Structure and the Handling of Time

The overall movement of time in The Road is chronological, as McCarthy describes both the passing of the seasons and the passing of individual days. Within this structure he plays with the relationship between chronological and narrative time. He expands or contracts time, integrating flashbacks, memories and dreams. The narrative is both unspecific about when it is taking place and very detailed in its references to ‘night’, ‘morning’, ‘evening’ and so on.

1. Skim through the novel, looking for examples of any of the following types of reference to time:
   
   • –  references to the passage of the days (look for ‘in the morning’, ‘in the evening’)
   • –  markers in the year (for example October, Winter)
   • –  passages in which narrative time is telescoped (for example ‘three days later’)
   • –  points at which narrative time expands (several pages devoted to a few minutes)
   • –  references to ‘before’ (and flashbacks)
   • –  points at which time seems to be suspended
   • –  more abstract references to time.
2. In groups of four, share your examples.
3. Together draft a short statement on McCarthy’s handling of time to feed back to the class, focusing on anything that seems:
   
   • –  particularly interesting
   • –  unusual or surprising
   • –  central to the themes or overall impact and so on.
   1. Structural repetition
   2. Make a note of two or three key phrases that you find particularly illuminating or interesting in what he says.
   3. Practise integrating these into a short piece of critical writing to explore the ways in which his insights have made you think differently about the handling of time or have extended or challenged your views.