THE ROADFinal Note

Terms to know1. Topic: A subject that a piece of literature

is about. Example: human nature

2. Theme: The message(s) or lesson(s) one is meant to receive/learn from a text Example: humans are naturally good , but when faced with desperation they commit evil acts

Terms to Review Symbolism Pathetic Fallacy Conflict Imagery Flashback

Topics addressed in The Road Humanity & Inhumanity Mortality Good versus Evil Isolation Survival Man versus nature Familial love The end of the world Hope Courage

Topics addressed in The Road

Each of the topics listed in the previous slide can be linked to the messages that are provided in the novel.

Topics can become themes based on their overall presentation

Humanity & Inhumanity- Examples

Throughout the novel we see several acts of inhumanity: the cannibals, the road rat, the baby on a spit, etc.

Humanity & Inhumanity- Theme

When faced with a hopeless situation man is capable of committing inhumane acts

The loss of one’s humanity can result in a lack of compassion, understanding and can lead to the ability to commit inhumane acts

Mortality- Examples They are surrounded with death: they see

corpses on the road, see people die, the wife is dead and are faced with their own mortality (at one point they are at the brink of death).

The boy worries that they will die and questions this. The man always admits that they will die someday.

Despite the constant threat of death they keep going

Mortality- Theme Essentially death (ones own mortality) is

inevitable. For the man and the boy it is clear that

death is inevitable Despite being surrounded by death they

preserver on their journey. Therefore, it is having purpose or a

journey that can allow one to continue when faced with death

Good Vs Evil - Examples The boy is always worried about being a

good guy and identifying the bad guys

The boy wants to help people (Ely) and do the right thing

He fear the bad guys and sees evidence of their wrong doings

The man kills the road rat to protect his son, leaves the half-eaten people to dies with no help and refuses to help others. Yet he still sees himself as a good guy

Good Vs Evil- Theme In such a difficult world the lines between

good and evil blurred.

It is the intention that determines the goodness of a man

Even in a world of evil, goodness can exist

Imagery in The Road Light and Dark imagery is linked with the

ideas of good and evil.

The boy is surrounded by light and considered to be good

The world is dark and covered in ash. The world is a dangerous place

Symbols in The Road The Boy= goodness and hope

The fire= hope

The coins= the values of the current world vs that of the past civilization

The Coca-cola= the consumer values of the past world

The Infant on a spite= the inhumanity man is capable of

Symbols in The Road The Road= often represents the mindset

of various characters

The Man dying at a Crossroads= The boy is left with a choice – lay down and die or continue on.

Other Symbols The decaying houses The bunker The Spanish Coin & Arrow Head The Flare Pistol The Roadrat The cannibals The map The mother The 2 bullets The billboards

Pathetic Fallacy When nature reflects the character’s

state of mind Often nature is at it’s harshest when the

man and boy are at low points Memories provide good examples of the

contrast In the bunker the environment is

different– is this important?

Dreams Dreams play an interesting role in the

novel Bad dreams are encouraged Essentially dreams are a reflection of

their state of mind Good dreams are considered a sign of

giving up