EPISODE ONE; page one-six How does the episode impact you?

What was the writer doing to evoke this response? As an opening it introduces the circumstances appropriately as you see it is Father and Son (Papa) and also the danger, as they left their cart Where it could not be seen, which is the main insight into the horror genre of the novel. The writer, in this episode was trying to communicate to the reader the post-apocalyptic theme, McCarthy does this by on the first page saying Nights dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than what had gone before This shows the reader the post-apocalyptic state immediately as it shows the darkness, smoke, fire, emptiness and the pathetic fallacy of death, this is shown by all of the things that I have previously mentioned, as you would associate all of them with death. Also, McCarthy tries to portray a post-modern era, we know that it is post-modern due to the monotonous tone (due to no/little punctuation) and also the low culture, this is shown by some cold glaucoma dimming away the world which shows me the horror aspect because the world is slowly going blind. Plot progression (What will happen next?) We have no insight into what is going to happen because it is all kept as a mystery. All we know is that they are travelling south to an unsafe place. However it could be predicted that there will be some sort of tragedy or emotional loss because of the genre/post-apocalyptic theme. We also may presume that due to some references from films (e.g. Texas chainsaw massacre) that there will be some sort of disturbance to their normality, or what we can call there normality, but to us it would be abnormal. This is also due to the post-apocalyptic theme, which would suggest that they may come across pain and suffering, which they do. Your experience (change of mood? A lighter moment? Increase or release of tension?) In the first few pages there are different types of tension, these are: The tension of the reader because they do not know what is going to happen and do not know what to expect, they are made to think this way by clamped to the handle of the cart was a chrome motorcycle mirror that he used to watch the road behind them, which creates tension as to why they think that they need to look over their shoulders all the time. The tension of where the boy is uncertain of what is currently happening. We are shown this by the Father having to reassure the boy with Im right here. This backs up our previous thoughts as to why the boy needs reassuring that his Father is there. Maybe the man is getting paranoid for his sons wellbeing? Or maybe it has escalated way past that point. There is also a tension as to what has already happened, as we get the idea that it is post-apocalyptic, but we do not know what has happened. This tension grows on the readers mind throughout the novel, meaning that a lot of stories of what they have heard an apocalypse would be like would be going through their mind, which in fairness would alter the landscape in which they would presume that the novel is set, however whatever landscape they will know that it is filled with smoke, death and pain. How does this develop character and their relationship? This episode could alter the trust that the boy has for his Father, as he states Were not thinking. We have to go back. This could affect the boy throughout the book as he would constantly question the Fathers actions and whether or not they were correct. This would alter the readers impression of their relationship, but it would also alter the readers impression on the Mans plans for what they are going to do, if he has any. The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded? The language is continuously boring, simple and monotonous; however in ways of description, McCarthy uses this language to show the isolation, desperation and loneliness of the two. Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles? I am unsure as to whether this is a key episode, as in a way it is, as it introduces the story and the characters, however if you were to read from any point in the novel then you could read it as an opening. Therefore for how the book is supposed to be read (from page one onwards) it is fairly important as it establishes the setting. However, if it were possible to just pick up the book and read on then it would be irrelevant as it does not affect the way that the characters are or their circumstances. EPISODE TWO; pages 50-53. How the episode impacted on you? What was the writer doing to evoke this response? This episode impacted me in a way of pity and anger. I felt pity towards the man who had been struck by lightning, but also the boy. I felt pity towards the boy for the way that his Father handled the situation, which, in my eyes, was poorly. I also felt pity towards the boy for the description of him which was The boy was crying. He kept looking back Before, I could imagine an image of a young boy being a little distraught, but due to the circumstances of them being around like this for a while then I did not imagine that the boy would get caught up in his emotions such like he did. I felt anger towards the man who got stuck by lightning and the man. Because the man who had been struck was expecting a lot from people who have a little, who are in the same circumstances as him, which is that they are going to die. But the only difference is that the

