A section from Georges Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
I'm going shopping in the village. Be a good boy. Don't get up to mischief.
This was a silly thing to say to a small boy. It made him wonder. What sort of mischief could he get up to.
Dont forget to give Grandma her medicine, the mother said. Then she left.
Grandma was dozing in her chair by the window when she opened one wicked little eye and said, now you heard what your mother said. Don't forget my medicine.
Okay.
And try to behave yourself.
Yes.
George was bored to tears. He didn't have a brother or a sister and his father was a farmer and the farm they lived on was miles away from anywhere and there was never any children to play with. He was tired of staring. He was especially tired of living with Grandma. Looking after her all by himself on a Saturday morning. Hardly exciting.
You can make me a nice cup of tea, she said.
Yes.
The boy couldn't help disliking her. She was selfish, grumpy, old. Pale brown teeth. Puckered up mouth.
How much sugar in your tea, said the boy.
One. No milk.
Most Grandmas are lovely and kind and helpful. But not her. She spent all day complaining, grousing, grouching, grumbling, griping. Never once has she smiled. She didn't seem to care about others. Only herself. Miserable. George went into the kitchen and made Grandma a cup of tea with a teabag and he put one spoon of sugar in it and no milk and he stirred the sugar well and carried the cup into the living room and Grandma took a sip.
Not sweet enough, she said.
Monday, 19 November 2012
The Ending of The Road
when the father dies (299-300)
I think this is the end of the novel because of the death of the father. Throughout the entire book we are looking upon a shared journey between boy and father. Surely without the father being there the journey has ended? I know that the boy will now go on to have a new start and therefore his journey isn't over but the whole venture was about this unbreakable bond, the dependency on each other for survival, the lost hope they share but is reignited by the fact they have each other.
A quote from the novel says, 'In that cold corridor they had reached the point of no return which was measured from the first solely by the light they carried with them.'
McCarthy uses the setting of a 'cold corridor' the fact that its cold carries on the bleak theme that runs throughout. Also the corridor could be symbolic also as a passageway for the leaving of the fathers spirit/soul as he is now dead. From this it could be determined the end because throughout the entire novel the father promises the son that he will not leave him, I think McCarthy did this so that he could really emphasise when the ending occurred, now that the promise has been broken, it was that promise in the first place that meant that the journey could carry on.
It could also suggest the end because they have 'reached the point of no return' which is pretty self explanatory. But they have reached the point where it's physically impossible for them to turn back and there's no going forward for the both of them either.
Finally the light they are carrying has gone out. Light can be used as a symbol of a goal or hope in this case the light has gone out, there are no more goals and the hope that was there for them has gone (people may argue that they didn't have any hope left but why would they have carried on so long?). It can also mean a symbol of safety, security and life. The boys safety and security is now gone, he is unsafe and vulnerable. The fact that it's gone out shows a life that's been lost. My last point is that this was the light they carried with them their whole journey, the lights gone out - journey ended. A bit like Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium when he is on his last pair of shoes.
when the father dies (299-300)
I think this is the end of the novel because of the death of the father. Throughout the entire book we are looking upon a shared journey between boy and father. Surely without the father being there the journey has ended? I know that the boy will now go on to have a new start and therefore his journey isn't over but the whole venture was about this unbreakable bond, the dependency on each other for survival, the lost hope they share but is reignited by the fact they have each other.
A quote from the novel says, 'In that cold corridor they had reached the point of no return which was measured from the first solely by the light they carried with them.'
McCarthy uses the setting of a 'cold corridor' the fact that its cold carries on the bleak theme that runs throughout. Also the corridor could be symbolic also as a passageway for the leaving of the fathers spirit/soul as he is now dead. From this it could be determined the end because throughout the entire novel the father promises the son that he will not leave him, I think McCarthy did this so that he could really emphasise when the ending occurred, now that the promise has been broken, it was that promise in the first place that meant that the journey could carry on.
