Kendra+Nedell

Gryke (11): deep fissures in limestone slabs created by water Cauterized (14): burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) Granitic (3): flinty; showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings
 * Vocab from 1-15:**

Marauders (16): someone who attacks in search of a body Chifforobe (22): a piece of furniture with drawers on one side and hanging space on the other Litany (31): repetitive series Macadam (48): the road surface made of broken stone
 * Vocab from 15-50:**

On pg 51, the man left his billfold on the road and walked on. He is leaving his past behind, but why does he decide to do it right then? Why is the boy so upset and hung up on the fact that they couldn't help the man struck by lightening? Why do you think the author chose to flash back moments such as his wife's pregnancy and baby's birth? Why do you think his wife decided to commit suicide and leave the boy and man alone? How did the boy know or expect this? When they come in contact with the truck and the man with the belt, is he trying to trap them and "bring them back for food" or does he sincerely want to help? Is EVERYONE besides the boy and the man bad or do they just think and assume that? How do you picture the area they are in? Specifically referring to pg 79 where it talks about the houses and stores. Is "we're carrying the fire" on pg 83 symbolic for something or what does it mean? The boy starts to wish for death and the man apologizes and says he needs to not say that (pg 85). Does he really want to die? If yes, is he scared or tired of facing the current situation and want to be safe? Or does he just want his mom? If no, is he just fearful he will die or is he confused at the loss of humanity?
 * Discussion Questions 51-102:**

"The boy pulled at his hand. He was almost in tears. Papa? he said. We've got to eat. I'm not hungry, Papa. I'm not" (108). "All these things he saw and did not see" (109). "If they find you you are going to have to do it. Do you understand? Shh. No crying. Do you hear me? You know how to do it. You put it in your mouth and point it up. Do it quick and hard. Do you understand? Stop crying. Do you understand?" (113). "His mind was betraying him. Phantoms not heard from in a thousand years rousing slowly from their sleep" (116). "The chary dawn, the cold illucid world....A colorless world of wire and crepe" (116). "Then they set out upon the road again, slumped and cowled and shivering in their rags like mendicant friars sent forth to find their keep" (126). "The country was looted, ransacked, ravaged. Rifled of every crumb. The nights were blinding cold and casket black and the long reach of the morning had a terrible silence to it. Like a dawn before battle" (129). "Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it" (130). "This is what the good guys do. They keep trying. They don't give up" (137).
 * Quotes pgs 103-154**

On page 155, I connected with the fact that once in a while, you really just need a down and relaxing day. The boys spent it eating and sleeping and decided to stay in on a rainy day. This is exactly what I like to do, not venture out in the wet muggy weather.
 * Connections pgs 154-230**

On page 177, the father tells the boy not to loose heart and that they will be okay. This reminds me a lot of my mother when I am in sad or scary situations. It makes you feel so much better when she holds you tight and convinces you that everything will be okay even if it won't always.

On page 182, the father talks about looking over maps when he was a boy and tracing routes with his finger. On car rides to New Jersey to see my sister or New York to see my grandparents, I would take out a big map and trace the path we would take.

On page 185, I am reminded of a ghost town seen in a movie when its the old west with dust balls rolling around and two opposing parties meet with guns and one backs away.

Souwester (239): a long raincoat often worn at sea Salitter (261): divine substance of God as expressed through the entities of the world Sloe (261): the small bluish-black fruit of the blackthorn, with a sharp sour taste Creosote (262): a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative Bollards (262): a short, thick post on the deck of a ship or on a wharf, to which a ship's rope may be secured Ensepulchred (273): entomb
 * End of the Book**