Pre reading attitude survey and lit circle discussion questions for Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"

1. THE ROAD Cormac McCarthy

2. PRE-READING ATTITUDE
SURVEY
Four Corners

3. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Technological advances are beneficial for
humanity.

4. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Hope can never be given by someone to
someone. Hope has to come from within
each of us.

5. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Humanity is bad for the earth.

6. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
I would eat someone in order to survive.

7. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Parents owe it to their children to sacrifice for
them.

8. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
The strongest, not necessarily the
smartest, should be in charge.

9. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Humans are defined by relationships.

10. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
People have a better chance of survival when
they stick together, instead of trying to go it
alone.

11. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
Deep down, there is good in everyone.

12. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
I would do well in an apocalypse scenario.

13. STRONGLY AGREE (TELEVISION) SOMEWHAT
AGREE (DOOR AREA)
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE (BOOKSHELF) STRONGLY
DISAGREE (DESK)
There is a higher power, with a purpose,
watching over all of us and guiding our
lives’ events.

14. PRE-READING DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
Major ideas and questions
from The Road. Discuss in
your Lit Circles.

15. THE ROAD: SOCIETY VS.
INDIVIDUALITY
What defines civilization?
What are our greatest fears as a
society?
What is “humanity”?
What are the collective goals of
humanity?
What will be the legacy of
humanity?
Humans have reaped and destroyed
the planet. Why shouldn’t society
just “give up” on the future?
What governs the human body?
What are our greatest fears as
individuals?
What is “family”?
What are our most common goals as
individuals?
If all roads, no matter their intention,
lead to an individual’s death, then
what is the point in that individual
staying alive?

16. THE ROAD: LAWS VS. MORALS
If there were no laws or law
enforcement, how would people
behave?
Would all people behave the same
way?
If there were no more laws and we
had to start from scratch, what are
the top three laws your group would
make?
How would your laws be enforced?
Which is more important to you in
considering the “rightness” or
“wrongness” of an act: legality or
morality?
Are there any moral absolutes? – That
is, definite moral codes that one must
obey in every situation no matter
what?
In the absence of laws and law
enforcement, should people still be
expected to behave morally?
How should moral behavior be
enforced?

17. STRAY THREADS
What have you seen fire represent,
in terms of universal symbols in
stories you’ve encountered in film,
television, and literature?
What have you seen water
represent, in terms of universal
symbols in stories you’ve
encountered in film, television,
and literature?
What have you seen fire and water
represent in religious teaching or
practice?
To what extent do you believe
dreams to be important? Why?
Over the past few years, there
have been numerous movies,
television, and books with a
post-apocalyptic setting. Think
about some in your groups and
discuss how they are different
from one another.
Why do you think the post-
apocalypse genre is so popular
as a setting?
What are some ways the world
might end? Are some ways
preferable to others? Why?
If your Lit Circle were a post-
apocalyptic band of survivors,
what would be each of your
roles?