It could also suggest the end because they have 'reached the point of no return' which is pretty self explanatory. But they have reached the point where it's physically impossible for them to turn back and there's no going forward for the both of them either.
Finally the light they are carrying has gone out. Light can be used as a symbol of a goal or hope in this case the light has gone out, there are no more goals and the hope that was there for them has gone (people may argue that they didn't have any hope left but why would they have carried on so long?). It can also mean a symbol of safety, security and life. The boys safety and security is now gone, he is unsafe and vulnerable. The fact that it's gone out shows a life that's been lost. My last point is that this was the light they carried with them their whole journey, the lights gone out - journey ended. A bit like Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium when he is on his last pair of shoes.
Saturday, 17 November 2012
The Road Quotations Explanations
This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.
The word 'my' is a possessive pronoun, it shows the belonging of the boy to the man. Also the use of short sentences adds a slight tension to the possessiveness, almost as if he is feeling threatened and therefore must stand his ground. Due to the use of the word child we can assume that the man is the boys father, however using the word child makes it sound like a distant relationship in comparison to a more affectionate addressing of 'son'. This quote states, 'a dead mans brains' this could indicate to the reader a sense of danger but also that of intrigue at the mystery of what is happening to the father and son. Moreover the father describes this act as a 'job', this could suggest purpose in his life, as those who work feel like they have purpose and this is what he feels is his. However the word 'job' can also be associated with negative feelings as some people find a job like a chore, the man could be comparing him looking after his son to a tiresome task.
Yes I am, he said. I am the one.
In this quote, the way 'I am' is written and repeated could imply a sense of self confidence. Also of power as the 'I am' isn't abbreviated, almost emphasising the fact the he is the one. The short sentences used could suggest certainty as there isn't any explanation needed moreover it shows even more confidence as he doesn't feel the need to explain himself. Also it indicates to the reader that someone is asking for someone 'the one' could be suggesting someone of high power.
Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. Canned hams. Corned beef.
The start of this quote is a list because of this the reader could assume that the person saying this is quite familiar with these objects and therefore reads them off very quickly, much like most lists that are repetitive and monotonous. However when it comes to 'canned hams' and 'corned beef' they are now structured in short sentences creating longer pauses between each sentence, this could suggest unfamiliarity with these items and also some pleasant surprise. It could also indicate to the reader what kind of situation the characters are in as they seem to be getting excited about foods that people would deem as everyday and boring.
Are we still the good guys, he said.
This quote is said by the boy to his father. It shows the boys doubts about both himself and his father. The fact that he asks his father for reassurance could suggest moral fear. He doesn't want to be seen as a bad guy which also highlights the boys age, as when you are a child you always want to be seen in a good light. His doubt could suggest that the characters have done something wrong which is suggested also by the word, 'still' being used.
We should go, Papa, he said. Yes, the man said. But he didn't.
This quote is a conversation between the father and son. The son address' is father as 'papa' which shows his affection towards him. Also its a kind of role reversal as its the son telling the father that they should leave, this could show a certain level of maturity that the boy has because of the situation that they are in, as he can sense danger or a situation when they are vulnerable. However the use of the word 'should' could suggest that the boy knows his place as he doesn't tell the father to get out but instead suggests it to him. The fact that the father says yes and then doesn't leave suggests that their relationship isn't a strong one, as the son clearly shows signs of fear and wants to go but the father chooses to ignore his judgement.
The snow fell nor did it cease to fall.
The way this quote is written makes it sound like a beautiful scene at Christmas which is far from the reality of it. In fact during this novel snow is an extreme danger to the two characters. The use of the word 'fell' makes it sound delicate however the past tense of that word, 'fall', then makes it sound hard hitting and uncontrollable. The contrast between these two parts could be related to the world the two characters are living in (if you can call that living) as in that even though its very bleak, there are moments when hope is restored like the delicate shower of snow and then is quickly buried like the heavy fall of snow. Its uncertain and not long lasting.
