The Road Seminar/Argument Topics
1. “He said: if he is not the word of God God never spoke” (4). What evidence is there to
suggest that the son is a Christ figure and a representative of true goodness?
2. Choosing several minor characters, examine the role they play in the novel. You might
consider the mother to be a minor character.
3. Examine McCarthy’s use of stylistic devices and their effects. For example, you might
consider his sparse prose, vivid imagery, and minimal use of punctuation, especially in
dialogues.
4. Explore McCarthy’s use of symbolism in the novel in relation to his emphasis on
opposing forces (e.g. light and dark, and good and bad guys).
5. Examine what the novel teaches us in terms of the human capacity for great beauty and
terrible depravity.
6. In this post apocalyptic world, the father and son are “each the other’s world entire” (5).
Explore the nature of their relationship throughout the novel.