an interesting plot line. If we were to tell others that __The Road__ was about a father and his son trying to find ways to surviving in an apocalypse, then surely that would garner some interest from peers, similar to how Christina, Kim, and I were drawn in. The topic of apocalypse and survival has been incorporated into other books, but __The Road__ is probably one of the more notable and well known books within this topic, due to the fact that this book really focused on this topic more effectively than others. The author was successful in setting the mood and tone of the book, which was another great factor to its success. This book can definitely be a possible addition to the school's curriculum, as it is a great reading level for high school students, and it consists of a plot line which may interest young and old readers. Moreover, the author used vivid descriptions, and used a very interesting selection of vocabulary. However, this book isn't so superior to the point where it would be considered an "all-time classic," simply because there is room for more improvements to the book itself. But this book definitely is not something that would be quickly forgotten.

1. "The boy sat staring at his plate. He seemed lost. The man was about to speak when he said: Dear people, thank you for all this food and stuff. We know that you saved it for yourself and if you were here we wouldnt eat it no matter how hungry we were and we're sorry that you didnt get to eat it and we hope that you're safe in heaven with God," (123).
 * Note:** The boy is asked by his father to say a little grace before they were about to consume the food they found from an abandoned house-like place. Although at first, the boy didn't know what to say, his words quickly pour out of his mouth, and these words (to me), showed me his pureness and compassion for others--even people he does not know.

2. "That he could not enkindle in the heart of the child what was ashes in his own," (130).
 * Note:** The man said this after waking up from a dream that he could not fully remember clearly. The dream pertained to creatures of a different kind in which he had never seen before. He goes about thinking that to the boy, he himself was like an alien. He thought that perhaps those "creatures" in his dream came to warn him about how he is unable to fully reach the child's heart, due to the fact that he cannot even reach his own.

3. "Beggars can't be choosers," (142).
 * Note:** Although a short quote, I found this quote interesting, which came from a lone man named Ely. This came from the man and Ely's dialogue, where the man tried learning more about Ely, and how he survives on his own just wandering about. Then, the question of death appears in the conversation, as the man asked him if he (Ely) wishes that he would die. Ely answers back saying, "No," but he says that he wished he died earlier. Then the man asked him if he wished he had never been born, and that's where Ely replies back with this quote.

4. "He sat with him in the sand and held his forehead while he bent and vomited. He wiped the boy's mouth with his hand. I'm sorry, the boy said. Shh. You didnt do anything wrong," (208).
 * Note:** The boy falls ill with a fever, and as the man tells him that everything will be okay, the boy vomits. However, the significance here is that the man wiped the son's vomit with his own hand, without any regard. Then, he goes on comforting him, saying that he did nothing wrong. There is an obvious, strong compassion the man has for his son, and this quote is just one instance of many.

5. "No matter what, I will not send you into the darkness alone," (209).
 * Note:** The man reassures his son that he will never forsake him in any way. He will not allow his son to walk into the path of "darkness" alone. The man's usage of the word "darkness" appealed to me, because that word seemed quite fit for the situation they are in.

6. "His hand on the thin and laddered ribs. He walked out on the beach to the edge of the light and stood with his clenched fists on top of his skull and fell to his knees sobbing in rage," (211).
 * Note:** After waking up first, he takes a quick look at his son, and even within those few seconds, he notices how brittle his own son has become, and greatly pities him, and also hurts his heart.. He takes out his sorrow and rage during this sad scene.

7. "I'll talk to you every day, he whispered. And I wont forget. No matter what," (241).
 * Note:** Before the son was about to leave his father to venture on a new journey with new people, he says goodbye to his father's corpse, and says this very heartfelt quote. Truly, the father has mad such a great impact on this child's life.

[We noticed something very interesting about McCarthy's style: he does not use apostrophes for certain contractions.]


