Figurative language/poetic vocabulary:
"glaucoma dimming away the world" p1
"granitic beast" p1
"water dripped and sang" p1
"great pendulum in its rotunda" p14
"loose and blowsy plumage in the still autumn air" p19
"barren ridgeline trees raw and black" p20
"creedless shells of men" p28
"on the gray snow a fine mist of blood" p30
Scattered throughout the novel, McCarthy's use of rich lyricism acts to define pivotal themes in the story. Each example can be linked to the beliefs and characteristics of the Man. McCarthy describes the world as dimming with 'glaucoma', which could be likened to the decay of hope that the Man has felt post Apocalypse, and the death of his wife.
The Man often talks of his dreams, and on page 1 shares that he dreamt he had been swallowed by a 'granitic beast' which, along with the previous quote, displays his wishes to die and end his journey on the road.
Wednesday 15 April 2015
Wednesday 1 April 2015
A limited palette
McCarthy is renowned for his frequent use of a pared down, limited palette within his novels.
The pared down language of the narrative reflects the pared down life the characters have to live: essentials only.
A recurring theme which runs through the novel is one of survival. Particular examples include the distanced relationship between the Man and the Boy, whereupon traditional father-son behaviours are replaced with the necessity of survival: "This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.". Essentials are welcomed and luxuries pushed aside in their attempt to protect themselves, which is reflected through the minimalistic writing style of McCarthy.
Avoiding emotional language and keeping it simple makes the narrative all the more emotionally engaging.
Denying the boy access to affection conditions him to survive alone, without the man. Similarly to how the woman treated the man prior to her death.
The pared down language of the narrative reflects the pared down life the characters have to live: essentials only.
A recurring theme which runs through the novel is one of survival. Particular examples include the distanced relationship between the Man and the Boy, whereupon traditional father-son behaviours are replaced with the necessity of survival: "This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.". Essentials are welcomed and luxuries pushed aside in their attempt to protect themselves, which is reflected through the minimalistic writing style of McCarthy.
Avoiding emotional language and keeping it simple makes the narrative all the more emotionally engaging.
Denying the boy access to affection conditions him to survive alone, without the man. Similarly to how the woman treated the man prior to her death.
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