Lima Vega L.

Michell
English Lvl. 10
Teacher: Com Lung Siu

The Road
McCarthy Cormac

What would you do if you were in a post-apocalyptic world and you had to take care of
your child? Resources are null, hunger has made humans become cannibals and you only
have a couple of bullets. The anguish, the despair, the fear, the helplessness, all these
emotions are transmitted by the author in this book and makes the reader run out of
breath. McCarthy instead sounds the limits of imaginable love and despair between a
diligent father and his timid young son, "each other's world entire”. What choice would you
make? Kill your child or you teach all to learn to survive in a world where hope no longer
exists.

It’s the first McCarthy´s novel that I have read and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
Though, it is not something to pick up for light entertainment. Cormac McCarthy sets this
novel in a post-apocalyptic smudgy, grey sky, in the world where the whole ground is
covered with ash, a world in which all animals, birds and plants are extinct. The only
remaining is misery, agony and starvation. The main focus of the novel is not the
apocalypse that is central to the novel, but the relationship between father and son.
McCarthy uses this strongest of relationships to ponder some important questions about
humanity. The vision of world after a global disaster is the background for the relationship
of an unnamed boy and his father. Our two main characters, the man and his son, have
chosen to journey on without the knowledge of where their next meal will come from,
always paranoid of the constant threat of what they may encounter on The Road. Although
the possibility that they reach a place where life is still for living is minimal, the two have no
more possibilities. The only two things they still possess are affection and hope. There are,
of course, survivors, and that is where the real fear comes in. Here we see the traditional
transmuting of people who in utterly ultimate situation become monstrous cannibals.

Throughout the novel there is a strong focus on the bond between father and son. The
man sees his son as the only remaining sign of God's existence; without his son, the man
has no hope for the future. Their mutual desires to live and die depend solely on one
another. Another theme that emerges at the start of the story is that of frames, or skeletal
shapes. In the city and along the road, all that the father and boy see are the shapes of the
old world. They see the frames of cars, barns, and houses, and they see the physical
remains of dried and decaying human bodies. At the end of the story you can see a shift in
roles between the boy and the father. It’s now the boy who carries the revolver and leaves
in search of food. The man knows that it's time for the boy to go ahead of him, to be a part
of a future that doesn't involve him.

About Characters:

The father, goes unnamed throughout the story; He is the boy's father, his papa,
and believes that he has been entrusted by God to keep the boy safe and to protect him
from harm and the evils in the world — even if that means killing him before the bad guys
can get to him. The connection that the man feels with his son is sacred, almost holy, and
throughout the novel the man makes great sacrifices to allow his son to live on and have a
future. He shows his son how to carry the fire, first with his help, and then, later, without
him.
The son, unnamed too, is the only source of light in his father's life. Similarly, the
man is all that the boy has, and the boy doesn't want to live unless his father remains with
him. The boy is strong and resilient, but also sensitive and compassionate. It is the boy
who is able to get the man to show kindness to others on the road, however begrudgingly
such kindness is given. One of the boy's top priorities is to be a good guy.

Characters Map:

Teach his son how to survive

THE MAN THE BOY
Protective, sacrifices
everything for his son. Caring,
Survivor compassionate and
resilient

