Quotations - expectations

1. The type of novel it might be
The Road is written in a classic American style, and is set in a post-apocalyptic world. Language used within the novel, "blacktop" and "glassed" make reference to it being set in America. Extracts which explain the feeling of infinite time, "Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth.", link to the genre of a post-apocalyptic novel as days, weeks and months begin to merge into one.

2. The story
McCarthy uses the cold war as inspiration for the novel, "We should go papa, he said. Yes, the man said. But he didn't.", as the man and the boy seem to be endlessly waiting in fear for danger to reach them. Just as during the cold war, countries would wait in fear of attack from enemies. 

3. Themes
Within the novel moral themes are raised surrounding what is right and wrong, "Are we still the good guys, he said.", and whether, in a post-apocalyptic world, it becomes necessary to do the previously 'unthought of' in order to protect your family.

4. Characters and relationships
The Road explores the relationship between the man and his son, and those they come across during their travels. The relationship of the man toward his son is distanced, "This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.", as their situation has forced their relationship to become one of necessity and survival, rather than one of affection.

5. The way the story might be told
Very minimal punctuation, "Okay? Okay.", and simplistic vocabulary, "Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. Canned ham. Corned beef.", aid to personify the monotonous - and seemingly infinite, experiences of the two characters and their journey.