Pages 211-230 Questions: What does it symbolize that there are no birds on the coasts?
If the man envies death now what does it suggest in his belief of the world he has come to discover?
Parallel: "Like the desolation of some alien sea breaking on the shores of a world unheard of"(215) is similar to "With his great staring eyes he'd the look of an alien"(129). This illustrates that the man believes that this sea is not the same as the one before the apacolypse and that both the sea and himself would not belong in the pre-apacolyptic world.
Contrast: "The boy was wearing blue tennis shoes with rags stuffed into the toes"(213) contrasts: "I'm sorry it's not blue"(215). This contrast illustrates that blue symbolized hope of a better life at the coast and that they did not find a better life.
Pages 231-259 Questions: What does the boy building the sand castle while knowing it will be destroyed symobilize?
How does the man shooting off the gun illustrate a change in his mentaility where as before he was very cautious and concerned with people finding them?
Parallel: "Every day is a lie, he said. But you are dying. That is not a lie"(238) is similar to "Some rage at the lies arranged in their thousands row on row"(187). This illustrates that the man is angry with the routine of life and that life in this new world is not safe when he believes he was led to be comfortable.
Contrast: "Where men can't live gods fare no better"(172) contrasts: "Well, I was hoping for it there. It was mostly luck"(241). This contrast illustrates that before the man believed that people were having no good luck which is why they stopped believing in God, but now the man has regained his belief because he had good luck.
Pages 260-287 Questions: What gave the man the belief that the boy was right that God does exist?
How does the quote: "What's the bravest thing you ever did... Getting up this morning"(272) suggest that the bravest thing a person can do is continue living with no hope?
Parallel: "He sharpened a quill with his small pen knife to scribe these things in sloe or lampback"(261) is similar to "Behind him on a wooden table a small lamp burned"(187). This parallel illustrates how the man still has hope in the world and is trying to leave hope for other behind by inscribing it.
Contrast: "These stories are not true"(268) contrasts "You can read me a story"(7). This contrast highlights how the boy has changed from believing everything he is told to only believing things that are real.