They sat on the edge of the tub and pulled their shoes on and then he handed the boy the pan and soap and he took the stove and the little bottle of gas and the pistol and wrapped in their blankets and they went back across the yard to the bunker.
This quote is very long and boring. The use of 'and' eight times could suggest how tiresome it is, as if there is just one thing after another, much like their journey - one bad thing after another. It's hard to tell whether McCarthy would want us to read this quickly or slowly. In this case I think that it should be read quickly, almost as if to get it over with because the task they are achieving is incredibly slow and a task that people would not usually tell others of. Therefore suggests that they have so little to tell that they must tell of these simplistic tasks.
Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth.
The silence in this quote could refer back to the lack of life that there is and silence is usually a time of peace and serenity however within in this context it could suggest that the silence is almost deafening as that it all there is to the earth that they live in now. Plus it could imply danger, as silence is often used in high tension scenes in films because silence scares people.
She was gone and the coldness of it was her final gift.
For me, this is the most beautiful quote in the entire book. It seems such a simplistic way to describe someones death as 'she was gone' but by using only those three words McCarthy can evoke such emotion from the readers towards the characters. It also symbolises how precious life is within the novel, it takes a moment to read, it can take a moment to happen in the novel and the characters can be gone within the blink of an eye. Her death is described as her 'final gift' which suggests to the reader a sacrifice in which she made for the benefit of her family (although this could be argued). Also the use of the word 'coldness' suggests the lack of warmth coming from that character, the soul is sometimes connected to someones warmth, so it could imply that the characters soul was cold, much like the world in which she lived in. It almost implies that the world the characters were encased in is so bleak that it freezes souls (which could also be linked to the lack of soul within society e.g cannibalism)
This is my child, he said. I wash a dead man's brains out of his hair. That is my job.
The word 'my' is a possessive pronoun, it shows the belonging of the boy to the man. Also the use of short sentences adds a slight tension to the possessiveness, almost as if he is feeling threatened and therefore must stand his ground. Due to the use of the word child we can assume that the man is the boys father, however using the word child makes it sound like a distant relationship in comparison to a more affectionate addressing of 'son'. This quote states, 'a dead mans brains' this could indicate to the reader a sense of danger but also that of intrigue at the mystery of what is happening to the father and son. Moreover the father describes this act as a 'job', this could suggest purpose in his life, as those who work feel like they have purpose and this is what he feels is his. However the word 'job' can also be associated with negative feelings as some people find a job like a chore, the man could be comparing him looking after his son to a tiresome task.
Yes I am, he said. I am the one.
In this quote, the way 'I am' is written and repeated could imply a sense of self confidence. Also of power as the 'I am' isn't abbreviated, almost emphasising the fact the he is the one. The short sentences used could suggest certainty as there isn't any explanation needed moreover it shows even more confidence as he doesn't feel the need to explain himself. Also it indicates to the reader that someone is asking for someone 'the one' could be suggesting someone of high power.
Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. Canned hams. Corned beef.
The start of this quote is a list because of this the reader could assume that the person saying this is quite familiar with these objects and therefore reads them off very quickly, much like most lists that are repetitive and monotonous. However when it comes to 'canned hams' and 'corned beef' they are now structured in short sentences creating longer pauses between each sentence, this could suggest unfamiliarity with these items and also some pleasant surprise. It could also indicate to the reader what kind of situation the characters are in as they seem to be getting excited about foods that people would deem as everyday and boring.
Are we still the good guys, he said.
This quote is said by the boy to his father. It shows the boys doubts about both himself and his father. The fact that he asks his father for reassurance could suggest moral fear. He doesn't want to be seen as a bad guy which also highlights the boys age, as when you are a child you always want to be seen in a good light. His doubt could suggest that the characters have done something wrong which is suggested also by the word, 'still' being used.
We should go, Papa, he said. Yes, the man said. But he didn't.
