The Road

What are some possible interpretations of the meaning of “the fire”? How do the protagonists preserve it?

What does being a “good guy” mean in the world of this novel? What avenues for goodness are possible here? And do you believe there really are “good” and “bad” guys in McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic setting?

What does the little boy imagined by the child protagonist represent, and how does it inform his view of humanity throughout the novel?