View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 2, Dillard talks of a game she played where she would hide what?

2. At a ranch, Dillard drew a horse. It wasn't a good picture. Others who lived at the ranch drew great horses. Why?

3. What did the animal in question #1 often leave on Dillard's nightgown?

4. Why does the author think nature experiments with insects' shape, form and "niche?"

5. Why do birds sing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Dillard's thoughts as she looks over the creek from the bridge when it was flooded.

2. How does Dillard tie in Moses with her observations at Tinker Creek?

3. What is are augenblicks and how what does Dillard do with them?

4. What story does Dillard tell about a Native American woman and winter?

5. Dillard uses stories from the pre-modern Eskimo culture throughout this book. Why do you think she connects so strongly with this culture?

6. Why does Dillard question both the morality and the compassion of nature?

7. Dillard spends the entire chapter dealing with the passing of a hurricane. How does the theme of "floods" relate to other parts of the book?

8. This book alternately uplifts and depresses the sensitive reader. What did you find uplifting about the first chapter? Depressing?

9. Briefly tell the story written in Chapter 15 about a young man and his mother.

10. Up to now Dillard has tried to just "notice" creation. In Chapter 8, Section 2, her focus changes. How does her focus change and what might it symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Up to the second section of chapter eight, Dillard has primarily described details of creation. In the second part of the chapter she moves to trying to understand more about creation, and, as such, moves from logic to mysticism. Discuss the writing she has used to show this shift from observing creation to trying to understand it. What might it mean to say this moves the author from logic to mysticism?

Essay Topic 2

Dillard understands the world of predators better than that of parasites. She writes that at least one has a fighting chance when up against a predator. Why do you think she felt this way? Use examples in your discussion of the behavior of parasites and predators.

Essay Topic 3

How does Dillard feel about harming creatures? What are some of the incidents from her childhood that helped formed these ideas? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,198 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample