What element of foreshadowing is employed in this section and why? (pg 62)
- The scene with the boy and the truck foreshadows the later scene in which a truck full of marauders breaks down, resulting in the man and the boy encountering one. The boy 'made truck noises' and makes it 'tool along slowly', mimicking the movement of the truck. The men pose a strong threat towards the man and the boy; it is the first other people encountered in the novel, helping to create tension and suspense.
What does the description of the men teach us about them? (pg 62-3)
- The men appear unorganised and malicious, shown through their choice of weapons; “clubs” and “pipes”, suggesting that they do not pity other lives as they carry brutal, physically powered weapons. The 'coughing' , 'canister masks' and 'biohazard suits' could imply that the men are infected; both looks not only threatening, but could suggest that the air or the men are infected with some kind of disease or chemical hazard. The men are described to be “shuffling” and “casting their hooded heads from side to side”, which seems similar to the creature in the man's dream in the beginning of the novel, that “swung its head from side to side”, comparing the men to savage animals.
McCarthy uses a simile when describing the truck 'Lumbering and creaking like a ship'. Why does he do this?
- The purpose and symbolism of the truck being described as a ship is juxtaposing to the biblical reference of Noah’s Ark; instead of being a symbol of salvation, the truck used as a sign of danger, as it is in fact a threat towards the man and the boy.
Why does Mccarthy describe the Road Rat in such detail? (pg 65)- The detailed description of the Road Rat helps to accentuate the harshness of living in a dead world; his belt "marked the progress of his emaciation", expressing the brutality of starvation to the reader as he has gotten thinner - giving the Road Rat nothing to lose in challenging the man due to his desperation. McCarthy also indicates to the reader that the Road Rat is highly dangerous with strong intention; the simile "like an animal inside a skull looking out the eyeholes" conveys the animalistic nature of the Road Rat, who will not easily allow the man and the boy to escape, creating tension.
"A single round left in the revolver. You will not face the truth. You will not" Who is the man echoing here? How do you believe these words are uttered?
- Here Browning is using free indirect speech - the voice seems to be his wife's, but it is in fact his. The man will not accept defeat nor surrender to the darkness in the world whilst his son is alive, as he is the only hope left for it's future. The man would be uttering this memory of his wife's words in a defiant manner, using it as a motivational boost to prove her wrong; to protect and raise the boy to be something contributing to an aspirational future.
Why don't the other men chase after the boy and the man following the shooting?
- The man and boy later discover what is left of the Road Rat; ‘the bones and the skin’ hint at cannibalism and desperation, as they have eaten all that is edible, so the other men did not chase after them because having friends is no longer important when you are starving and on the verge of death. Another reason that the group would have avoided following the man and boy is that they did not know what they would be facing in doing so; for all they know it could have been a bigger, more powerful group with better weapons (guns).
It is not until page 77 that the man finally cleans the "gore" and "dead mans brains" from the boys face. Why?
- The man does not clean the boys face for days because it is not important. The man is very practical; food and warmth will keep you alive, but getting dirty is not a priority. You are only going to get dirty again, so no time should be wasted or risked on getting clean when it does not affect chances of survival.
