Pages 1-6
During the first six pages we establish the setting of the novel 'There'd be no surviving another winter here' this tells the reader that the winters are becoming more dangerous. It shows there is a constant struggle to survive during theses hard times, they cant settle as they need to keep going. McCarthy uses dark colours to make the world seem dull and desolate ' days more Gray each one than what had gone before'.
We are introduced to the father and his son, we learn about the man and his mannerisms 'When it was light enough to use the binoculars he glassed the valley below' his character is nervous in his surrounding as he is constantly checking around him. It also shows he doesn't trust anyone; he is always alert as his life is a constant struggle to survive.
There is a release of tension when he See's his son is safe after he returns 'When he got back the boy was still asleep' this is the when the man can be calm for a little while before they have to start moving again. He doesn't have to protect his son for a short while he can rest and be at peace.
The boy still calls his father 'Papa' this could be a lighter moment in the novel it shows the young boy is still holding on to reality of their old life when they were a family. This part of the novel could also tell the reader that the boy still wants to get his father's attention where as the man is trying to keep the distance between them. However i think it is a lighter moment in the book as it shows they are still close after everything they have been through probably because they only have each other left.Therefore it is a happier and lighter moment during the introduction.
The introduction to the novel is very descriptive 'deep stone flues where the water dripped and sang' i think McCarthy makes it descriptive so that we can establish the setting and understand that the book is a dark and depressing horror.
The introduction is a key pert of the novel as it introduces the two characters and shows the world as it is now.
Pages 50-53
This could be classed as a key part of the novel as they encounter an injured man. As the man is still trying to show the boy that they are good people it is interesting to see how he will react around the stranger and if he will show the boy that there are no good guys now.
The boy asks his father who the injured man is, his father responds with 'Who is anybody?' the man is trying to show that no body can be trusted now the world has ended. It also could represent nobody having any significance. Nothing is important any more apart from staying alive. The world is lost, there are no rules and everybody has taken the world into their own hands.This line also shows the distance the man is trying to keep between his son and himself. He wants to implant the fact you can trust nobody in his sons mind so that if they are ever separated his son may be able to try and survive for a while.
The boy still has a naive mind as he hasn't fully learnt about the world 'can't we help him papa?' he doesn't understand that everybody is out for themselves now. The man wants to teach him to not trust anybody but he can't fully because he still wants the boy to have a little bit of happiness in his life.
There is an increase in tension as they pass the man that has been struck by lightning 'as they passed they looked down' the tension is increased at this point as we feel sympathy for the man and we want the two to help him but we know they can't. There is also tension as we don't know if the injured man will react to the two or if he will just sit there. We don't know if there will be any conflict.
McCarthy uses simple sentences when the man and his son are talking. There is hardly any punctuation either, 'im talking to you know.' 'are you sure?' 'yes.' i think he uses hardly any punctuation because he wants to show that it is post modern. You can never tell who is speaking you are left to work it out for yourself this shows that McCarthy is trying to elevate the low culture style of novels.
Pages 62-69
From the start of this section we witness a change of mood from the start as this section is covered in danger as the tension slowly rises. Page 62 has a certain rise of tension. It is the first scene when the man is really un easy 'he looked down at the boy and when he looked back toward the road the first of them were already coming into view' this is the first real danger the man and boy witness. I think the reader would become emotionally attached to the man and his son and as the novel progresses they will strive for their safety, i think McCarthy did this purposely though to make us sympathise with the two more.This will keep them interested.
Although the man tries to keep a distant relationship with the boy throughout the novel he constantly reassures him like a father would 'Its alright he said.Come on' so we are reminded that they are the only ones that each other have and even if the man tries to fight that he can't because they have a natural bond that will always be there.
This is the first scene within the novel when we witness the evil in the world and the reason why they never settle ' i think you're chickin shit.' strangers approaching them is dangerous as they could have back up anywhere in this case the man did.This is why the man is always alert. However now this first big event has happened I now think the story will begin to unravel.
From here we are left to believe that the book is going to become more dangerous maybe the worst is yet to come...
Page 112-121
Although the man and the boy seem to have a distant relationship the boy is always looking on to him for guidance maybe like they would before the end of the world ' The boy clung to him as they climbed the steps' this shows that the boy is comforted by his father, its like he is always trying to grab his fathers attention. There relationship is then seen in a different light when the man shows him affection ' he held the boy's hand' we see the affection between the two, like they are all each other has and even if the man tries to keep the distance i don't think he wants to because he knows neither could survive without each other.However the man gradually gets more fed up with the young boy, the man wants him to be brave and understand that they need to survive 'just stop it. we're starving. do you understand?' he is agitated by the company he has had for the last however many years. There is never any change within their life and he cant handle that he has to deal with the struggle of keeping his son safe and convince him that they will be okay. Every single day. I see this part of the novel as the main horror. Throughout this section there is a build up of tension, then we are introduced to the room of mutilated people.Before McCarthy describes the people he talks about the cold cupboard they are in, it is described as 'cold and damp' as you would expect in a room full of half sliced up humans.The cold atmosphere makes the scene seem eerie and this makes the build up bigger to when the people are introduced.