This quote is a conversation between the father and son. The son address' is father as 'papa' which shows his affection towards him. Also its a kind of role reversal as its the son telling the father that they should leave, this could show a certain level of maturity that the boy has because of the situation that they are in, as he can sense danger or a situation when they are vulnerable. However the use of the word 'should' could suggest that the boy knows his place as he doesn't tell the father to get out but instead suggests it to him. The fact that the father says yes and then doesn't leave suggests that their relationship isn't a strong one, as the son clearly shows signs of fear and wants to go but the father chooses to ignore his judgement.
The snow fell nor did it cease to fall.
The way this quote is written makes it sound like a beautiful scene at Christmas which is far from the reality of it. In fact during this novel snow is an extreme danger to the two characters. The use of the word 'fell' makes it sound delicate however the past tense of that word, 'fall', then makes it sound hard hitting and uncontrollable. The contrast between these two parts could be related to the world the two characters are living in (if you can call that living) as in that even though its very bleak, there are moments when hope is restored like the delicate shower of snow and then is quickly buried like the heavy fall of snow. Its uncertain and not long lasting.
They sat on the edge of the tub and pulled their shoes on and then he handed the boy the pan and soap and he took the stove and the little bottle of gas and the pistol and wrapped in their blankets and they went back across the yard to the bunker.
This quote is very long and boring. The use of 'and' eight times could suggest how tiresome it is, as if there is just one thing after another, much like their journey - one bad thing after another. It's hard to tell whether McCarthy would want us to read this quickly or slowly. In this case I think that it should be read quickly, almost as if to get it over with because the task they are achieving is incredibly slow and a task that people would not usually tell others of. Therefore suggests that they have so little to tell that they must tell of these simplistic tasks.
Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth.
The silence in this quote could refer back to the lack of life that there is and silence is usually a time of peace and serenity however within in this context it could suggest that the silence is almost deafening as that it all there is to the earth that they live in now. Plus it could imply danger, as silence is often used in high tension scenes in films because silence scares people.
She was gone and the coldness of it was her final gift.
For me, this is the most beautiful quote in the entire book. It seems such a simplistic way to describe someones death as 'she was gone' but by using only those three words McCarthy can evoke such emotion from the readers towards the characters. It also symbolises how precious life is within the novel, it takes a moment to read, it can take a moment to happen in the novel and the characters can be gone within the blink of an eye. Her death is described as her 'final gift' which suggests to the reader a sacrifice in which she made for the benefit of her family (although this could be argued). Also the use of the word 'coldness' suggests the lack of warmth coming from that character, the soul is sometimes connected to someones warmth, so it could imply that the characters soul was cold, much like the world in which she lived in. It almost implies that the world the characters were encased in is so bleak that it freezes souls (which could also be linked to the lack of soul within society e.g cannibalism)
Sunday, 11 November 2012
First Key episodes from The Road
Shooting the ‘roadrat’ (62-69)
Key Episodes
Coming across the man who has been struck by lightning
(50-53)
In this section the man struck by lightning is described as
‘uncertain’. The use of this word could be a reference to the theme of fear
throughout the novel, the vast amount of threats that the characters face means
that uncertainty is high. On the other hand it could imply the uncertainty
within the character himself, physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally
– when you are thrown into such a world of catastrophe becoming uncertain is
easy. The boy immediately says, ‘what should we do, Papa?’, this shows a clear
sign of morals of the young boy and also the affection that he shows towards
his father by the way he address’ him. Moreover the boy is showing a caring
nature, by doing this McCarthy indicates to the reader the qualities a child
can bring to a dark situation, the boy is almost a symbol of the compassionate
nature that all humans possess. This is a harsh contrast to how his father
reacts to the man, who says ‘we can’t help him.’ The boy almost pleads with his
father to help him, it shows the lack of understanding the boy has upon the
situation and his naivety. The reader could have a negative view on the Father
now because of how he reacted and the fact that the boy starts crying will
evoke an emotional response as no one likes to see a child cry. Also quite
noticeably the relationship between father and son deteriorates; he goes from
addressing his father as ‘Papa’ to not even acknowledging him. In response to
this the Father assures the son that there was nothing that could have been
done, by doing this it shows how highly the Father regards their relationship
as he cannot bear the fact that they aren’t talking and the Father himself
needs reassuring that the son is alright with him; showing the dependency. Plot
progression is hard to decipher at this point as there is a range of options
that could follow, however I do believe that the relationship between the two
will grow as they come to realise just how important their bond shall become.
