How does Annie Dillard’s essay connect to our discussion on power, privilege and perspective from last class?
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I think Annie Dillard is trying to communicate that perspective is an important part of the world. For example, if you were to see the story about the weasel attacking the eagle and not the story that Annie Dillard shared you would have a negative view of how Weasels live. If you were to see Annie Dillard’s story first you would have a positive view of weasel’s.
Sophie
Yes I agree with this, but I feel that Dillard is trying to give a good perspective of weasels. - Liam
I completely agree Liam, I believe that people will have different perspectives considering what events they’ve had. The story of the eagle would certainly make people have a negative perspective on weasels so it all depends on perspective.
-Alvaro
I completly agree with this
Evie
Liam
The entire story has 2 characters: a human and a weasel. They are separated by this. Annie Dillard talks about how she and the weasel connect, despite the distance created between humans and animals. Compared to the weasel, she has power and privilege, and yet she still envies the weasel.
She references how she would like to “remember how to live”, and I think this relates to how she envies the weasel and wishes she could be more like ancient humans who were much more wild animals than humans nowadays.
I don’t think that she necessarily wants to live like ancient humans. Maybe she does, but I thought that she just wants the freedom of the weasel. - Liam
I disagree, otherwise why would she be so critical toward human and associate them with such negative traits. and why would she say we should be more like weasels. literally. she says that.
Gabriel
(disagreeing with Liam again)
Do humans have no negative traits at all? Is there nothing to be critical about when it comes to humans and their relationship to the environment? Does Dillard’s point have no basis? If human beings are so intelligent and not savage, are we not able to debate complex ideas without writing them off completely? Exploring Dillard’s ideas further, we can see that neither humans nor animals are ‘negative’ but that each have their own ways of dealing with the world.
-Ms. Ahmed
they didn’t mention one good thing about humans, however they mentioned plenty of good things bout
I agree here, but I don’t think she is saying humans are bad, she is just saying weasels are better. - Liam
I disagree, she is critiquing society due to its chaos. She is not saying that humans are negative, she is suggesting that society would be better as a whole if we lived by necessity and with liberty such as weasels. And for the ancient humans argument, Dillard is just critiquing TODAY’S society, not ancient humans; the word ‘Human’ in your case, is very vague as well as wrong rather than being critical towards humans as you mentioned, she is being critical to todays society which gives her the liberty to associate weasels and ancient humans.
-Alvaro
I agree in that I don’t think she wants to completely revert to ancient humans, but I do think that she is expressing admiration or envy for their lives and feels more “free” in their lifestyle. I think she likes that in nature there is no real “hero” or “villain”, none of these standards or concepts humans have made and no one is judged in nature.
Very interesting point! I wonder what things in human society might feel less ‘free’ or ‘constricting’ to Dillard? Pulling further quotes might help unpack this nuanced discussion! - Ms. Ahmed
“but I might learn something of mindlessness, something of the purity of living in the physical sense and the dignity of living without bias or motive. “. I think this quote from the essay shows how she doesn’t like the norms and standards created by humans and believes that people shouldn’t think one way or another of other people. I think she likes the idea of mindless actions based on physical needs or actions.
I think this kind of connects to what Sho (I think) said about instinct. - Liam
I took a look and I think it does connect to what I was saying.
I completely agree, whilst it id not as much talked about, she does clearly she some sort of envy toward what seems to me as the close and primal instincts of nature.
I agree that Annie Dillard wants to say that the hierarchy between animals and humans shouldn’t be as strong as it is currently.
Sophie
I think adriens point here is very powerful and his quite “Remember how to live” was perfect and fit into the message he was communicate to do with the envying of the weasels.
Siep
This is a very good point
Evie
I completely agree.
Kevin
This essay connects to the discussion we had in class because throughout the class we had last lesson we explored everyone’s perspectives of situations and certain things that exist in our world and how we think about it. This is easy to connect to the essay because different perspectives are brought out about certain things such as at the start it touches very deeply on the killing of a bird and some people find that normal other do not.
