Abby's+Page


 * Discussion Director:** //prepare 4-5 discussion questions based on the reading.//

• Stylistically, there is little to no punctuation, correct sentence structure, and the paragraphs are spaced out unevenly. How do you think this augmented the story McCarthy is trying to tell?

• The man’s love for the boy is his only reason for living. What do you think he means by the sentence, “If he is not the word of God God never spoke.” (page 5)

• The man is not actively searching for other people, but instead seems to be wary of them. What would be the danger of finding other people in this apocalyptic situation?

“He pitched the sweatblackened piece of leather into the woods and sat holding the photograph. Then he laid it down in the road also and then he stood and they went on”(51).
 * Literary Luminary:**

-the man has finally severed all ties to his past life. With the past out of the way, he'll be able to focus on the future. “I dont care. It’s meaningless. You can think of me as a faithless slut if you like. I’ve taken a new lover. He can give me what you cannot” (57).

-Death is seen as an enticing escape to many in inescapable situations. The woman, who must have at one time loved the man, is so deep in her own depression that she can safely rationalize the idea of dying and leaving two people that she cares for behind. “This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man’s brains out of his hair. That is my job” (74).

-The man's every breath is for his child. He is protective and cares for him very much. I think this line (and scene) is very telling of the type of relationship the two share. It's a sad comfort, I think. “I’ll be in the neighborhood. Okay?

Where’s the neighborhood?

It just means I wont be far.

Okay” (95).

-This showcases the kid's lack of a substantial cultural upbringing. When you're fighting for survival and cut off from communication with others you have a gap of information you're missing. It also reminds me of times when I'd ask my dad what a term or phrase meant. The childhood innocence is still there.


 * Vocabulary:**


 * Doric:** a style of ancient Greek architecture
 * Cochere:** the architectural term for a porch- or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which a horse and carriage (or motor vehicle) can pass in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather.
 * Kilned:** Burn, bake, or dry
 * Gable**: the vertical triangular end of a building from cornice or eaves to ridge
 * Formica**: a heat-resistant, wipe-clean, plastic laminate of paper or fabric with melamine resin.
 * Mendicant:** refers to begging or relying on charitable donations, and is most widely used for religious followers


 * Connection Master:**

pg 158 -- The man and the boy are talking about crows and flying to Mars. They spoke about how crows could fly all the way to the sun if they went high enough. This reminds me of the inexplicable things I used to believe when I was smaller. If you kissed a boy, you were automatically married, the wind is because of a lot of birds flying above us, etc.

pg 162 -- The man and the boy stumbled over another traveller (Ely). The boy wanted to help him very badly, to the point where he was in tears about it. It reminded me of seeing an emaciated dog on the side of the road a long time ago. I was terrified for it and I wanted to help it so badly, I started crying in the car and begging my dad to pull over. I wanted to take care of the dog because it was the right thing to do.

pg 183 -- The boy had a bad dream. His father had fallen asleep or died, and would not wake up. I had a dream like that a long time ago about one of my parents. The hopelessness and despair in that situation is frightening.


 * Discussion Director:**

What do think the last paragraph means?

What do you think makes us “human?”

What do you think “Carrying the fire” meant?