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Lili
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Nov 09, 2020 01:37PM
What observations are made in the book? Does the author examine history and politics, the media, the arts, religious beliefs, or languages? Cite examples you find.
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As I read this book, I find that Anne Dillard is constantly talking about events in history that seem to affect her now. While she is examining the archaeological site, in China, she sees "a buried army of life-sized clay soldiers" (14). As she stared at the statues in awe, she realized that the clay people were earth itself. Looking at these clay soldiers, made her feel as if life is eternity. These statues symbolized the soldiers' everlasting lives. This moment was so intense for her that she felt isolated and began to see life differently.
The author examines many different aspects of history throughout the book. The author uses different time periods, and locations to develop the main question and idea of the book which is why do we exist, how did we get here, and what is our purpose, and the overall search for the truths in life. One of many examples of using history to develop the main idea include on page 26, "In 135 C.E., the Romans killed the rabbi Akiva for teaching Torah. They killed him by flaying his skin and stripping his bones with currycombs." This is a strong and accurate example of observations made in the book by using history.
Gabriella wrote: "The author examines many different aspects of history throughout the book. The author uses different time periods, and locations to develop the main question and idea of the book which is why do we..."I think that this is a really strong example to use to develop the main idea of this book. Using this event in history, it helped her come to the realization that "If we believe that a good God causes, or at any rate allows, everything that happens, and that its all for the best" (29). She begins to grasp the concept that God punishes the good and then in return rewards them in the eternity to come. This bitter-sweet explanation, allowed her to begin to understand the meaning of life.
There are countless examples of history and religion being incorporated into this book. Right from the start I observed the author made a point regarding souls and religion. "We arise like budding yeasts and break off; we forget our beginnings. A mammal swells and circles and lays him down...Buddhism notes that it is always a mistake to think your soul can go it alone" (8). I think the author is speaking of the idea that a person has more than one soul-even 6 or 7- and we leave behind aspects of each life we may have lived when we are re birthed. This is a strong belief she expressed right from the beginning -I wonder how she is going to use this idea to further explain her understanding and purpose of life
Throughout the book many observations are made. Observation about religion and culture are made when the author says "According to the Inuit culture in Greenland, a person possesses 6 or 7 souls. The souls take form of tiny people" (8). The author makes observations about the culture in Greenland and further analyzes it.
So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand death with Emperor Qin's desist soldiers. She uses an important historical event to show how it will fade out over time and eventually be forgotten. She writes "No one will display those men crushed beyond repair; no one will display their loose parts" 18). The soldiers fought and risked their lives for others but at what cost? They aren't being recognized for their actions so Dillard's points it out to show that it is wrong. Shes proving a point that things aren't only important when their alive, they still have value even once their gone.
Kailee wrote: "So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand death with Emperor Qin's desi..."This is an interesting point made and I agree. Dillard speaks about several historical events as a way to further explain the importance of life and how groups of people should be valued even when they are gone. When she brought up the Mongolian people living and marching over their land, she states "After the people vanished, the dust continued to blow down on their land; it laid yellow and gray loess deposits hundreds if feet deep" (12). She then further explains hundreds of centuries later "Genghis khan and his hordes rode ponies over the plateau , over hundreds of feet of packed loess" (12). Basically she explains that even when people are gone, their existence still has value and their little remains will live on.
Jessica wrote: "There are countless examples of history and religion being incorporated into this book. Right from the start I observed the author made a point regarding souls and religion. "We arise like budding ..."I also observed how the author continued to use religion and history throughout the book. I think that this is a very strong example out of the many that are in the book to show history and religion. When i first began reading i thought the reasoning for this was to develop a main idea, or theme, but i wasn't quite sure what the main idea was. As I continued to read I found she was talking about the purpose in life. I agree completely with Jessica's statement about wondering how the author will further include history and religion to develop her main idea, and how the two relate.
Lili wrote: "As I read this book, I find that Anne Dillard is constantly talking about events in history that seem to affect her now. While she is examining the archaeological site, in China, she sees "a buried..."The quote Lili used here is a perfect example of the author using history and religion, but this quote in particular also helps to develop the main theme of the book. Which is the purpose in life. The author also used quotes such as, "In 1842 John Constable took his beloved and tubercular wife, Maria, to Brighton beach. They hoped the sea air would cure her." (page 20) This quote is talking about life and death which is a constant theme with her historic quotes. Although i have not finished this book yet, I wonder if the author is going to continue to use quotes like this to make more lessons such as the purpose of life, or if she is going to dwell on this singular theme the whole book.
Lili wrote: "As I read this book, I find that Anne Dillard is constantly talking about events in history that seem to affect her now. While she is examining the archaeological site, in China, she sees "a buried..."I think this quote is extremely important because while saying that she sees it as life being eternal she states on page 15 "I looked down into his face. His astonishment was formal." Anne Dillard is saying that she is seeing history through these crafted clay made soldiers. That they depict what went on during the war. She describes it as rambled earth. She can see the generation and life of these soldiers. It allows her to truly see life and its meaning through other objects.
