Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

In chapters 1 and 2 the prevailing themes of Dillard’s book are introduced: nature as both full of grace and as full of pain and the necessity of actually seeing and discovering for oneself the world around.

Consider and answer one of the following questions:

A. What does it mean to be a pilgrim in nature? In what ways does Dillard position herself as a pilgrim? What does being a pilgrim suggest about the way she views and communicates nature?

B. What does Dillard mean when she says: “If we are blinded by darkness, we are also blinded by light” and later “seeing is very much a matter of verbilization?” What does it mean to “see?” How can one “see?”

C. For a short time, Dillard considered submitting her manuscript to publishers under the name "A. Dillard" so the publishers would assume the author was a man. Do you think this would have fooled them? Is Pilgrim a feminine way of writing the environment? Is there a feminine or a masculine way to write the environment? If so, how do they differ?

Keep in mind:

• Please refer to the question you are answering.
• Answer the question by clicking on the "comment" link below this post; however, if you feel your answer would be strengthened with the addition of a video, image, or link to another site you should create a new post (the comment function does not allow for these kinds of attachments).
• Due by 9:00 PM Monday, February 2

Welcome

Welcome to the blog site for CO 200 E: Writing the Environment.

This blog is designed as an online conversation space for members of this class. While your responses to questions need to be in standard written English, you are welcome to add to your posts with videos, images, and links to other pages. Use this blog as a chance to explore, analyze and question your perceptions and understanding of the readings and of your own connection to the environment.

Prior to each class I will post at least two questions related to the reading for the next reading assignment. You should compose a 250-500 word response to one of the questions. Your response can be written as a "comment" to my post or, if you so choose (simply click on the comment link underneath my post). You need to write a total of 14 blogs over the course of the semester. Blog posts are due by 9:00 pm the night before class.

Enjoy the blog!