Billy Parham encounters many life-altering experiences throughout The Crossing, but none more than when he encounters the wolf. At this point in the novel, the experience with the wolf is symbolic, and McCarthy expertly shows the contrast between the wolf and the hardened young man. McCarthy writes,
He reined the horse in a grassy swale and stood down and dropped the reins. His trousers were stiff with blood. He cradled the wolf in his arms and lowered her to the ground and unfolded the sheet. She was stiff and cold and her fur was bristly with the blood dried upon it.
The structure and diction of each sentence is hard and direct. There is a symbolic nature to that technique, as it shows the hardening of Billy Parham at this point in the novel. If we look at the way McCarthy paints a portrait of the wolf, we clearly...
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see the contrast through his stylistic choices. He says of the wolf,
Deer and hare and dove and groundvole all richly empaneled on the air for her delight, all nations of the possible world ordained by God of which she was one among and not separate from.
The idea of a "world ordained by God" is important, because McCarthy is suggesting a certain level of spirituality in the wolf, and that is missing from the visceral experience of Billy at this point. However, one also gets the sense that Billy could be changed by this encounter, and his hardening as a character could be lessened by the encounter. Several times in the passage about the wolf, McCarthy writes, “to hold what cannot be held.” This is important, because it suggests that Billy still has a connection to a form of spirituality through the encounter with the wolf, and until this point in the novel, it was lost.
Ultimately, McCarthy uses many techniques to show how Billy is impacted in the novel. However, how he manipulates syntax to show the key themes and elements is key in understanding the changes in Billy's character. By making sentences brusque, or by making them poetic, McCarthy is able to show the destruction of this young man's world—as well as his place in it, still.
The plot in itself draws attention to the thoughts and feelings of the main protagonist, Billy Parham, as the somewhat aimless nature of the plot (there isn't much of a concrete goal or quest) lends itself toward an existential examination of mankind in general, not just in relation to Billy and his father.
It is unlikely that the average reader would consider or expect a postmodern coming-of-age story to include themes of incredible bleakness as a completely accurate representation of life in all of its different facets. Therefore, the novel lends itself more toward an abstract and existential characterization of Billy and his father rather than encouraging the reader to focus solely on the plot as a source of information. Aimlessness is a recurrent theme in McCarthy's books, and it is a frequent technique that he uses to provide information.
Cormac McCarthy uses a variety of techniques to convey the impact of Billy Parham's experience in The Crossing. In the scenes when Billy kills the wolf and later carries her through the mountains to bury it, McCarthy employs vivid imagery to describe the scenes. Billy is aware of every move the wolf makes, and these instances are detailed in imagery.
Further, McCarthy manipulates the syntax of the lines while Billy travels through the mountains. At the beginning of the second part of the novel, the first paragraph is one single run-on sentence. The speed of the line suggests the enormous impact that this experience has had on Billy.
This question is the basic premise of the prose rhetorical analysis prompt (Question #2) from the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Exam (1999). The College Board compiles a variety of student sample essays after each test and posts them on their website to help students prepare for the exam. View these essays for alternative perspectives on McCarthy's techniques.