There are many parts of the book that reference media, history, religion, politics, religious beliefs or language. On page 11 is references history when it states, "The people made these fires by this river about 450,000 years ago-before the last two ice ages." By telling us this time period it let use understand the difference between the dust in china during that time, to dust in china in 1923 when it states "The people would have seen dust clouds blow from the north, probably only a few big dust clouds a year. Such dust today! they must have thought. After the people vanished, the dust continued to blow" on page 12. It helps us get a greater understanding of how much our world and land has changed over the years. It also makes us wonder to what extent will our land keep changing.
Kailee wrote: "So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand death with Emperor Qin's desi..."I strongly agree with when you said that "they still have value even once their gone" because there are many times that Anne Dillard references that this statement is true. One reference is on page 13 when it states "Throughout my whole life, he notes later, during every minute of it, the world has been gradually lighting up and blazing before my eyes until it has come to surround me, entirely lit up within me." This was noted by the french paleontologist Telihard. He says this because as he travels to different parts of the world and takes in and witnesses different cultures and traditions that were brought up through generations have such a impact on him because he feels as if he is living in the time of early civilizations. He feels they are still hear even though they physically aren't. The world is all starting to make sense and fit together.
Jessica wrote: "There are countless examples of history and religion being incorporated into this book. Right from the start I observed the author made a point regarding souls and religion. "We arise like budding ..."I adore the way that Dillard incorporates different types of religions into her book. So far, I've seen Buddhism and Judaism. She uses elements of these different types of beliefs to explain the meaning of life. On page 19, she says "'In truth I say to you that within this fathom-high body...lies the world and the rising of the world and the ceasing of the world"'. These words stumped me at first, but I finally figured out what they meant. The “world” is a virtual construction of the human mind and body, entwined with moments of consciousness arising and falling away in an ongoing current. It is a world of appearances, imbued with meaning by each individual according to patterns they've learned from and passed on to others. These words alone, explain the entire heart of her book.
Emily wrote: "Kailee wrote: "So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand death with Emp..."Yes, I'm so glad you agree! I think its a very valuable point Dillard makes so I'm glad it's not being over looked. I think life after death may be the main point she focuses on. You pointed out another good example that she uses in the book and I think she may even continue to refer back to Telihard and his thoughts. He had many important contributions including that "they found the world's first evidence of pre-Neanderthal man in China" (11). That is important that he was apart of their discovery and now able to keep their story alive. Now their history won't be forgotten or overlooked, they have someone to tell their story.
Dillard has filled this book with so many knowledgeable topics including religious beliefs. She does not just talk about them though, she uses them to support her explanation on life and death. A religion that she has given a lot of attention to is Judaism. She is able to connect their beliefs and ways of life with the story she is telling. She explains the symbolism behind "the prayer of eighteen benedictions" (23/24) and what it represents. She tells the audience how the number eighteen means life in Hebrew and represents the eighteen pieces of vertebrae used in prayer. She is able to inform the reader of new information while also connecting it back to the topic of life and death. Every example she puts in the book is thought out so it can help to tell her story.
Jon wrote: "Throughout the book many observations are made. Observation about religion and culture are made when the author says "According to the Inuit culture in Greenland, a person possesses 6 or 7 souls. T..."Adding onto this piece of evidence, I think it is vital to state why the author continues to bring up religion and history. And the reason is because her religion and history gave her a meaning, or purpose in life. She found religion and history helpful in her search for the truth which is continuously developed with each piece of evidence she described. Evidence such as the quote given by Jon, and quotes such as, "September 1923: They rode back into Peking. The mules carried 5,600 pounds of fossils and rocks in sixty wooden crates."(page 43) She continued to explain the story, and connect it to religion, common among many of her quotes.
Dillard makes many observations during the book. One of the many observations is about religion. Dillard wrote “In 135 C.E, the Roman killed Rabbi Akiva for teaching the Torah.”(pg 26)Dillard connects the killing of the rabbi to what she has learned through her years.
Mod
Jon wrote: "Throughout the book many observations are made. Observation about religion and culture are made when the author says "According to the Inuit culture in Greenland, a person possesses 6 or 7 souls. T..." She also observes religion and culture then relates it to how some people see natural birth defects as blessings, stating that Talmudic people believe "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, WHO CHANGES THE CREATURES" (page 6). By going into this prayer she is examining religious beliefs that relate to problems that can occur with newborns.
Lili wrote: "As I read this book, I find that Anne Dillard is constantly talking about events in history that seem to affect her now. While she is examining the archaeological site, in China, she sees "a buried..." Also as she looked at the clay humans and she realizes that all her friends are gone these inanimate humans represents the friends she no longer has. She says, "No one was there; the archaeologists were mysteriously absent, and my friends were gone" (15).
