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Marshall Steven American Literature Mrs. Clark Evans

Connections:

Bonds: When two people are put in a life and death situation together for a long time there is a unique bond that forms between people. People are more inclined to care for those who they are around constantly and rely on constantly. The man and the boy have formed this bond and are what is keeping them together. The boy is relying on the man to keep him safe and provide him with food and care for him. The man is relying on the boy to keep him going and keeping him from giving up hope, he has formed a bond with the boy where his only goal is to keep the boy alive.

Self-Reliance: People often take what they have for granted and don't know what they have until its gone. However, when every little thing counts people often are more careful and efficient. The boy and the man are careful with the oil and make sure to get the most out of every bottle. Most wouldn't take the extra time to get every last bit out and be careful doing so, they would waste and leave some. This efficiency is common to those i rough situations were their life counts on the little things. Why do we have to have are life on the lines or be in a dangerous situation to be this careful and efficient?

Quotes:

"I wish I was with my mom. He didn't answer.He sat beside the small figure wrapped in the quilts and blankets. After a while he said: You mean you wish you were dead?" (Page 55)

Why did the father instantly assume that the kid wanted to be dead, and not have the mom be alive with them? Instead of the possibility of life he jumps to the thought of death. How will this affect the mans decisions? Maybe he doesn't like his wife since she just abandoned them and would rather not be with her.

"There's no one to see. Do you want to die? Is that what you want?" (Page 85)

The kid has started hallucinating and its getting more and more affected by the apocalypse. Will this affect the mans decisions to keep the boy alive? How bad will these issues get? How upset is the father that the boy is getting these issues.

Vocab:

 Windrow: (107) A row heaped up by or as if by the wind.

Harrow: (109) An agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or uprightdisks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it,  break   upclods,   root   up weeds, etc.

 Privet: (111) Any of various deciduous or evergreen shrubs of the genus, having clusters of small white flowers and commonly grown as a hedge.

 Trellis: (121) A framework of this kind used as a support for growing vines or plants.