HWK Episode 3 - Finding the cellar of naked and mutilated people pp.112-121

9th November

3) The cellar of naked and mutilated people (pp. 112-121)

How the episode impacted you?
With this episode being based on the film 'Dawn of the Dead', which after seeing a clip from the film, McCarthy was able to show this scene in scarily levels of detail. This is donebecause McCarthy uses and appeals to low-culture, which is the reason for the horror film references. This clip in my opinion, affects how we read the book as a reader as the detail is so intense, we begin to view these mutilated people as if this was reality. The way the tension is released suddenly after the build up really shocks the reader; this is because McCarthy does not reveal this scene at the time we as readers would expect, this lets the reader almost relax, and then McCarthy shocks us with the scene.

Plot Progression (What will happen next?)
I believe from reading this section, the following scenes to follow will consist of the father and son fleeing from this house and danger. I believe that although the man is glad that his son is okay after the ordeal they have been through, I also believe that the man may feel almost 'smug' as he told the boy it would be best if he stayed outside the house where it was safe for him.

Techniques employed by McCarthy, language, symbols or images?
The language is the same as it has been throughout the whole novel, similar to the other episodes in the book, the description is still intense and because of this, it gives a clear image for the reader to get the emotions wanted by McCarthy.

Is this a key episode? What makes it important? How does it stand out in the novel?
In my opinion, I believe that this episode could be a highlight of the book, this is because McCarthy is able to show the savagery of the human race. The episode also shows why the father and son are constantly on edge and permenantly nervous which is unclear throughout the book until the roadrat incident and now the cellar.