Makes him remember what

 Lima Vega L. Michell
English Lvl. 10
Teacher: Com Lung Siu

VOCABULARY

1. accommodation : (n) a room for living. 26. charity : (n) the aim of helping people in
2. contest : (n) an event in which people need.
compete each other for a prize. 27. screening: (v) the act of examining a
3. transportation : (n) vehicles for carrying group of people for disease, a fault.
people to another place. 28. show off: (v) to try to impress other by
4. fee: (n) an amount of money paid for a doing something or talking about your
service. abilities, possessions, etc.
5. participant: (n) a person who takes part in 29. parade: (n) a public procession, usually as
a contest. part of a special day.
6. pageant: (n) a contest 30. leash: (v) to have a strip of leather around
7. condition: (n) a thing on which another an animal’s neck
thing depends. 31. yell: (v) the act of shouting loudly because
8. cook-off: (n) a cooking competition. you are angry, excited or in a pain.
9. categorize: (n) to place in a category 32. check out : (v) to see or watch something.
10. turn: (v) to reach or pass the specified age. 33. maze: (n) complicated system of paths and
11. fake: (adj.) not real. passages separated by walls designed in
12. frisky: (adj.) lively and full of energy. such a way that it’s difficult to find the exit.
13. proceeds: (n) the money obtained from an 34. anticipate: (v) expect with excitement.
event. 35. amateur: (adj) not professional.
14. automobile: (n) a car. 36. acording to: (v) in relation to something.
15. fluffy: (adj.) pleasantly soft, usually 37. recipe: (n) a set of instructions telling you
covered whit wool. how to cook something.
16. annual: (adj.) happening every year. 38. wrap up: (phr v) to complete something.
17. go on: (phr. v) to happen, take place. 39. turn in: (phr v)to give or hand something
18. kick off: (phr v) to begin. in.
19. thrilling: (adj) fascinating. 40. pass out. (phr v) to give.
20. simulated: (adj.) artificial but made to look 41. ceremony: (n) a public occasion that
like the real thing. includes a series of formal actions.
21. lip-sync: (v) to move your lips while 42. at least : (phr v) not less than.
listening to a song without singing actually. 43. like : (prep)in the same way as.
22. lastly: (adv.) finally. 44. likely: ( adj) probable to happen.
23. gather: (v) to come together in one place. 45. tell apart (ex) to distinguish one thing or
24. spectacular: (adj) very impressive. person from another.
25. packed full (adj) full of. 46. at last: (idm) after much delay, effort.
47. celebration: (n) a special gathering were 71. correspondent: (n) a person who reports
people enjoy a special occasion. news.
48. festival: (n) a series of events occurring 72. servant: (n) a person who is paid to work at
for a limited period of time. somebody else home.
49. procession: (n) a line of people moving 73. struggle: (v) to try really hard.
along slowly. 74. establish: (v) to place or settle oneself in a
50. tuition: (n) a sum of money charged for position.
teaching of individuals college or university 75. waterway: (n) a canal or river along with
51. prize: (n) something given to a person for boats can travel.
being the best in a competition. 76. windmill: (n) a structures with parts that
52. trophy: (n) an object like a silver cup given turn around used to change the power of
to the winner of a competition. the wind into electricity.
53. award: (n) money or benefit you receive 77. dairy products: (n) products made from
because something you have done. milk.
54. reward: (n) something given in exchange 78. bizarre: (adj) very strange or unusual.
for good behavior or good work. 79. engage in: (phr v) to get involved.
55. whereabouts : (n) the place where 80. carving: (n) the act of cutting something
something is. into paces.
56. brand new: (adj) new and never used 81. judge: (v) to estimate the value.
before. 82. slice: (n) a smal thin piece of something.
57. artificial: (adj) made by man. 83. hand out: (phr v) to give out.
58. fake: (adj) but made to look or seem real. 84. cheese curd: (in phr) a thick soft substance
59. false: (adj) wrong, not true. used in making cheese.
60. sweetener: (n) substance used instead of 85. turn in: (phr v) to go to bed.
sugar 86. turn down: (phr v) to refuse
61. go on: (v) to continue. 87. turn up: (phr v) to go or show up.
62. go with: (phr v) to match. 88. tuna into: (phr v) to change in something or
63. go off: (phr v) to explode. someone else.
64. go through: (phr v) to experience or suffer 89. turn over : (phr v) to give something.
something unpleasant. 90. tradition: (n) a custom.
65. approve: (v) to think that something is 91. venue: (n) a place where public events take
acceptable. place.
66. go ahead with: (phr v) to proceed to do 92. entertaining: (adj) amusing.
something after an approval. 93. promising : (adj) something may be
67. go over: (phr v) to examine something successful.
carefully. 94. sensation: (n) a state of great.
68. consultant: (n) a person who is an expert 95. feasible: (adj) likely to be done.
and give advices. 96. downside: (n) a disadvantage.
69. assistant: (n) a person who helps another. 97. responsibility: (n) something that must be
70. applicant: (n) a person who is looking for a done.
job.
98. as far as: (idm)regarding oneself or one’s
opinion.
99. exchange: (v) to give something to receive
