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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. What about the creek creates healing sounds?
2. Why does the author think nature experiments with insects' shape, form and "niche?"
3. What does Dillard say can be as blinding as complete darkness?
4. How are Eskimos able to survive in such a harsh environment as theirs?
5. What does Dillard's fascination and stories about praying mantises demonstrate?
Short Essay Questions
1. What physics concept does Dillard use to write about observing muskrats? How does she use it?
2. Dillard uses stories from the pre-modern Eskimo culture throughout this book. Why do you think she connects so strongly with this culture?
3. 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?
4. Chapter One is titled, "Heaven and Earth in Jest." Why do you think this was the title chosen for this first chapter?
5. Describe the two ways of seeing, according to Dillard.
6. In Chapter 12, Dillard observes the world at night. Considering the grasshoppers leads her into thoughts of locusts. How did early people see locusts, and where does Dillard's thoughts on them lead?
7. This book alternately uplifts and depresses the sensitive reader. What did you find uplifting about the first chapter? Depressing?
8. How does Dillard relate the season, spring, to language?
9. What does Dillard say about the trauma of people blind since birth who get their sight?
10. Describe Dillard's thoughts as she looks over the creek from the bridge when it was flooded.
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
The present is fleet. One barely glimpses it, and it is gone, Dillard writes. What is the present, according to the author? Why try to stay in it? How does the present compare to the past or the future? Have you ever tried to stay in the moment? Describe one situation when the author tried to stay in the now. Do you think it's possible to stay just in the now? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
In chapter fourteen, Dillard wants to go "northing," as a means to pare down to the essence. She will not go "northing" this year, but she will wait where she is and welcome the North wind as it scours the land around her. What do you think she means by wanting to go "northing?" Discuss both the physical aspect and the mystical or spiritual aspect of this term as Dillard uses it.
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This section contains 1,283 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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