The language used in this section is similar to language that runs throughout
however when the boy speaks he asks a lot of questions, it shows his
persistence and the short responses from the father could show his annoyance
with his sons asking. This section is very important as it tests the
relationship between the two characters and shows the reader the implications
the father must go through to protect his son whilst trying at the same time
not to sever the relationship that they have.
Shooting the ‘roadrat’ (62-69)
During this episode the reader is impacted a lot, much like
a horror movie the tension is built throughout making the reader want to read
on. Emotionally the reader is taken on a journey as there is uncertainty to whether
the boy will make it out alive or not, also the fact that the boy is a child
could make the reader feel more empathy. Within this section the father kills
the ‘roadrat’ and he is seen in a new light entirely. The reader may feel
respect towards the father at his victorious attempt at saving his son but also
the question may arise as to where he got such confidence and precision from
when using the gun. Moreover we see the paternal side to the character as he
shows the great lengths he will go to, to protect his child from harm. He
threatens the ‘roadrat’ by saying, ‘if you look at him again, I’ll kill you,’
this could show that the character is very strong however the failure to follow
through with his actions straight away and since he carries on the conversation
it could imply a slight fear that he may have. It is not until he son has been
taken by the ‘roadrat’ that he pursues his earlier words. This section also
shows the strong relationship that the boy and father share.
Although many parents would go to much trouble to protect their child, there is
an edge to this character that makes this bond so much more intense. He will
not let his son be put in harm’s way however this could be interpreted in
different lights. The reader knows that the father loves his son and therefore
is obviously going to do all he can to protect him; however there is an element
of reliance upon the son, that he needs him there for his own survival – his
son is a crutch for him. In this section I think the reader could assume that
the plot progresses by the pair getting as far away as possible from the sight
of the truck to avoid any danger. McCarthy uses vivid images to describe the
death of the ‘roadrat’ saying, ‘blood bubbling from the hole in his forehead’
the lack of emotion at his death and the simplistic way the death is described doesn't allow the reader to feel any emotional sadness towards this character
at all. This is another important section as it allows the reader to see what
dangers the pair face and how they need a secure relationship because no one
else left in the world can be trusted.
Finding the cellar of mutilated and naked people (112-121)
During this key episode the reader is introduced to McCarthy's written style as he tries to imitate a horror movie. His use of complex sentences then down to short sentences adds tension and fear to this episode and then the lengthening of the sentences again gives the reader a sort of anti climax. It says in this episode 'all the things he saw and did not see' this could be a metaphor for his entire journey on the road, how to him what he saw was very much the survival of him and his son however his son could see on a different emotional level to him which is why he was 'almost in tears' and shows compassion for the man hit by lightening. His father has lost that emotional insight because of the bleak world in which he lives and also as he possess' the knowledge that the son lacks because of age and acquired wisdom. The quote from this episode, 'He looked down at him. All he saw was terror. He took the gun from him. No you dont, he said.' the fact that the father looked down on the boy could show a moment of thought and also possibly a tiny hint of disappointment (as if getting looked down on and told off) but not at the fact that the boy doesn't know how to use the gun but because there's a sudden realisation that the father himself must kill the boy. It says, 'all he saw was terror' showing that the boy cannot handle this as he is too young which just adds to the ultimatum the father must face. Further on there is a quote saying, 'Could you crush that beloved skull with a rock.' the father is doubting his ability to kill his own son. The use of the word 'crush' could imply that it will crush a lot more than just the little boys skull and that it could crush the father completely. Also its indicated to the reader what turmoil they are in as the next humanist way to kill his son is to kill him with a rock, this shows just what the characters have to go through. This could impact readers with children a lot as they could put themselves in that position and deliberate on what they would do. The use of the word 'beloved' also shows the importance of this relationship and also the affection from the father that we haven't really seen yet towards the son, well not on this level anyway.