Reid wrote: "Dillard makes many observations during the book. One of the many observations is about religion. Dillard wrote “In 135 C.E, the Roman killed Rabbi Akiva for teaching the Torah.”(pg 26)Dillard conne..."I agree, in the teaching of the Torah, the killing of Rabbi Akiva was significant. However, I think that his reaction to being killed was what taught many others that everything happens for a reason. When the Rabbi was being killed he said "that he was happy to die for God"(29). This taught people to put faith in God and God's decisions.
Jessica wrote: "There are countless examples of history and religion being incorporated into this book. Right from the start I observed the author made a point regarding souls and religion. "We arise like budding ..."I totally agree with this. She references the fact that people have more then one soul in many parts of the book. That people care tiny parts of prior life with them. Another part in the book when she references this is on page 8 when she writes "a person posses six or seven souls. The souls take the form of tiny people scattered throughout my body." By saying this we get a clear understanding that our story just keeps going even if its in a different life time. This relates back to the major claim of life's purpose because all of your souls tell your story of your purpose in life.
Kailee wrote: "Emily wrote: "Kailee wrote: "So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand ..."Yes perfectly said. She definitely ties future generations into her book, especially on page 8 when she states "but we can still leave footprints in a trial who's end we do not know. Buddhism notes that it is always a mistake to think that your soul can go it alone." It informs us that your story becomes the story of many people who keeps it going. That history wont be forgotten because as life goes on people keep adding onto it by discovering new things that all tie back to the beginning.
Kailee wrote: "So far Dillard has chosen to get in depth about historical events and incorporate them into her book. She ties in the future generation not getting to truly understand death with Emperor Qin's desi..."In my opinion the authors purpose in including all of these examples of life and death is because she is trying to develop the main idea which would be to find the truths in life, and the overall meaning of us being on earth. The quotes she includes are her personal feelings towards historic, religious, and personal experiences and how they have affected her life. Quotes such as, "different nurses bring in newborns, one after another, and line them down the counter to the sink's left."(page 37). She includes quotes like this about birth to help develop ideas of life and death.
Annie Dillard also observes seemingly unrelated historical events and connects them based on location so that she can create a story out of the world. For example she speaks of the Neanderthal tools that were found in China and then she speaks of how forty five hundred years later Genghis Khan was here with the Mongols (p 11 & 12). This leads her into current events with Mongol dependents and their interaction with scientist Teilhard.
Reid wrote: "Dillard makes many observations during the book. One of the many observations is about religion. Dillard wrote “In 135 C.E, the Roman killed Rabbi Akiva for teaching the Torah.”(pg 26)Dillard conne..."Expanding upon this she also speaks of how this brings up questions about peoples beliefs such as is there really a god watching us and if our prayers are being heard (p 27)
Jon wrote: "Throughout the book many observations are made. Observation about religion and culture are made when the author says "According to the Inuit culture in Greenland, a person possesses 6 or 7 souls. T..."To piggy back off your point I feel like these souls are apart of the earth when Anne says "we arise like budding yeasts and break off".(pg8)
Lili wrote: "As I read this book, I find that Anne Dillard is constantly talking about events in history that seem to affect her now. While she is examining the archaeological site, in China, she sees "a buried..."I feel like Anne wants to always connect back to the reader when she learns about these new topics that. change her point of view of the world. Anne states "I seemed to see our lives from the aspect of eternity."(pg 15)
Vincent wrote: "Annie Dillard also observes seemingly unrelated historical events and connects them based on location so that she can create a story out of the world. For example she speaks of the Neanderthal tool..."I agree, I'm often thinking why is she writing about topics that don't relate but she brings them together with her main focus of life and death. I would never have been able to find a connection between bird-headed dwarfs (53) and terra-cotta soldiers (46) if it weren't for the way Dillard chooses to interpret all these situations.
Mod
This is a great example of an observation that the author makes that relates to religion. Anne Dillard clearly has studied religion and history as she has related to it often in the first few pages. Another example I found is when she says, "Buddhism notes that it is always a mistake to think that your soul can go it alone." (8). I believe she keeps observing history and religion in order to show the importance of life and its impact on the world.
𝘑𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦: "𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 "𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 6 𝘰𝘳 7 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴. 𝘛..."The author constantly relates her message to religion. “ "...Who pray for their loved ones, and long flee misery and skip death. It is a weakening and discoloring idea, that rustic people know God personally once upon a time” (41). I believe Dillard is stating that people put all their faith into God , yet still fear death during their last hours. This is powerful to develop her argument on the meaning of life because people will live in constant fear of death yet claim to have full faith in their God.
Mod
I agree that most observations the author makes connects back to life and death and then uses these observations to tell her stories. Another example of her using history in this way is, "In 135 c.e the Romans killed Rabbi Akiva for teaching the Torah."(26). After this historical fact she goes on to tell the story of this Rabbi and then relates it to life and death while examining its historical importance. I believe that Anne Dillard's knowledge of history allows her to grasp for a deeper meaning and way of thinking when it comes to life.
