Quotations - expectations
It is essential you recognise Cormac McCarthy's crafting of sentences in "The Road". Read the following extract out loud, pay attention to the sounds of the words and the rhythm of the writing.
This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.
This quotation reflects the genre of horror because of the horrific image of ".. washing dead man's brains ..out his hair". Also the statement "this is my child" indicates the coldness the father is feeling towards his son because he's afraid to love his child. Also he keeps his emotions to himself to protect the last glimmer of innocence within his son whilst his son is maintaining the father's humanity. The quotation also highlights that the father is constantly protecting his son and its become normal which may suggest that there's violence throughout the book. The statement "this is my child" reflects the theme of friendship and companionship through the use of personal pronoun "my". Also the theme of violence is suggested with the father washing the "dead man's brains out of his hair" . The relationship between father and son is suggested when the father states that "this is my child" this suggests that he feels responsible for his child and that its his "job" to protect him. Also it indicates that throughout the novel McCarthy doesn't highlight any emotion from the father or the son to show how every horrific moment they encounter they pretend to be emotionless.
Yes I am, he said. I am the one.
The use of the statement " i am the one" indicates that the son feels that he's the only one who can look after his father and protect him from the violence. Also it could suggest that the boy feels that his dad and himself are the only good people left . Furthmore the son may also feel that in order for his dad to carry on and maintain hope he has to too and without him his father would lose his humanity. This links with the theme of companionship as the father and son are dependant on each other.
Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. Canned hams. Corned beef.
The listing of the foods suggests how monontonous life has become through the use of short sentences. It also highlights how miserable life has become for them because the only thing that they look forward to is having food to eat in order to survive. This is showing the harsh reality of life for the father and son and that they are finding food to survive but not really enjoying life and seeing the good left in the world. However this could reflect the relief the father is feeling for having found food and that its keeping his son alive.
Are we still the good guys, he said.
This is reflects the innocence within the boy that there's good people and bad people as he doesn't unerstand that people aren't just as simple as that. Also he doesn't realise that good people can be bad aswell and vice versa. Also the fact that he keeps seeking his fathers reassurance reflects the theme of trust as the boy is trusting what his father is telling him about them being the good guys. In addition by his dad saying that him and his son are the good guys he's also justifying it to himself which suggests that he feels guilt for what he's done and that he is starting to not think of himself as good.
We should go, Papa, he said. Yes, the man said. But he didn't.
This indicates the theme of authority because the son doesn't question his father and instead accepts it. This could show that the son is frightenend to go against his fathers decesion as he may be scared by his fathers reaction. This shows how tense the relationship between the father and son. Also when the father loses hope the son keeps him going by controlling the situation which highlights that the son is the fathers source of sanity.
The snow fell nor did it cease to fall.
The snow could be a representation of how life has frozen the humanity within the father and that he's detached himself from his situation to maintain his sanity. The use of pathetic fallacy creates a cold fridgid atmosphere which represents the father and son's relationship as there's no expression of emotion. Also the introducing of the snow is quite abrupt which shows that the snow brings no comfort or joy instead its just another obstacle for survival.
Okay? Okay.
This quotation may show the fathers guilt for the fact that his child is experiencing the violence and reality of the real world. Also it suggests how the father is constantly checking on his son to make sure that he's okay in order to reassure himself that because his son is okay he is okay. This reinterates the theme of dependence as the father is depending on his son to be okay in order for himself to maintain faith and hope. Furthermore it show's how the violence of life has become normal and instead of letting violence faze them they just carry on.
They sat on the edge of the tub and pulled their shoes on and them he handed the boy the pan and soap and he took the stove and the little bottle of gas and the pistol and wrapped in their blankets and they went back across the yard to the bunker.
The blanket acts as a comfort to the boy and the father as its a source of warmth and comfort. Also the pistol symbolises safety as without it the father feels he can't protect himself and his son. Furthmore the soap could be represent the idea that they are washing away the evidence of their horrific circumstance and their guilt for not helping others. Also the simplicity of their actions creates a sense of peace.
Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth
This suggests that they're almost waiting in anticipation for something or somone to hurt or threaten them. Also the statment ".. minutes of the earth" suggests how time has slowed down just like life for them has slowed and almost merged into one long day full of sorrow and desperation. Also the "silence" suggests how the father and son have disconnected themselvesfrom each other and by doing that the silence is becoming more evident. Furemore it could represent how the fathers mind is full of guilt and desperation and that he doesn't feel at peace.
She was gone and the coldness of it was her final gift.
The use of personification of the death of his wife being a gift suggests that he's welcoming the realisation of her death as it helps him to heal his sorrow within himself. Also its as if her death was weighing him down so much that he finally feels relief and peace. In addition is suggests that her death was "a gift" as it saved him from losing himself. Furthermore its as if her death has numbed the sadness within him that he doesn't feel anything anymore.
What does these extracts tells us about;
These quotations suggest that the genre of the novel is horror as theres many scenes within the novel that shows shocking images of people dying of starvation. These extracts show themes of dependance, desperation and violence which reinterates the genre of horror. Also the violence within these extracts suggests that there's going to be many other violent circumstances within the novel. In addition it suggests that the structure is chronological as the events happen one and after another. These extracts show how the father and sons relationship is complex as whilst they show no emotion towards eachother there's subtle hints of guilt and realiance. Furthermore the use of dialogue may be used to intrigue the reader to read on and to show the relationship between father and son.
- the type of novel it might be (the genre/s it seems to draw on or fit with)
- the story (what might happen)
- themes (the ideas it might raise)
- characters and relationships
- the way the story might be told.
This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.