The baby on the spit ( 210-215)
The boys response to seeing the baby was 'oh Papa', even though the boy isn't very old this shows that he still has a strong sense of emotion and empathy towards events that happen. However afterwards McCarthy writes,' What the boy had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit.' by writing it in such a bleak and so unsympathetically it doesn't really allow the reader a chance to feel remorse for the baby, for we do not know anything about it. The killing of the baby is quite clear and concise and much alike what happens to a fish when its being cooked. Comparing it to an animal cooking is a strange thought because we will show shock at a baby being roasted on a spit but not a fish when they are both living creatures with the same basic anatomy. Also the Dad says to the little boy, 'I'm sorry, he whispered. I'm sorry ' this could imply many different sorry's. He could be apologising to the son because he feels guilty as he is the one that led them there, also he is meant to protect his son so he could be feeling guilty that he couldn't shield him from such a haunting sight. On the other hand because he is apologising generally for the death of the baby which could show him unlocking a more vulnerable side to him - as if the road has finally worn him down.
Finding the cellar of mutilated and naked people (112-121)
During this key episode the reader is introduced to McCarthy's written style as he tries to imitate a horror movie. His use of complex sentences then down to short sentences adds tension and fear to this episode and then the lengthening of the sentences again gives the reader a sort of anti climax. It says in this episode 'all the things he saw and did not see' this could be a metaphor for his entire journey on the road, how to him what he saw was very much the survival of him and his son however his son could see on a different emotional level to him which is why he was 'almost in tears' and shows compassion for the man hit by lightening. His father has lost that emotional insight because of the bleak world in which he lives and also as he possess' the knowledge that the son lacks because of age and acquired wisdom. The quote from this episode, 'He looked down at him. All he saw was terror. He took the gun from him. No you dont, he said.' the fact that the father looked down on the boy could show a moment of thought and also possibly a tiny hint of disappointment (as if getting looked down on and told off) but not at the fact that the boy doesn't know how to use the gun but because there's a sudden realisation that the father himself must kill the boy. It says, 'all he saw was terror' showing that the boy cannot handle this as he is too young which just adds to the ultimatum the father must face. Further on there is a quote saying, 'Could you crush that beloved skull with a rock.' the father is doubting his ability to kill his own son. The use of the word 'crush' could imply that it will crush a lot more than just the little boys skull and that it could crush the father completely. Also its indicated to the reader what turmoil they are in as the next humanist way to kill his son is to kill him with a rock, this shows just what the characters have to go through. This could impact readers with children a lot as they could put themselves in that position and deliberate on what they would do. The use of the word 'beloved' also shows the importance of this relationship and also the affection from the father that we haven't really seen yet towards the son, well not on this level anyway.
The baby on the spit ( 210-215)
The boys response to seeing the baby was 'oh Papa', even though the boy isn't very old this shows that he still has a strong sense of emotion and empathy towards events that happen. However afterwards McCarthy writes,' What the boy had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit.' by writing it in such a bleak and so unsympathetically it doesn't really allow the reader a chance to feel remorse for the baby, for we do not know anything about it. The killing of the baby is quite clear and concise and much alike what happens to a fish when its being cooked. Comparing it to an animal cooking is a strange thought because we will show shock at a baby being roasted on a spit but not a fish when they are both living creatures with the same basic anatomy. Also the Dad says to the little boy, 'I'm sorry, he whispered. I'm sorry ' this could imply many different sorry's. He could be apologising to the son because he feels guilty as he is the one that led them there, also he is meant to protect his son so he could be feeling guilty that he couldn't shield him from such a haunting sight. On the other hand because he is apologising generally for the death of the baby which could show him unlocking a more vulnerable side to him - as if the road has finally worn him down.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
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