10 Reasons Why The Road Should Be Read By All Students
10 Reasons Why The Road Should Be Read By All Students
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a noteworthy book that is well-worth reading. For these very reasons, all students should be required to read this book. Continue on for a follow up.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a noteworthy book that is well-worth reading. For these very reasons, all students should be required to read this book. Continue on for a follow up.
This book demonstrates healthy relationships
"You wanted to know what the bad guys looked like. Now you know. It may happen again. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you. Do you understand?
Yes.
He sat there cowled in the blanket. After a while he looked up. Are we still the good guys? he said.
Yes. We're still the good guys."(pg. 65)
The relationship between the father and son in this book is beyond strong. Together they face many unimaginable obstacles they must overcome. Not only that, but the father is responsible for teaching his son how to live. Soon enough the boy must be able to survive by himself. This quote is significant because it shows how naive the small boy is. The dad must help the boy grow up and face his fears. The Road is an excellent example of a loving and inseparable bond that every student should get a chance to experience.
It is an example of perseverance.
Throughout "The Road", the phrase "carrying the fire" is used. This corresponds to persevearnce. In my eyes, "carrying the fire" means you hold the fire and determine where you go. As long as you hold this power, you can keep going. This helps students realize you can find light in even the darkest situations. If this dynamic duo can do it, anyone can do it.
The tone it is written in is mature but not too explicit.
This text has a very mature plot, but the tone it is written in could be a lot worse. The sequence of events opens the readers eyes but does it in a very age appropriate way. "The Road" teaches a lot and I think this book could be the first step in the right direction for students moving up in age.
"The Road" has plenty opportunities to point out the ideal style of writing. By this I mean there are many literacy devices and with this comes the opportunity of teaching lessons.
In this book, author Cormac McCarthy uses flashbacks, repetition, and vivid imagery. Students have been taught to use these in their writing since primary school but for some reason lack the ability to see their true helpfulness. After seeing so many in this novel, they could hopefully benefit. After all, this novel did receive many awards!
"The Road" demonstrates both violence and beauty in a very poetic form.
Balance is a very important concept students must learn to grasp when writing. For example, too violent may create a limited audience, but too mushy and/or sappy may bore the readers. Author Cormac McCarthy balances both violence and beauty to a "T".
The use of nihilists is an interesting concept students would be intrigued to learn about. This could help actually hold their attention!
The tone of this book is written by a nihilist. This is the belief that all values are baseless and nothing can be known or communicated. This is also a new concept to students. They will find it interesting to explore this and understand it in an age appropriate book.
There is room for exploration within the many themes of this novel.
The themes of the road include violence, love, mortality, spirituality, isolation, good vs. evil, memory/the past, strength and skill, versions of reality, compassion, and forgiveness. Students will love this book considering it will never get old! You have room to teach many lessons within this book and have a relief knowing the students will be taking in this knowledge unlike many other traditional reads such as Macbeth.
The book is relatable in a strange way. It's written in a way that anybody could put themselves in our characters shoes.
Although the plot of this story could not happen in modern day, there are not many specifics. Such as gender. The main characters are both boys, but the book is not written solely in a masculine tone that would discourage readers. Some books discourage readers, but this one does not.
Students can take what they want from the book.
The book is filled with many lessons. The great thing about them though is that they are not being forced down the readers throat for example, "You forget some things, don't you? Yes. You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget."(pg 10). In this gruesome and scarred world you cannot waste happiness. You take what you can get, and that is my favorite lesson of all.