Small Group Discussion 115-144 Small Group Discussion

1. Find as many examples as you can from this section of reading that further illustrate the boy’s humanity. Why/how do you think he has maintained such empathy and compassion when he has so rarely come into contact with other humans (and the ones he has come into contact with have always been the “bad guys”)?

2. Discuss the following passage from page 129: “He was beginning to think death was finally upon them and that they should find some place to hide where they would not be found. There were times when he sat watching the boy sleep that he would begin to sob uncontrollably but it wasn’t about death. He wasn’t sure what it was about but he thought it was about beauty or about goodness. Things that he’d no longer any way to think to think about at all” (129).

3. Also on page 129, the boy says, “And we’re carrying the fire.” The man responds, “We’re carrying the fire.” Does this mean something different now, post-cellar scene? If so, how? Why? Consider this in relation to the passage on the previous slide (also on page 129).

4. On page 137, the man tells the boy, “If you don’t want to take the lamp you’ll have to take the pistol. The boy says, “I’ll hold the lamp.” Significance? LAMP : PISTOL :: __________ : __________

5. On page 143, the man realizes while in the bunker that although he found bullets and ammunition, “There was no gun and there wasn’t going to be one.” Discuss this. Why would McCarthy choose to give them everything they need (food, water, clothing, shelter), but no gun?