We see how the world has returned into savagery, now there are no rules people feel as if they can do what they want and they are taking everything into their own hands. Everybody's out to save themselves.
The bad men are the evil within the novel it could be argued that they represent the corruption in the world. Although the world it broken they are digging it a deeper hole that it cannot recover from.
The mood changes once the man has seen the mutilated people. There is a tension will they make it out or wont they?
This part of the novel is expanded, there are nine pages devoted to the finding of the mutilated people. I think this part is expanded because it is such a harsh reality to the man and his son. We know it will affect the boy alot more than the man because he doesn't have as much of a hard exterior whereas the man has adapted to the world he has learnt that no body is what they seem.
On page 120 there is a reckoning for the man. McCarthy asks the man if he could kill his son when the time comes. It is a key line in the book McCarthy say 'when the time comes?' like he is expecting it to happen, it is like a fake foreshadowing. Us the reader, want the man and the boy to make it to the end and survive the whole way through but there is constant foreshadowing that one will die; The man keeps one bullet in the gun so he can kill the boy if he needs to. He has trained his son to kill himself if he is in too much danger. The novel is a pathway to their death.We have to expect it.
Pages 210-215
At the start of this section we get the impression that it is evening as there is a fire 'it's just a small fire'.The sentences are simple with a lack of commas. McCarthy makes the sentences short so that it is a build up of tension, there is the odd long sentence.This gives us the idea of a theme of scary music. The sentences speed up and then slow down.
The man knows somebody has ran from them. He thinks it's because they have a gun, 'They saw we had a gun.'. The sentence comes to a sudden stop, when read aloud the word gun at the end makes the sentence sound like it finishes with a bang.
Unlike most of the novel this section is not that repetitive.The simple sentences get straight to the point.I think this is because it is so serious, it is the main horror within the novel.
As we are told about the infant the part of the novel is contracted. There is only two lines describing the body. The young boy is very unsettled by the infant's body, 'He didn't know if he'd ever speak again' i think the boy reacts this way because he knows that it could be himself if he was caught by other men. I also think this could show the boy how bad the dieing world is now as i think up until now he was very naive about the world still.I think the infants body could make the father ans son's relationship drift further apart as he made the son go and see what was on the fire with him. The son may blame the man for what he saw, this could affect their lives as the boy may never trust the man again.
We are know it is night time now, 'they camped'. The man and the boy are next to a river, McCarthy uses sibilance to mimic the sound of the running river. This section could remind the reader of a poetic feel, the river is loud and continuously flowing like in the poem "The Ancient Mariner" when the story is based on the sea.This part of the section is expanded as McCarthy talks just about the two being next to a river and the man planning a path on his map in ten lines. There is a lack of commas throughout the paragraph. The sentences are long like lists. It is as if the sentences are like chores to the man. McCarthy lists the sentences with 'He' at the start of most of them. This could show that the man does everything for the two, as if he is annoyed that he has to do everything, this could link back to the man losing his wife. He could have built up anger because she left him to deal with there son, maybe he could think she was a little selfish?
We now know it's daytime as McCarthy says 'the following day'.
When the man and the boy are talking we are left to decide our selves who is talking at which time. As they talk there sentences are short and all finish with either full stops or question marks. This is a key point as they may be short because they have been with each other for how ever many years just those two, they have only had each other to speak to, they could be bored of each other or they could have ran out of things to say. Being with one person for all that time non-stop they must know every single detail about each other and that could be frustrating for them both.They never have any of there own time alone.
At the bottom of page 215 we find out that McCarthy has skipped two days without us knowing 'they'd not eaten in two day' this could represent how their days are full of emptiness and sadness. They never have anything to look forward to. Their days are constantly the same, they are repetitive just like the sentences in the book 'and' 'and' 'and'. It is as if the days that have passed don't matter, that is why we skipped them without knowing.
Page 227-230
McCarthy uses 'and' in this section this is important as it makes the life they live sound constant and repetitive. It is always the same to them.
This section of the book is expanded McCarthy adds so much detail to the man's discoveries. The man discovers a wheelbarrow, 'He found a wheelbarrow and pulled it out' , it could be argued that it is expanded because the man is relieved, maybe he could even have the slightest bit of happiness.So he wants to emphasis the tiny bit of relief the man has for a small time, then it is gone.
McCarthy again skips ahead two days without us knowing as he says 'When they left two days later'.As the plot progresses we get the impression that their days are becoming more continuous. Like nothing is changing for them, not getting better or worse.
Although the world has ended the man still cares about breakfast and dinner, 'they ate well'. The man still cares about routine. He thinks it is important to keep the boys life steady and stable.Maybe he thinks one day in the future the boy will need stability to survive on his own.
We are shown the man relaxing for one of the few times in the novel, 'At night, he woke coughing' however even his one chance he gets to sleep he cant, it's like he is cursed maybe from his past life. He is damaged from what he has seen and how he has to live now.