something elese.
100. tolerance: (n) tha ability to accept opinions.
101. spot.: (n) a specific place.
102. socialize: (v) to spend time with people.
103. beneficial: (adj) having a helpful effect.
104. mature: (adj) fully grown.
105. ethnic: (adj) involving a nation race or tribe.
106. custom: (n) traditional.
107. dowry: (n) a custom according to which
property or moneys bought by the groom to
his bride.
108. bide-to-be: (n) a woman who is about to
marry.
109. indicative: (adj) showing or suggesting
something.
110. stability: (n) the quality or state of being
steady.
111. hillside: (n) the hill of a side.
112. naval (n): connected with a navy.
113. in-laws: (n pl) relatives by marriage
114. bridesmaid: (n) a woman accompanying
and helping a bride at her wedding.
115. notice: (v) to obsess with.
116. handmade: (adj)made by hand.
117. blanket: (n) a thick woolen for keeping
people warm.
118. extended in-laws: (ex) uncles, aunts and
cousins regarded as close relatives by law.
119. deceased: (adj) dead.
120. symbolise: (v) to refer to something else.
121. manner: (n) : the way something is done.
122. flooded: (adj) very crowded.
123. numerous: (adj) a lot in number.
124. purpose: (n) aim.
125. tear apart: (phr v) to destroy.
126. range. (n) variety.
127. hist: (v) to act as a host.
128. showcase:(v) to show something favorably.
129. masterpiece: (n) a great piece.
130. national holiday: ( n phr) a period of time
when people don't work.
131. definitely: (adv) certainly.
132. giggle: (v) to laugh in a silly way.
133. cookout: (v) a meal prepared bonfire
outside the house.
134. Last: (v) to have a length of time.
135. Corn on the cob: (n) Corn plant cooked
without removing the yellow grains and
eaten as a vegetable
136. Watermelon: (n) a type of a large melon
with a green a skin, red fresh and black
seeds.
137. Get together: (ex) to meet each other.
138. Causal: (adj) Everyday, not formal.
139. Dress up: (phr v) to wear formal clothes.
140. Address: (v) to use a particular name or
title in writing or speaking to somebody.
141. Recipient: (n) a person who receives
something.
142. Sing of: (phr v) to end a letter by signing
your name.
143. Contraction. (n) a short form of a word.
144. Punctuation. (n) the marks used to divide
writing into sentences or phrases, such as
comma, full-stop, etc.
145. Exclamation mark: (n phr) a mark used
after phrases expressing surprise, pain,
anger, etc.
146. Exclamatory language: (n phr) a language
that expresses strong feelings.
147. Direct question: (n) a question asking
directly what you want.
148. Firm: (adj) strong, steady and not likely to
chance opinion.
149. Response: ( n ) reply .
150. Chatty: (adj) talking a lot in a friendly way.
151. Relic: (n) a part of the body, clothes or
possessions of a holy person kept after
their death and is deeply respected.
152. Replant: (v) to put plants in the ground
again.
153. Full moon: (n phr) the moon appearing in a
full circle.
154. Elaborately: (adv) in a elegant way.
155. Word order: (n phr) the way in which the
words are organised in a sentence.
156. Preposition: (n) a word used before a noun
or pronoun to show place, position, etc.
157. Tense: (n) the form of a verb that shows
the time of the action.
158. Article: (n) the word a, an, or the.
159. 59. Spelling: (n) the act of forming words
from individual letters.
160. extraterrestrial: (n) a creature from another
planet.
161. decade: (n) a period of ten years.
162. peak: (n) a highest point.
163. convinced: (adj.) made to believed that
something is true.
164. launch: (v) to send something on its
course.
165. locate: (v) to discover the exact position.
166. position: (n) a place where something is.
167. transmission: (n) the act of sending through
production of signals.
168. download: (v) to move data from a bigger
computer system to smaller one.
169. assist: (v) to help something.
170. analyse: (v) to examine the nature of
something in order to understand or explain
it.
171. rapid: (adj) quick.
172. illuminated: (adj) lit up
173. sophisticated: (adj) clever and complicated.
174. representative: (adj) typical of a class.
175. cluster: (n) a group of the same things that
appear together.
176. determine: (v) to decide.
177. mankind: (n) the human race.
178. controversial: (adj) being the subject of
argument.
179. be worth: (adj) deserving something.
180. curiosity: (n) the wish to know.
181. universe (n) the system which includes the
stars and planets.
182. publish: (v) to print something for the public
to read.
183. astronomer: (n) somebody who studies
astronomy.
184. claim: (v) to say that something is true.
185. observe: (v) to watch something carefully.
186. indicate: (v) to show that something is
possible.
187. existence. (n) the state of existing.
188. persuade. (v) to make someone believe
something by giving them a good reason.
189. signal: (n) a sign.
190. reflect:(v): to show the image of something.
191. surface: (n) the top or outside.
192. unmanned: (adj) without people on board.
193. plaque: (n) a flat of piece of stone.
194. come across: (phr v) to find something by
chance.
195. probe: (n) a spacecraft without people on
board.
196. attached: (adj) joined to something.
197. with a view to: (idm) with the aim of.
198. trasmite: (v) to send a signal.
199. compose: (v) to put something together.
200. structure: (n) the way something is
organized.