The Road takes the form of a classic journey story, a form that dates back to Homer's Odyssey. To what destination are the man and the boy journeying? In what sense are they "pilgrims"? What, if any, is the symbolic significance of their journey?

The man and the boy are journeying to the ocean. They are pilgrims in the sense that they carry the "fire", the notion of family.... a fire that needs to continue in future generations. In essence.... they carry the future. The road is symbolic in terms of journey and purpose..... its purpose.... a means to survival. The road is the path that keeps them going and provided a sense of direction.