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apocalypse occurs
The world "ends" due to what we can imply is a nuclear bomb. This sets up the setting for the novel. "Nights dark beyone darknessand the days more gray each one than what had gone before." (p. 3) -
Mother leaves
Mother calims death is her new lover. She leaves her husband and son to go and die. She claims that the world that they live in has no hope. This flashback give us more information as to what happened to the world and as to why she is so hopeless."I have taken death as a lover." (p. 57) -
Barn
This is the first example of the gore that has taken place since the apocalypse. The father and son see hanging dead bodies in the barn. This demonstraits the hopelessness since the apocolypse has occured. The world is full of nothingness therefore people resorted to ending their lives. "Just remember that the things you put into your head are there forever." (p. 12) -
See the man that was struk by lightning
The man and his son come accross a man that looks to be struk by lightning. He is burnt and wearing ratted, ahy clothes. The little boy wants to help the man by giving him food becaise he looks hurt, but the man says no because there is nothing they could do for him."There's nothing to be done for him." (p. 50) Event though the man is near death the boy still wants to help. This is one of many examples of the goodness of the boy, and gives the boy characteristics. -
The man kills tthe man from the truck
The man claims that he and his son are the "good guys." The man does not trust anyone so he has his guard up. The man says that he and his son are about to leave but the man from the truck insists they come with him. All the sudden the man from the truck grabs the boy, so the man shoots him in the face. This shows that the man can't trust anyone, nice or not. I will kill anyone that touches you." (p. 77) This shows the mans love for his son. -
Boy sees another boy
While trveling trough a small town the boy thinks he sees another little boy. He rushes to tell his father, but the father says he didnt see anything. Even thought the boy may or may not have seen another person, if he did it shows that there are still young humans, and they could possibly be good. -
estate/ cellar
Find people along with a man with his legs cut off. The people that were conversing outside the estate were hiding these people. It is implied that the mans limbs were cut off to be eatin by cannibals. The man pleads for help the the father and his son run away. "They're going to eat them, arent they?"The cellar scene shows how barbaric the world has become. -
apple orchard
The man finds apples to eat at the apple orchared outside the house with the fresh spring. This is the first sign of fresh drinkable water, and food supply. For the man and his son it exhibits hope for survival -
Bunker
They find food and supplies hidden in an untouched bunker. The man and his son stay there for a few days. They eat food and freshin up. While in the bunker the boy gives thanks to the people that left the food behind. This is also an example of the boys goodness. The bunker is the first since of shelter and refuge the man and the boy have had in years. -
Ely
They meet Ely who is a very negative person. He rejects the belief that any God exists. Ely is a character with a very strong opinion on God and the world. Ely's words make the man think about his own opinion of God. The boys kidness and generosity reflects in his actions towards Ely. Ely's character revals the theme of faith in The Road -
Make it south to the beach
The man and his son reach the south and the ocean isnt blue. They thought that the south would offer refuge, but it is just like the rest of the world. Everything in the novel has been nuilding up to this point, the south was the goal for the father and son. All hope is lost when they arrive to nothingness. -
Thief
The catch up to the man that stole the cart the man makes him take off all his clothes leaving him naked in the middle of the road. "I wasnt going to kill him." "But we did." (p.260) Technically the man is murdering the thief because he takes his clothes knowing that he will die eventually. The bioy realizes that what his father did was wrong so he convinces his dad to return the clothes, which shows the goodness of the boy. -
The father dies
The father finally dies after suffering a bad caugh for a long while. Now that he is dead the boy is all alone. The man is sure that the boy will be able to take care of himself and contiune to "carry the fire". This is a important part in the novel because it is the death of a main character. -
Find another family
Now the boy is all alone, no one to take care of him. The boy decides its time to continue along the road. Once he goes into town a man appears. The boy is timid, when the man approaches the boy he says that he is one of the good guys and offers to take care of the boy. This shows that there is still hope in humnaity and now the boy can continue to carry the fire. -
Fish swimming in the river
The fish swiming in the river exhibits that life is coming beck to the world. It shows that there is hope for the boys future. The hope displayed throughout the novel is one of the major themes. Since before the boy was born everything was ash. The fish are a sign of hope that mankind will survive the post-apocalyptic world.
