Rory

Rory's Page

He said the land was godless why would that be?

The father has been continuously coughing, why would this be?

They have no names yet, why would this be?

What is the importance of the flashbacks the father has?

What do you think the relationship between the father and the son is like?

Where or why would it be so cold?

Why would there be so much ash? How does this affect the boy and his dad?

What did they mean by "this was not a safe place"?

Why is the father continuously showing no emotion to horrible things that have happened? (The boiling and consumption of the man he shot, his near death experience with the cannibals?)

The boy claims that he's seen another boy, how and why would this matter to him?

The man asks his son if he would be ready to kill himself. How does this relate to the conversations he had with his wife on suicide?

Quotes

"He came forward, holding his belt by one hand. The holes in it marked the progress of his emaciation and the leather at one side had a lacquered look to it where he was used to stopping the blade of his knife." (page 63)

"A single round left in the revolver. You will not face the truth. You will not." (page 68)

"When you've nothing else construct ceremonies out of the air and breathe upon them." (page 74)

"'Are we still the good guys?' he said. Yes. We're still the good guys. Amd we always will be. Yes. We always will be." (pg 77)

Vocabulary

Accrue (pg 116)- To increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth.

Mendicant (pg 126)- A member of an order of friars forbidden to own property in common, who work or beg for their living

Palimpsest (pg 127-128)- Writing material used one or more times after the original writing had been erased.

Gelid (pg 136)- extremely cold.

Connections Master

pg(192-193)

When the Dad and the son were sitting down and eating, and the Dad says he thinks he's being followed. It made me think of times when you don't know, but your gut feeling tells your that somebody is watching or following you.

pg(215) When the dad could see the disappointment in sons face when he saw the ocean wasnt blue. It made me think of times that I would get excited for something, and it wouldn't be all it was cut out to be, like when you go on a hike your excited about the end, and it turns out its not as good as you thought.

Discussion Director Take 2

Why did the Dad shoot off the flare pistol, even thought it was a clear signal to anyone around that someone was there?

The Dad mentions lessons to the child, and at several places in the book (the bunker when he asks the child to read the can) tests him of his reading ability. Why would the Dad consider education an important part of the child's life during this time and place?

The dad says to the kid when he is sick "I will not send you into the Darkness alone". If darkness is death in this instance does this mean that the Dad would die with him?

When they first encounter the man the description is first of his hand and how the fingers were cut away. The book states that he was an outcast of one of the communities. What community would do this?

The boy has a noticeable change in character when he and the Dad discuss stories. How has he changed?

When the boy meets the new family, he asks the man if hes carrying the fire, to which the eventual response is yes. How could this answer affect the boys decision to go with him?

The notes how far they come on the road, and how dangerous it was. How might the journey of been different if they had avoided the road?