The days are now described by McCarthy 'long days' this could represent how the man is feeling now, he could be in agony from his never-ending journey. From his son always nagging him or his constant struggle along the road. The 'long days' shows a mundane and depressing feel.
The two finally make it to the beach This is a big destination for them as they have been travelling south for so long.
They are then sitting down on the beach ' An hour later'. Everything on the beach is dark and dingy, 'Black sea' this is a disappointment for both of them as they hoped once they got to the south they would be happier and warmer. However everything still seems the same.Once again nothing has changed for them. McCarthy uses one word sentences, they are sharp, 'desolate. Birdless' . The word's express the emptiness on the beach this contrasts with our normal ideas of beach's ,We imagine them with children running around, the sun shining, and the crystal blue ocean washing up on the shore. I think McCarthy does this on purpose to show us how much the world has changed and dissolved into this dark damp hole.
This is a key section as they reach their final destination.
Page 270-278
We are first told that this section begins in the evening, 'They sat that evening by the fire'.
The man is not a selfish character he cares about the boys life way more than his own 'the boy drank hot soup and the man turned his steaming clothes on the sticks and sat watching him'. The man seems to be watching the boy to ensure that he eats all he can. He wants the boy to be strong enough so that if the man dies he can survive for a while if he cannot find food alone. The man could also be fixated on the boy eating because he is longing for food himself.
McCarthy passes two days by pretty much over night.They are passing without us knowing, As if they don't matter, it could represent the man knowing their journey together is coming to an end. Or McCarthy could be contracting the days so he can get to a more important part of the novel.
The man and the boy are suddenly in danger. I say suddenly because they are 'trudging' along the beach looking for anything of interest and as soon as they come back the man notices danger. There is never a moment of rest and calm for the man. We know that something bad is about to happen as the man See's 'bootprints in the sand' this will leave the man on edge as when he looks around at first he See's nothing.
This adds suspense to the section. We don't know who is there, why they are there of if they are in serious danger. The tension is built as the sentences start long and get shorter, 'Oh Christ, he said. Oh Christ.' The man curses god, this shows he has lost all beliefs. He has given up with thinking anybody will help them.
Once they discover their stuff is gone the sentences are short and precise. When read aloud in my opinion it should be read slowly.This would show the sorrow the man is feeling, 'Their blankets.' The sentences are short that it is as if it is final for them, they cannot survive without that cart, it holds their life together. He is feeling guilty that he left the cart, 'you stupid-ass, he said. You stupid ass.' He knows that they cant survive without that cart it has everything they need. This section has a sense of panic and the tension build as we don't know how the plot will progress. Will they get their stuff back and keep going on their journey? Or will this be it for them, will the bullet be needed?
They go off to look for their stuff 'they set off down the black top in opposite directions' this may represent them slowly separating. The distance is getting bigger between them, they are splitting up to find their stuff alone. This is the first time the boy will see what it is like to wander the road alone.
Then there is the first sign of the man becoming ill, ' leaning over and coughing'. This foreshadows something bad is going to happen as we know without the man carrying on, the boy cant carry on either.
We now know it is night, ' deep into dusk'.
The man is always prepared to kill. We get the impression that killing someone now doesn't affect him 'I'll kill you where you stand'. It could lead the reader to believe that the man has been trained to kill. Maybe he could have been in the army before the end of the world. However he has a weakness, he doesn't want to kill his son. who would? But he knows he has to therefore this haunts him throughout the novel and now we see a ferocious side to him. He is angry and he wants to kill.
The boy's naive mind is once again shown as he shows sympathy for the thief 'oh papa, he sobbed.' He calls him papa and it shows the innocence of his age. He doesn't understand why the man wants to make the thief suffer. The reader may get the impression that the boy is scared, scared that his father is becoming a 'bad guy'.
The man goes on to state 'you're not the one who has to worry about everything' for one of the only times we witness the man being afraid. He is scared of running out of food. He is scared of being cold. He is scared of death. He has removed his hard exterior and now it is as if he is having a break down and showing the boy that he is struggling to be brave for the both of them.
It is now dangerous for the man and the boy as they are left on the road at night 'up the road and stood there in the cold and the gathering dark.
Although the world has ended and the man has no idea of the date or time he still cares about routine to their day, 'he sorted out cans for their supper', this tells us that he is trying to stick to normality maybe to keep them both sane.
The boy is so angry with the man in the next section that there is an anxiety that we don't know if their relationship will be damaged for the rest of their time together?
could this affect how long they go on for now?
The boy is angry with the man at the end of this section. He is disappointed with his father 'but we did kill him' the boy now realises that no one can survive. In my opinion i think that the boy thinks his father is selfish.
When read aloud the last section should be read slowly however the longer sentences should be read as if they are dragging, the 'and' keeps them together like the tasks they are both doing are pointless.
The boys last statement is like the difinative answer, 'but we did kill him.' it should be read in a blunt way. Like nothing matters any more. This will show the boys disappointment and his sorrow for the man.
The last line leaves us in suspense as we a wait to see if the boy will ever forgive the man. Or if he will ever trust him again.