Siep
I believe this is a very good point that siep said. I think that when we had the discussion, we each saw many opinions that could have changed when we were discussing. I feel like this links to the story as we each also have our own opinions about the story that we can discuss. — Gio
Annie Dillard seems to be trying to communicate the message that we are not only right now the “top of everything,” but she is trying to communicate that we need to be equal with the world and our surroundings. She seems to be a quite ‘ lonely, or anti social person as she mentions that she likes to go to the trees and be in the wilderness. When she talks about the weasel, she seems to be trying to say that as humans we put ourselves on the top, but in order to keep power, and everything else we have, we need to become equal with the balance. She also seems to be referring to how with animals we can make connections that are unique and help us humans see what they experience. — Gio
I agree as I think she’s saying that humans and animals are like each other by nature and that humans should learn to be more wild and more like animals in nature. I think she believes humans should act more mindlessly like animals acting for necessities.
I agree with the interpretation that gio got as I perceived a similar message in the sense that humans are at the top and therefore killing the bird that was mentioned at the start of the essay. I also agree with gio’s second part of his answer of how we can make unique connections to see and feel the experience that animals get and that is very important because the things humans do to animals would not be accepted if it was towards humans.
I strongly agree with this comment.-Kevin
I think in her essay Dillard is saying that humans are not above any other animals are more like animals than we think. I think she is saying that animals are like us, and we are like animals. We have evolved from the wild animals we used to be but deep down we are still like that. I don’t think she completely wants to be wild like ancient humans but finds this appealing and wants to have some of the privileges of these animals such as freedom.
I agree with Adrien as he pointed out that humans are not above animals. I also feel like this is exactly what Dillard is trying to point out in her story. — Gio
I agree with your idea that animals are like us and that she doesn’t want us to be completely wild but still wants animals to have some privilege
I think this poem is showing how humans have sort of created a hierarchy and made themselves top of it. I think it shows how we picture most animals as wild and violent and humans think they are above animals.
tilda
I agree with what Tilda said. I think that a hierarchy between animals and humans should be more fluid than what it currently is. In our discussion last week we saw how humans believe they are on top of animals and I think it’s important that nature is also able to benefit from us.
Sophie
This relates to what we were talking about in class because in our society, some people tend to learn stereotypes for groups of people they know nothing about. They use their privilege to push these falsehoods about people, which impact them since they usually cannot fight against this. This also happens in the story with the weasel, that the girl has preconceived ideas of the weasel, but the way the animal act sis different to what she expected.
camilla
What do you think were some of the key ideas that Annie Dillard wanted to communicate in her essay?
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Write your response to my question and sign your name - Ms. Ahmed.
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Liam
I think she was really trying to express the unneeded separation that humans have made between mankind and nature. She wishes that it didn’t exist; that she could live like the weasel and be free, but isn’t.
I completely agree on how humans have created a separation between mankind and nature and that it has created disrespect towards nature. For that reason, Dillard says that society could live like weasels and live by necessity.
-Alvaro
I agree with Liam as I believe that humans have created this separation between the natural, and industrial world. I feel as this has created a “disrespect” to nature like Alvaro said as now when you go to the park, you see so much trash and items that hurt the environment. — Gio
Actually, I thought that the highway in the narrative was a good metaphor for this, since it separates the houses for the humans and nature, especially since highways are manmade. - Liam
I agree with this
I agree with what Liam said because I think that the separation between humans and nature should be more fluid.
Sophie
I think the main message that Annie Dillard wanted to communicate was that in life some things are gruesome and terrifying but sometimes things brighten up and can be enjoyable I would assume this because of the reoccurring theme of emotional change throughout the essay.
Siep
I think some of the key ideas that Annie Dillard is trying to communicate in her narrative essay is that we need to connect nature and the world more. She talks about how her looks into the weasels soul as it looks into hers. This shows the connection she is getting from watching the weasel. Along with this, as humans we are prone to industrialisation and gentrification which limits us to what we see in the wild. This also limits these natural habitats and wildlife areas. Along with this, I think Annie Dillard is trying to communicate the point that things might not be as they seem. By talking about a man who has to walk with a weasel on him, she relates the idea that we are not as powerful as we seem to this. Without weapons or industrialisation, we would not be able to withstand nature and the animals in it. — Gio
I think that Dillard was trying to communicating that we have created an unnatural hierarchy with our nature, using these preconcieved notions to uphold it
Evie
I also think that this is portrayed through the story she only realises there is this hierarchy when she has the experience with the weasel. We are so used to it that we usually dont realise that it’s happening.
camilla
I think some of the key ideas that Annie Dillard wanted to communicate in her narrative essay is that the weasel being “wild” is something that is based on perspective. To the weasel, it is something that comes instinctively. To us humans, we consider it wild to have a weasel hanging onto an eagle’s throat. I think this means that Dillard wanted to show that perspective is something that changes.
