Jake Remolona

Mrs. Mann
AP English Literature--Block 4
6 November 2016
Annotated Bibliography--Research Paper on The Road
Dominy, Jordan J. "Cannibalism, Consumerism, And Profanation: Cormac Mccarthy's The Road
And The End Of Capitalism." Cormac Mccarthy

Journal, vol. 13, issue 1, 2015, pp.

143-158.

EBSCO,
http://web.b.ebscohost.com/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=57d4715d-70c3-4230-9ed4-687
2073da112%40sessionmgr102&vid=1&hid=107
In his literary criticism, Jordan J. Dominy attempts to illustrate how the novels
portrayal of cannibalism is a metaphor to consumption in the modern day world. He
writes to an audience who intends to learn about the deeper meanings of Cormac
McCarthys novel. He brings up many instances in which cannibalism is portrayed within
the novel. Dominys criticism connects the consumption of human flesh to the
consumption of environmental resources. He does so by comparing how everyday items
are just as prevalent as cannibals in the novel. It becomes a moral dilemma, in which the
characters are forced to figure out when enough is enough. Because Dominys criticism is
well thought-out and complex, I will be able to use it to examine the deeper meaning of
cannibalism in the novel.
McCarthy, Cormac. Interview
by Oprah Winfrey. Oprah.com, 5 June 2007,
http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/cormac-mccarthy-comments-on-passages-from-th
e-road

The interview on Oprah Winfreys television show contained special guest,

Cormac McCarthy. This was special in the fact that McCarthy doesn't prefer to
interview. The interview mostly contained a dialogue between McCarthy and

Winfrey regarding his novel, The Road. Oprah mostly asked McCarthy about
specific choices within the novel, such as: why the time 1:17? To which he
answered that it was completely random. However, they did spend a large amount
of time discussing about a particular section regarding darkness and his play on
words. Both Winfrey and McCarthy assume that the audience have a general
understanding of the book at a plot level. Overall, this source is of basic
helpfulness. While we don't get into the deeper meanings in this interview, we do
get the authors opinions and ideas straight from his mouth. It could allow me to
consider what he thinks about the book.

Morgenstern, Naomi. Postapocalyptic Responsibility: Patriarchy at the End of the World in

Cormac McCarthy's The

Road. Differences: A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies, vol.

25, issue 2, pp. 33-61. EBSCO, doi: 10.1215/10407391-2773427
In her article Naomi Morganstern discusses the ideas of mortality and the
relationship between the father and the son. It explores the patriarchal themes and
the response to death. The article really emphasizes the relationship between the
father and son and it interprets the leading impact the father had on his son. She
also explores the absence of most female characters such as the mom. She
assumes that the audience has a basic understanding of the importance of the two
main characters. It focuses more on the child and the development of him.
Because this article delves into one of the most important aspects of the novel, I

will be able to use it because it will help with my deeper understanding of the

novel.
Pudney, Eric. Christianity and Cormac McCarthys The Road. English Studies, vol. 96, issue
3, May 2015, pp. 293-309. EBSCO, doi:10.1080/0013838X.2014.996383.
In his article, Christianity and Cormac McCarthys The Road, Eric Pudney
evaluates the stark contrasts within The Road. Whether it's life or death, or light
and dark. It goes about trying to answer the question: what makes a human life
valuable and worthwhile? Throughout the novel, the characters are in a constant
debate of whether or not it's worth it to live. It's a state of hope or a state of
despair. The article heavily emphasizes the extreme difference between the two.
Hope is associated with Christianity, while despair is associated with despair.
However, the author doesn't pull for one side of the other. They're pretty much
equals in that regard. It was meant to mirror how the novel balances life and death
and how both were viable options. Because this article is well cited and provides
valuable information about the ambiguity of the plot, I will be able to use it in my
research of the novel.
Snyder, Phillip A. Hospitality in Cormac McCarthys The Road. Cormac McCarthy Journal,
vol. 6, 2008, pp. 69-86. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/42909384?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
In his article, Phillip A. Snyder analyzes the hospitality in the book, specifically
the moral dilemma of putting others in front of oneself. In the novel, the self/other
relationship is the father. He highlights the ethical conflict of protecting the son
(self) versus taking in and helping others. The protection of others and hospitality

are emphasized because of McCarthys choice to use a barren landscape.

Factoring in the most basic need, survival, he argues that hospitality is a
fundamental human condition. He assumes that the audience knows about the
ethics of hospitality in the sense that we are generally accepting of others. It is
usually in our good nature to help others before ourselves. The article highlights
an important aspect of the novel. By emphasizing the self versus other aspect of
hospitality, I believe that this article is fitting because it gives me another element
to the essential relationship within the novel, that of the father and the son.