2. Loathe is a verb meaning to dislike
greatly; to abhor; to feel disgust for.
For example, if you have a mean
instructor, you might say that you loathe
her.
Loath is an adjective meaning unwilling
or reluctant.
For example, you might say that you are
loath to to spend time with your mean
instructor outside of work.
Loathe versus Loath
6. The son is innocent and has the desire to help those around him.
Many times the son has wanted to help an individual but his
father would stop him and discourage him. However, what is right
and wrong? Is the son right for wanting to help others during
these hard times or is his father right for not helping others and
for keeping all their resources to themselves?
Throughout the story the son is pretty much shown as the only
beacon of hope and innocence left in the new world.
Innocence pertains to the boy in he had very little life
experience. He wants to help people along the way because he
hasn’t been awakened to the self centered nature of other
people.
ANALYZE THE SYMBOL OF INNOCENCE AND
HOW IT PERTAINS TO THE SON IN THE ROAD.
7. The basic dynamic of the story of the story is the father and son and
the trust they have between them, in times when the father tells him
to trust him, or when he affirms that he is a man of his word the boy
trusts him.
It starts off with the old man being introduced, and the child
automatically wants to approach him. Without knowing the person
he already feels that he could trust him, on the other hand the dad
is pretty skeptical of the old man.
Throughout the novel, the story focuses on mistrust while secretly
advocating trust. The man learns to survive the demolition of the
world through mistrust. He is suspicious of everything and that is
how he is able to survive. Other adults encountered during the story
so far are exactly the same—in order to stay alive they must stay
aloof. […] McCarthy juxtaposes this overarching, initial theme
however, with the existence of the boy. The very existence of the
man’s son highlights the fault in mistrust. The boy lives only
because he trusts in his dad and his ability to provide for the two of
them.
EXAMINE THE CONCEPT OF TRUST AND
MISTRUST IN THE THE ROAD.
8. Just like in Faulkner’s Barn Burning, the relationship
between the father and son in a difficult and terrible
world is central to The Road. Abner Snopes treats his
son much differently than The Man does his son,
going so far as to possibly being one of “the bad
guys” as The Boy puts it. It then follows that the two
sons, The Boy and Sarty, both experience different
roads, but interestingly end up reaching for the same
thing. Both reach for hope, a glimmer of life beyond
the world they were born into.
THE CONCEPT OF FATHER AND SON
RELATIONSHIP IN THE ROAD AND FAULKNER’S
BARN BURNING.
9. The boy however is a representation of fire, he is the symbol
for light, as traditionally lights represents hope.
In a few conversations, the man and the boy talk about how
they carry “the fire.” While the fire is not ever specifically
defined, it is strongly suggested that this fire represents their
humanity.
Fire not only serves practical purposes, such as keeping the
travelers warm, providing light, cooking food and boiling
water, it also symbolizes hope. […]Fire also provides light and
warmth, two things that are largely absent in the novel’s dark,
decimated, and disintegrating world. To go further, light and
warmth are typically associated with the home, love, safety,
and peace. […]Fire’s destructive aspect, of course, is also
noted–the bad guys can use fire too, sometimes to cauterize
the wounds of the people in their living larder
FIRE
10. The Road
God and Faith
Goodness
Hope
Destruction
Death
Impermanence/Tr
ansience
Ash
INTRODUCE ANOTHER CONCEPT OR
SYMBOL
11. Why didn’t the man and his son
simply stay at the bunker and ride
out the next months and years with
the food and shelter it provided?
QHQ
12. END OF DAYS
Class 42: The Road:
Postmodernism; Critical Theory;
The American Dream; Introduce
Essay #2
Class 43: The quarter in review;
Self-Assessment; Discuss Exam
#3
Class 44: Optional Class: Make-
up Exam #1 or #2
Class 45: Final Friday, June 27th,
9:15-11:15
Almost
done
13. Read The Road: finish the novel
Post #: 40 (The last one)
Discuss the novel as a postmodern work
Use a critical lens to start a discussion
Discuss the American Dream as it manifests in
The Road
Start thinking about your next essay. Some
possible prompts are posted. Remember,
you can pursue any topic you would like as
long as it concerns a text or texts from the
second half of the quarter.
HOMEWORK