boy and the man have a little bit longer to live, but also have company. Although, in times in a post-apocalyptic world, I presume that any company or any spoken word between two would be appreciated to the extent that no one would understand. McCarthy would of tried to gain sympathy for the man and boy, due to the circumstances, however I am unsure if he was expecting to make someone to be angry towards the Man, due to it being his only option but to leave the man to die. Plot progression (what will happen next?) I presume that after this episode then the two will carry on as normal, or as close to normal as they can be, this is due to firstly the circumstances, and secondly, due to the boy being only little I presume that he will stay quite upset and that the thought of that man dying alone will haunt his thoughts for a while, this may affect their journey as the boy may not be as charismatic as he previously was. Your experience (change of mood? A lighter moment? Increase or release of tension?)This episode alters my opinions of both characters, this is due to realising that they are still human, and by that I mean that they still do have feelings and they still are affected by pain and suffering. When usually, in a novel similar to this you would expect the characters to of become immune to their surroundings. I think that this episode has increased the tension between the Man and his Son as obviously his son is upset and the man is not helping. How does this develop character and their relationship? This, in my opinion alters their relationship a fair bit as they seem to not understand each other as well as I had presumed one would understand someone after years of being with the same person in a destroyed place. The boy, disagrees with the choice of his Fathers, which understandingly would cause him to resent his father a little, which would alter their relationship massively. The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded? In this episode, McCarthys description of the man is haunting, yet beautiful. This is due to the use of One of his eyes was burnt shut and his hair was but a nitty wig of ash upon his blackened skull Although it is quite a gruesome explanation which creates a shocking image, the way that he has described it, not using the mans facial expressions or body language, but his face and hair was phenomenal. I feel this way because when you imagine someone, you automatically imagine their face, so when you do not get a proper description of their face and how astounding it looks, but of how destroyed and rotten it is, it creates a more shocked feeling, which would make you think of the little boy and whether or not he was scared or upset by the mans face. Yet when McCarthy continues on to say that the boy wanted to help, it gives us a greater understanding on how mature the boy has had to become because of the circumstances. Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles? I think that this episode is partly key; this is due to the man who had been hit by lightning showing the desolation and destruction, associated with pain and suffering. But the conflict between the man and his son was like any other part in the novel, which in my eyes is not important. EPISODE THREE; pages 62-69 How the episode impacted on you? What was the writer doing to evoke this response? And how does this develop character and their relationship? I do not really know what to make of this episode. It has changed the way that I think about the man, as he was quite brutal yet calm yet protective. I cannot think too low of him as he had warned the man that if he came close then he would shoot him, which the man disobeyed him, therefore causing him to take serious action. I think that McCarthy wrote this episode extremely well as it showed how much the man did care for his son, however if he had not wanted his son to suffer anymore then he could of let the man kill him, but then the love for his son shines through showing that he has a great deal of love for his son. Plot progression (what will happen next?) With this episode it really does not lead you to expect anything else, as you are unaware of what lies ahead and what will happen, then again that is the case within the whole novel. Maybe it will alter the way that the reader will think when they next get into trouble and will make them excited to read on to what will happen when it gets to the man deciding on whether or not to take his sons life. Your experience (change of mood? A lighter moment? Increase or release of tension?) To me, this releases the tension, as it shows that the man is capable of protecting himself and his son, however tension is also raised as he now only has one bullet left, which would cause the reader to be a little anxious as to what would happen if they faced death.

The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded? In this episode, McCarthy is particularly descriptive, this is due to this episode being set out in narrative time (well the whole novel is), which means that it can be condensed or extracted. In this particular episode, the time is set in real time, so he is telling the story exactly as it is happening. Which means that we get the privilege of feeling as if we are there, turning our heads at the action. Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles? I really do think that this episode is a key episode as it reflects on their savage side which they have had to connect with in order to survive. However, they have not gone to the extent of the bad guys in which they have become cannibals. This episode really does impact the rest of the novel, as with the shooting, it then alters the choice of the man on whether or not to kill his son if he gets into more danger, because then he will be left alone and will not be able to shoot himself because he wasted a bullet on the road rat. EPISODE FOUR; pages 112-121 How the episode impacted on you? What was the writer doing to evoke this response? And Your experience (change of mood? A lighter moment? Increase or release of tension? This episode was really odd for me, as due to the episode being based on a film which we have been shown it was scarily accurate, and due to being shown that film I had such descriptive images in my head, partly from McCarthy and partly from viewing from that clip. This therefore had a larger impact on me than any other episode as it was more realistic because I could imagine real people in that scenario. McCarthy described this scene brilliantly, with me, he would have received the response that he set out for, which was to shock and horrify the reader to a point where they would have to read on to see if the men made it. The tension of the novel would of increased dramatically as the reader would be anxious as to whether both of them would make it and whether or not they would come across something else similar to what they had just witnessed. Plot progression (what will happen next?) I think that after this episode then the next part of the book will be focussed on them running away and getting to safety, also I think that it will be the man making sure that the boy is okay, but also gloating a little as he did tell the boy to stay outside. How does this develop character and their relationship? I think that this episode would alter the sons opinions of his father, and will make him obey him more as he will not argue against him when it comes to important opinions which can alter him potentially forever. The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded? The language is pretty much the same as it would be throughout the novel when vital parts happen, as it is very descriptive, creates an amazing image and also makes you feel emotion towards the characters. Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles? I think that this part is one of the best highlights of the book as it shows what the world has been turned to post-apocalypse as it shows just how corrupt the novel is and it also highlights how much danger the two are in. EPISODE FIVE; page210-215 How the episode impacted on you? What was the writer doing to evoke this response? And Your experience (change of mood? A lighter moment? Increase or release of tension?) This episode made me feel sick. I think that the lack of descriptive language that McCarthy used made my imagination go wild; imagining all different things to do with the baby, with what the people would have been doing etc. The tension of the whole novel again increases because of the danger which has just been introduced to the reader. Plot progression (what will happen next?) and How does this develop character and their relationship? What I am expecting to happen next, although I am unsure if it will happen, is that the boy will have a realisation of what has happened and what is actually going on, and what will occur in the future. I think that it will cause the boy to be more careful as to what he approaches and will always stay behind his Father. I think that he will have to depend on his Father a lot more after this as he will be petrified to approach the unknown.

The techniques employed by McCarthy. Is the language in keeping with the rest of the novel? Are there particular symbols or images that are foregrounded? As I previously said, McCarthys descriptive language is frightfully simple but incredibly precise and gruesome. This really goes in with the last few episodes as when something key is about to happen more things are being described and it just makes it more gory and sinister. Is this in fact a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in a novel without chapters or chapter titles? I think that as the last episode did, it shows that they are still human and they do still get affected by things which arent the norm, so it confirms our beliefs that they are living in a desperate world which they have no control over, but have a fear of dying constantly.