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 work.
Loathe versus Loath
6. Is innocence the absence of experience, or a certain disposition?
If it‟s the absence of—that the innocent haven‟t yet been exposed
to the horrors of the world—„innocence of a child‟—such a word
can hardly define a child born in a world near entirely made of
the horrors.
But, what is really naive about him is his optimism. He still
believes in God in a land that seems to have lost its morals.
Each time the father and son find water, the boy is washed by his
father without resistance. When the two found the waterfall
pool, the father floats the boy around. The need to be cared for
without pulling away is innocence. The son, wise beyond his
years, only knows devastation and yet he seeks care.
The way that McCarthy structures the dialogue sections, it
sometimes is hard to tell who is saying what. In these
instances, at times it seems that the father is less mature, more
innocent than the son.
ANALYZE THE SYMBOL OF INNOCENCE AND
HOW IT PERTAINS TO THE SON IN THE ROAD.
7. The father clearly trusts no one but his son. His son on the other
hand wants to help people so he has a little more trust in
humanity. The reason that the father doesn‟t trust anyone, is
because knows more about their situation than the boy does.
In the conversations between the father and son, the boy
constantly points out when the father is “lying” to him, although
the father does it for the boy‟s benefit.
While on the road they encounter an old man and the father is
immediately suspicious, “He looked up the road and down. If this
is an ambush he goes first” (162). This shows that the father
does not trust anyone but himself and his son.
Before “securing the area” the boy continually asks his father
questions for security, “Why is the door open?…We don‟t have to
stay in the house do we?…We don‟t have to go upstairs do
we?…After we secure the area?…”(67).
EXAMINE THE CONCEPT OF TRUST AND
MISTRUST IN THE THE ROAD.
9. Why are there no names used in “The Road”?
So if no one trusts each other, how are refugees
supposed to band together and survive?
Why does the man continue living even though he is
not optimistic about the world„s future?
So, will the boy‟s life be worth living if his father
dies?
What does the child‟s behavior say about the future
of humanity?
QHQ
10. Wednesday: The Road: Postmodernism; Critical Theory; The
American Dream; Introduce Essay #2
Thursday: The quarter in review; Self-Assessment; Discuss
Exam #3
Monday: Optional Class: Make-up Exam #1 or #2
8:30 am showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Thursday, June 27: Final: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Exam #3
Due electronically before class:
Essay #2
Essay revision
Honors project
End of Days
11. Read The Road: finish the novel
Post #: 39 (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
