The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Our fourth paper will be based on The Road by Cormac McCarthy. You will choose ONE option from the list below:

 

  1. Write a paper in which you compare and contrast the novel to the movie. Questions to consider: Why are scenes left out or altered? How does the movie approach difficult situations from the novel and vice versa? Do they change or replace any characters? Why? How does the cinematography influence the mood of the story? All or none of these can be answered

 

  1. Choose and analyze one character, group, or theme from the novel.

You can focus on one character, group of people mentioned in the novel, or prevalent theme from the story. Themes to consider: father/son relationship, Mother/son relationship, post-apocalyptic life, good vs. evil, life vs. death, survival, memory of the past, compassion, spirituality, violence, etc.

 

  1. Analyze Personal and Public Space in a Post-Apocalyptic World

For this prompt you will continue on with the main theme of the class: space. Questions to consider: Does personal and public space exist and to what degree? How is space owned or governed, and how do others abide by this? To what extent do people in the novel have a responsibility for helping others. What makes certain acts/situations justifiable over others?

 

  1. View the novel through a literary lens.

You may also use parts of the movie, but your overall analysis should be based on the novel. For this prompt you will choose a literary lens (Psychoanalytic, Feminist, Ecocriticism, Marxist) and discuss how this lens could be used to interpret the text.

 

  1. Choose your own adventure!

If you come up with a new and unique idea for this paper, please discuss your idea with me. All “adventure” prompts need to be cleared with me before you begin writing. Failure to get your idea cleared with me will result in a ZERO on your paper.

 

All papers must:

-Be a minimum of 6 pages

-Be focused with a strong thesis statement

-Avoid all use of 1st and 2nd person (3rd person ONLY)

-Include 2 outside sources (any used previously in the semester or additional outside sources. Please make sure that your sources are academic, reliable, and refrain from using Wikipedia)

-Include a works cited page

 

Extra Credit: Peer Review