 * Task C - Key Questioner (Christina) **

1. Was the ending of the story satisfying? Why or why not? //The ending was satisfying because it was a good way to conclude the long journey that the father and son were traveling on. Any other ending could have been either depressing or too cheerful. The ending was perfect because it was bittersweet with little or no hint at what was to come - the same mood that all the other chapters had.//

2. The story takes a tragic twist when the boy's father dies. Do you think that the boy will be able to survive on his own? //The boy showed signs of maturity in the last pages of the book when he stood up and went with the new man. Throughout the story, the boy faces situations that make him grow up a lot faster than a normal child would. He has learned a lot of the skills needed to survive, and he will be in the care of the seemingly very kind stranger that has offered to take him in. Even though he lost his father, the boy should be able to survive.//

3. Why did McCarthy choose to end the novel with a passage about trout? Do you think this reference has any significance? //The trout that McCarthy describes at the end of the novel seem to represent the magic and wonder of the world before man came and destroyed it. The purity of the trout in the stream contrasts greatly with the horror and despair of the world that was described throughout the story. The trout could compare to the purity of the boy conflicting with what became of mankind after the world as we know it ended.//

4. The author's vocabulary clearly became more vivid as the story progressed. Does this symbolize the story's growth? //The first few chapters of the novel were written with very choppy, short, almost incomplete sentences. Although he was very descriptive during the whole novel, McCarthy's sentence structure slowly became more descriptive as the story progressed. This may symbolize that the man was moving on from the world that was destroyed and accepting that the world will never be the same.//

5. Would you recommend this book to one of your peers? Why or why not? //We have concluded that the novel is definitely worth reading, and we all agree that if given the chance we would recommend it to any of our peers if they were looking for a good read. The book is very interesting; it shows an unique idea about where manhood could possibly be heading toward in the future. Our group also agreed that if given the chance, we would like to re-read the novel whenever we are less busy so we can really enjoy sitting down and reading the book rather than feeling rushed and pushed to finish up to certain pages every week.//


 * Task D - Group Summarizer (Kim) **

This week, Joanne was absent. Although it was more quiet than usual, Christina and I still managed to have a very fruitful discussion. In particular, we focused on the symbolism found throughout the story, as well as our final thoughts on the entire book. For the most part, the focus of our discussion ended up being centered on the trout at the end of the book. We decided that this image of trout in a river bears a very significant meaning. We recalled that earlier on in the book, the father, while scavenging for food, had already established that no animals had survived the catastrophic event. Therefore, by closing his piece with a lively memory of a river teeming with fish, McCarthy leaves the readers with two possible interpretations: 1) he is simply reinvoking the beauty of the pre-disaster world one last time to end the story on a wistful note, and 2) he is suggesting that there is a possibility that the world is going heal itself soon (after all, he could have chosen to end the book on a disheartening image, but the fact that he chooses a peaceful one suggests otherwise). Out of these two possibilities, Christina and I favored the latter. Moreover, the fact that only the son survives out of the pair only furthered our group's belief that the world will eventually improve, since throughout the reading, the son had gradually become more and more of a symbol of hope, and understandably, if the son ("hope") survives the ordeal, then a happy ending is sure to follow. Additionally, the father's death could also be interpreted as a symbol: I suggested that his death implies the demise of suffering. After careful thought, it was then concluded that as the father, old and worn from his failed struggle to survive is laid to rest, the afflicted world, which is also by now, old and frail from its struggles, is also laid to rest. Meanwhile, the son, symbolizing youth, innocence, and hope, survives, suggesting that a new era is about to begin. In other words, the readers are essentially witnessing the rebirth of the world.

Christina and I both agreed that the ending, although sad on the surface, is anything but upon further inspection. Indeed, the father dies, thereby leaving the son on his own, but more importantly, the ending bears an extraordinarily meaningful message of hope. Finally, we both agreed that this book would be an excellent choice for other students to read. It features excellent prose, beautiful imagery, and exposes the fragility of life to readers. Mr. Morone has said countless numbers of times in class that with each book read, a reader's life undergoes some degree of change, and especially in the case of this book, I couldn't agree more.