This quotation reflects the genre of horror because of the horrific image of ".. washing dead man's brains ..out his hair". Also the statement "this is my child" indicates the coldness the father is feeling towards his son because he's afraid to love his child. Also he keeps his emotions to himself to protect the last glimmer of innocence within his son whilst his son is maintaining the father's humanity. The quotation also highlights that the father is constantly protecting his son and its become normal which may suggest that there's violence throughout the book. The statement "this is my child" reflects the theme of friendship and companionship through the use of personal pronoun "my". Also the theme of violence is suggested with the father washing the "dead man's brains out of his hair" . The relationship between father and son is suggested when the father states that "this is my child" this suggests that he feels responsible for his child and that its his "job" to protect him. Also it indicates that throughout the novel McCarthy doesn't highlight any emotion from the father or the son to show how every horrific moment they encounter they pretend to be emotionless.
Yes I am, he said. I am the one.
The use of the statement " i am the one" indicates that the son feels that he's the only one who can look after his father and protect him from the violence. Also it could suggest that the boy feels that his dad and himself are the only good people left . Furthmore the son may also feel that in order for his dad to carry on and maintain hope he has to too and without him his father would lose his humanity. This links with the theme of companionship as the father and son are dependant on each other.
Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. Canned hams. Corned beef.
The listing of the foods suggests how monontonous life has become through the use of short sentences. It also highlights how miserable life has become for them because the only thing that they look forward to is having food to eat in order to survive. This is showing the harsh reality of life for the father and son and that they are finding food to survive but not really enjoying life and seeing the good left in the world. However this could reflect the relief the father is feeling for having found food and that its keeping his son alive.
Are we still the good guys, he said.
This is reflects the innocence within the boy that there's good people and bad people as he doesn't unerstand that people aren't just as simple as that. Also he doesn't realise that good people can be bad aswell and vice versa. Also the fact that he keeps seeking his fathers reassurance reflects the theme of trust as the boy is trusting what his father is telling him about them being the good guys. In addition by his dad saying that him and his son are the good guys he's also justifying it to himself which suggests that he feels guilt for what he's done and that he is starting to not think of himself as good.
We should go, Papa, he said. Yes, the man said. But he didn't.
This indicates the theme of authority because the son doesn't question his father and instead accepts it. This could show that the son is frightenend to go against his fathers decesion as he may be scared by his fathers reaction. This shows how tense the relationship between the father and son. Also when the father loses hope the son keeps him going by controlling the situation which highlights that the son is the fathers source of sanity.
The snow fell nor did it cease to fall.
The snow could be a representation of how life has frozen the humanity within the father and that he's detached himself from his situation to maintain his sanity. The use of pathetic fallacy creates a cold fridgid atmosphere which represents the father and son's relationship as there's no expression of emotion. Also the introducing of the snow is quite abrupt which shows that the snow brings no comfort or joy instead its just another obstacle for survival.
Okay? Okay.
This quotation may show the fathers guilt for the fact that his child is experiencing the violence and reality of the real world. Also it suggests how the father is constantly checking on his son to make sure that he's okay in order to reassure himself that because his son is okay he is okay. This reinterates the theme of dependence as the father is depending on his son to be okay in order for himself to maintain faith and hope. Furthermore it show's how the violence of life has become normal and instead of letting violence faze them they just carry on.
They sat on the edge of the tub and pulled their shoes on and them he handed the boy the pan and soap and he took the stove and the little bottle of gas and the pistol and wrapped in their blankets and they went back across the yard to the bunker.
The blanket acts as a comfort to the boy and the father as its a source of warmth and comfort. Also the pistol symbolises safety as without it the father feels he can't protect himself and his son. Furthmore the soap could be represent the idea that they are washing away the evidence of their horrific circumstance and their guilt for not helping others. Also the simplicity of their actions creates a sense of peace.
Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth
This suggests that they're almost waiting in anticipation for something or somone to hurt or threaten them. Also the statment ".. minutes of the earth" suggests how time has slowed down just like life for them has slowed and almost merged into one long day full of sorrow and desperation. Also the "silence" suggests how the father and son have disconnected themselvesfrom each other and by doing that the silence is becoming more evident. Furemore it could represent how the fathers mind is full of guilt and desperation and that he doesn't feel at peace.
She was gone and the coldness of it was her final gift.
The use of personification of the death of his wife being a gift suggests that he's welcoming the realisation of her death as it helps him to heal his sorrow within himself. Also its as if her death was weighing him down so much that he finally feels relief and peace. In addition is suggests that her death was "a gift" as it saved him from losing himself. Furthermore its as if her death has numbed the sadness within him that he doesn't feel anything anymore.
What does these extracts tells us about;
These quotations suggest that the genre of the novel is horror as theres many scenes within the novel that shows shocking images of people dying of starvation. These extracts show themes of dependance, desperation and violence which reinterates the genre of horror. Also the violence within these extracts suggests that there's going to be many other violent circumstances within the novel. In addition it suggests that the structure is chronological as the events happen one and after another. These extracts show how the father and sons relationship is complex as whilst they show no emotion towards eachother there's subtle hints of guilt and realiance. Furthermore the use of dialogue may be used to intrigue the reader to read on and to show the relationship between father and son.
- the type of novel it might be (the genre/s it seems to draw on or fit with)
- the story (what might happen)
- themes (the ideas it might raise)
- characters and relationships
- the way the story might be told.
Amy
ReplyDeleteThere are some good responses here, you examine the characterisation and look at relationships. What you will need to do is focus slightly more on McCarthy's sentence structure. He abandons many of the rules and omits questions marks and speech marks. Think about why he might do this.
With the quotation "Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth" think about this juxtaposition of silence and tolling.
Well done though, this is a good start.