Essay Questions

Support the notion that Riddley Walker is a post-apocalyptic literary work.

This novel is set two thousand years after a destructive and devastating nuclear war that destroyed the world as it was known then. The story follows not only the effects of the nuclear war including the radioactive upshot but also tries to make sense of history and the truth. In this way the novel can thus be termed as a post-apocalyptic literary novel.

Show how the concept of myths is brought out in Riddley Walker.

In this work, as the humans strive to make sense of the world after the devastation of the nuclear war, the people who reside on this part of the world are sifting for knowledge of what happened. In this line, the legend of Saint Eustace is forged with ideas that are essentially myths in an attempt to understand what happened. History is forged through myths and tales that are geared towards ensuring that humanity does not revert to the old ways.

Show how the idea of taboo is brought out in Riddley Walker.

In this work, the concept of taboo is brought out with regards to the attempts of seeking knowledge which is essentially forbidden. The desire to reinvent using the past as a template is largely discouraged. Even though the idea of forbidden knowledge is prevalent, progress is inevitable and the people move from hunting and gathering to a more systematic way of life—systemic farming.