Novel Project, McCarthy’s The Road
Summer
Project Overview
In this project, you will write weekly journal entries from the perspectives of different characters
in Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” Each entry will allow you to immerse yourself in the
characters’ thoughts and emotions, capturing their experiences as they navigate the post-
apocalyptic world. This assignment will enhance your understanding of the novel’s characters,
themes, and narrative style.
Weekly Journal Entry Requirements
General Requirements:
• Each journal entry must be a minimum of 300 words.
• Entries should reflect the character’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences based on
the assigned reading.
• Use language, tone, and style appropriate to the character you are writing from.
• Include specific references to events and details from the text.
Week 1: Boy’s Perspective:
Reading Assignment: Pages 1-93
Prompt: “Write a journal entry from the boy’s perspective after his father shoots the man
who is holding him by the neck. What is he feeling in these moments? How does he feel
about his father after he kills the man compared to before?”
Requirements:
• Write from the boy’s point of view, capturing his innocence, curiosity, and fears.
• Reflect on his relationship with his father and his reactions to the world around
him.
• Use simple, straightforward language that conveys the boy’s youth and limited
understanding of the world.
• Focus on his emotions and thoughts during the key event.
Week 2: Father’s Perspective:
Reading Assignment: Pages 94-189
Prompt: Write a journal entry from the father’s perspective after he and the boy find the
hidden cache of food. How does he feel about this discovery? What are his thoughts on
survival and the continued dangers they face?
Requirements:
• Write from the father’s point of view, highlighting his protective nature, worries,
and memories of the past.
• Reflect on his relationship with his son, his sense of responsibility, and his
struggle to maintain hope.
• Use more complex language and a reflective tone to convey the father’s depth of
thought and emotional burden.
• Focus on his strategies for survival and his philosophical reflections on their
situation.
Week 3: Perspective of the Man (Who Finds the Boy):
Reading Assignment: Pages 190-end
Prompt: Write a journal entry from the perspective of the man who finds the boy after
the boy’s father dies. What are his thoughts and feelings about taking responsibility for
the boy? How does this new relationship affect his outlook on the future?”
Requirements:
• Write from the perspective of the man who finds the boy, capturing his initial
impressions, motivations, and decisions.
• Reflect on his thoughts about the boy’s vulnerability, the potential for a future
together, and the dangers they face.
• Use language that reflects his experience and perhaps a mix of hope and
skepticism about their survival.
• Focus on his internal conflict and the impact of finding the boy on his worldview.
Evaluation Criteria:
Content and Insight:
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the character’s perspective.
• Accurately reflects the character’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences based on
the text.
• Includes specific references to events and details from the assigned reading.
Language and Style:
• Uses language, tone, and style appropriate to the character.
• Employs descriptive and expressive language to convey the character’s inner
world.
• Shows creativity and originality in capturing the character’s voice.
Mechanics:
• Meets the minimum word count (300 words per journal entry).
• Well-organized and clearly written.