Sophie
I agree with the fact that it explores instincts in humans and animals.
camilla
Tom
One feature of Anne Dillard’s passage about weasels is the specific perspective that she expresses and that is the fact that weasels can be dangerous and powerful. Our perception of weasels has always been that they are harmless cute and fluffy but this passage explains how weasels are quite the opposite. This misconception had opened a new perspective of the weasel
I agree with tom here because we really get another side of the table on this one because generally weasles are definetly seen as not a big harm but here they are seen are criminals.
I think this really adds on to the idea that humans have created a hierarchy/division between people and nature. Since humans are so oblivious to nature, we don’t understand animals. - Liam
Annie Dillard seems like a very antisocial person who is angry at the world for no apparent reason. whilst this may be a controversial view, I believe it only becomes more apparent in her negative impact of society and how the bizarre and primal life on nature should be one of our own.
This is likely an independent matter which could be related to past social issues or lack of power in life, which lead Annie Dillard toward the possibly false idea that humanity is bad and instead we should connect to our primal and savage past.
-Gabriel Schmitt
I think it’s interesting that this response acknowledges that Annie Dillard may have experienced a lack of power, or some of the negative impacts of human society. As we know, human societies do not always treat people equally. Is it a ‘false’ idea, then, that human societies are not good for everyone? Or is it a reflecting of the truth of Dillard’s experience? I definitely do not want to go back to humans savage past, but I also want to be able to draw inspiration from animals. It is really hard to balance those two things, which is something Gabriel’s comment helped me understand - Ms. Ahmed
I wouldn’t say she hates humans, she just believes that she (personally, and only her) wants to be more like a weasel. She doesn’t explicity state any hate towards humans, and I don’t feel it is implied. She does live in “suburbia” and probably has a lot of contact with people. At least, that’s how I interpreted it. - Liam
I agree with this
Evie
she said ‘WE’ you of all people, someone in MUN should be familiar with personal pronouns. unless she is a communist I would unfortunately have to disagree with you there Liam. ps sorry for being aggressive, I have to win this, it’s a debate.
Gabriel (disagreeing with Liam)
this is not MUN. She used “we” but what she says is mostly observation. When she expresses the need for change, she said “I” - Liam
MUN is important due to it’s relevance toward modern life and structure. it helps us better understand how to debate efficiently and in a correct manner.
GABRIEL
This is a discussion not a debate. Thank you - Liam
I DISAGREEE
whilst this is a discussion, I was not
ok that is your opinion and I respect that.
I appreciate your openness toward possibility in this discussion. I hope that in future, we can come to a peaceful conclusion.
-Gabriel Schmitt
MUN isn’t the only debating style… and because that this is not a topic which would be debated in an MUN conference, so it would not be the best idea to use this style
Evie
I agree with liam here because she does show hatred in some sort of way towards humans but that is only because she doesnt agree with some of the ways human lives go and therefore she wants to be put into a different perspective to try something new - Siep
I think that Annnie Dillard is trying to communicate the fact that our preconceptions which we have of people can impact our life experience. The close personal experience she had with an animal which she took for granted, was because she would have never expected it. Also, the only thing that made her want to be more aware of nature was that moment she had with the weasel. This reflects the fact that, at first, we tend to not really want to get to know people or things which we dont think are on the same level as us until we have a personal experience with them.
camilla
I agree.
tilda
I think she is trying to show how humans are very different to wild animals but because of this, people think they are better and often portray animals as violent creatures just because they cant communicate with them.
tilda
I agree but wouldn’t you also agree that we are kind of like evolved animals and that she would want balance and privileges between humans and other animals?
