Look for darkness and light in Outer Dark. Is the novel mostly dark? Its dreamlike style is suggestive of a story meant to function symbolically rather than realistically. It is an early novel in McCarthy's career, and like many early novels it is heavily laden with ideas, but seems deficient in characterization and plot. Some readers may complain that the story wanders unnecessarily, perhaps pointlessly. Others will be gripped by its tale of grace and punishment, emphasizing the awesome implications of the outer dark. Discussions will probably be most successful by concentrating on the interplay of symbols such as the child or the figures who follow Culla. Another good approach would be to compare the novel to fairy tales, noting how both use stereotypes and archetypes to communicate basic cultural ideas to their audience.

1. Outer Dark carries a heavy load of symbolism. Its characters and their...