When looking at the road as well as beginning to read it, I did not feel particularly confident in the fact that it was AP worthy. The only way I knew it was AP worthy was because of the fact that it was an option for this project.
The way the book is written is simplistic and very easy to read as well as short in length. This made me feel that reading was easier than a normal novel that we would read in this class. As I continued to read however, I slowly noticed the reasons that this book was an AP level choice.
The reason this novel is considered AP worthy is due to the deeper meaning that the book contains instead of the surface level ideas that many would pick up from reading the book. The book takes place in a futuristic world and parallels the before and after when talking about the challenges of the new world. The challenges that the man and son face would seem to be just one after another with nothing in between but yet these challenges mean more than just what they appear like on paper. These challenges show how the past and future are not alike and how one must survive by doing anything that it takes. While it seems this book mainly revolves around a plot, I believe that this is not the main focus of the novel and that the main focus is the deeper meaning and bigger picture.
In AP worthy books, we also notice many different tactics used by an author compared to a normal novel that seems to just move chronologically throughout. The author, Cormac McCarthy, uses many different tactics ranging from intense imagery to the use of flashbacks, as well as a parallel in time comparing two entirely different times and worlds. The journey along the road while introducing characters brings in an interesting feature because the characters each stand for something which many would not see. This is the main reason why this book is of literary merit and AP status.
If someone who were not in this class were to read this novel, it is very likely that they would miss the deeper meaning in the novel versus someone who is reading it for a class. While the style appears to be simple, the meaning of the work is far from simple giving it the title of AP worthy.
It seems like the book is focused on setting and how that affects the characters, and how that makes it an AP worthy book. This book definitely seems interesting and complex novels like these are usually really good reads.
ReplyDeleteThe setting definitely plays a heavy role on the characters as there is nothing truly around them anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how you said that someone not in an AP class would miss the deeper meaning. I wonder if you would read this just for fun at your house. Were there other literary devices besides imagery?
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