-Tom
yes.
tilda
I believe that the main message that Dillard is trying to portray with this narrative essay is that humans portray animals as lower in the hierarchy which is why they are often mistaken for violent and unethical creatures although as they are understood further, we can come to the conclusion where nature is completely different to society in the sense where survival and necessity is more important than ethics which is a reason humans view animals lower in the hierarchy as we base our life on ethics and choice, rather than necessity.
The reason I believe Dillard envies the weasel is due to their simple way of living in contrast to the monotonous and chaotic society we all live in and the way life would be easier if we lived by necessity rather than choice.
-Alvaro
I agree with your understanding of the perspective of the passage
I agree with what you’re saying. I think she wants humans to be more like animals in the way that there are no enormous societies, no standards or norms, no expectations, ethics, morals, and things that human society has created. I believe that she wants humans to be more wild and mindless like animals.
Thank you Adrien for agreeing, I believe that your perception towards the narrative essay is concise as you attempt to understand why Dillard wants society to live like the weasel she encountered in that forest.
-Alvaro
NEW QUESTION! What are some interesting techniques that Annie Dillard uses, that you might want to use in your own narrative essay?
I like how she contrasted the introduction a lot from the main story. I thought this was effective to show a general human view on nature, and the view the weasel has on nature. - Liam
i agree with this because it also made it more interesting to read since there were contrasting parts.
camilla
ort of co
I might try and do the intriguing technique that she used at the start which definetly got my attention by being very specific and almost gross about something because that in itself it very attracting to the reader and will gain a mass amount of attention in a positive.
Yes, I loved her gross passage of the eagle eating the weasel. It definitely made me remember that writing doesn’t have to be ‘beautiful’ to be good! - Ms. Ahmed
I think an interesting technique that Annie Dillard uses from her narrative essay is the hook that she uses to start her essay. I also think that the story she uses to make her point come across is another technique that I would like to incorporate into my narrative essay.
Sophie
I agree.
tilda
I think Annie Dillard was able to use techniques from story telling and poetry to communicate her message along with being able to add detail that made the story a mix of mesmerising and gruesome. One of my favourite techniques she used was using descriptive words that had gruesome connotations along with memorising words to tell the story. Along with this, I believe that I want to include her view / our view on nature and how we use it. I feel like both of these techniques were very strong which made her story more unique along with very fun to read. — Gio
Annie Dillard was able to use techniques from story telling and poetry to communicate her message
Annie Dillard was able to use techniques from story telling and poetry to communicate her message
i agree
camilla
I agree with Gio on the fact that “Annie Dillard was able to use techniques from storytelling and poetry to communicate her message” - kevin
I really like how she created the juxtoposition between the negative and positive stories
Evie
I agree and like what Evie said. I believe that this made the story very strong and unique. I also believe that this brought out specific point or details in the story that we would not catch if we did not have this juxtapositions. — Gio
I agree with what Evie said because the juxtaposition between the first story and the second story shows different sides of the weasel’s lives. If we didn’t know about one or the other we wouldn’t know what weasels are truly like unless we saw them in the wild.
Sophie
I agree, I think the contrast made it really interesting and got her point across well.
tilda
I agree with this and I think that using this technique was really effective in showing the writers different perspectives.
camilla
I like when she used literary techniques to describe nature. It made the passage feel more personal and connects the authors feeling with the story.
camilla
I agree with Camilla by using imagery and other words to really describe nature in a positive way that it really does connect the reader to what the author is trying to communicate. — Gio
I agree with what Camilla said because this was able to set the scene for what was happening in Annie Dillard’s narrative essay. I also think this made the essay more interesting and would make a reader continue reading as you can imagine Hollins pond.
Sophie
Absolutly, it really helped the audience picture the setting
Evie
I agree with camilla because I think she wrote it so you could really imagine what was happening.
tilda
I liked that she used a lot of literary techniques to make her story sort of come to life and make is easier to imagine what she was saying and picture the situation.
tilda
I like how she differentiated the presentation a parcel from the most story. I thought this was viable to appear a common human see on nature and the weasel’s view on nature. - kevin