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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Dillard wrote, "the present is fleet." What did she mean by this statement?
2. In Chapter 7 who gravitates towards the circle on the bottom of Dillard's fishbowl?
3. In Alaska and northern Canada during winter what is a topic of continual fascination?
4. Dillard believes that, with indifference, nature hides what?
5. What is the translation of trompes-l' esprit ?
Short Essay Questions
1. Dillard discusses the concept of the world as being "old and ragged." How does she relate that to the natural world and her own life?
2. How does Dillard relate the plankton to the Eskimo learning about Christianity and to herself?
3. What is are augenblicks and how what does Dillard do with them?
4. Chapter 13 continues Dillard's musing on the "dog eat dog" world especially as it relates to parasites. How does Dillard view the parasitic relationship?
5. How does Dillard relate the season, spring, to language?
6. In most of this book, what does Dillard primarily see about nature and how does it affect her?
7. This Chapter is called "Fixed." What are some of Dillard's observations and thoughts that illustrate this title?
8. What does Dillard mean by the phase, "sinking into her center?" How does she use this technique?
9. Dillard watches a mosquito feed on a copperhead snake. What does she think of the act?
10. Why does Dillard question both the morality and the compassion of nature?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Chapter One is title, "Heaven and Earth in Jest." What do you think Dillard meant by this title? What might be the jest? Does it seem true to you?
Essay Topic 2
Dillard often uses stories from the Eskimo culture to help her pull meaning from her observations. Discuss two of the stories Dillard has told from the Eskimo culture and their relevance to some knowledge she was trying to work through.
Essay Topic 3
Describe some of the scenes Dillard writes of from winters in her past. What had she observed that was cruel? What that was compassionate? Do you think winter lends itself more to cruel behavior than kindness? Why?
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This section contains 1,224 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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