Annie Dillard, "The Wreck of Time: Taking Our
Century's Measure" and:
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Annie Dillard's "The Wreck of Time"
In many ways, Annie Dillard's "The Wreck of Time" defies our common expectations
about what a piece of writing should do: the essay has no clear thesis
statement; it has no marked transitions between the paragraphs; it provides
no obvious connection between its various subsections. Indeed, upon first
reading Dillard's piece, one might be tempted to conclude that it's little
more than the recitation of a series of unrelated statistics and the posing
of a series of unanswered questions. What is it that Dillard wants us
to think about while reading her essay? It isn't immediately clear.
This does not necessarily mean that "The Wreck of Time" is an example
of failed writing, however; one could argue that Dillard has extended
an invitation to her readers to participate in her project of "taking
our century's measure." To be sure, Dillard demands a great deal from
her readers: we must make the connections, fill in the blank spots, respond
to her many unanswered questions, draw our own conclusions. Dillard's
readers must work with her, making sense of the statistics she presents,
answering the questions she poses.
For your first writing assignment, I would like you to take up this invitation.
What does "taking our century's measure" mean for Dillard? Does Dillard
have an argument to make about "our century"? What are you, as a reader
of Dillard's essay, supposed to do with the information, the observations,
and the juxtapositions she has brought together for your consideration?
With these questions in mind, compose a 3-4 page essay that discusses
Dillard's project in "The Wreck of Time." Make certain that you cite from
Dillard's essay at least three times.
Richard E. Miller, Rutgers University, Spring 2000
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Krakauer and Dillard: The Significance of Death
Jon Krakauer tells us that Chris McCandless died in the Alaskan wilderness.
What is the significance of that death? After all, as Annie Dillard quotes
murderer Ted Bundy, "there are so many people" (194).
Krakauer tries "to make sense of McCandless's . . . death,
yet his essence remains slippery, vague, elusive" (439). Dillard asks,
"How can an individual count?" (195) For this paper, I would like
to discuss what makes a human death significant or insignificant. As
always, your paper should be built around your own argument about this
topic as it emerges from your consideration of the readings. Thus three
perspectives on how a death can be meaningful or meaningless -- Krakauer's,
Dillard's, and your own -- should be put into dialogue in your paper.
Circle or underline your thesis in both your rough draft and final paper.
This should be one to two sentences long and should appear on the first
page.
Before you turn your paper in, make sure all of the following are true:
- My essay analyzes the readings rather than merely summarizing them.
- I have included effective and correct uses of quotation in every paragraph.
- I have avoided repeating grammatical errors I have made in previous
essays.
- Each paragraph meets the paragraph checklist.
- I have presented and argued a thesis.
Craig Eliason, Rutgers University, Fall 2000
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Dillard and de Waal: Distress and Other Responses to Another's Pain
"Down with Dualism" concludes with de Waal's assertion "that distress
at the sight of another's pain is an impulse over which we exert no control."
In "The Wreck of Time," Annie Dillard reflects on major events in the
last millennium, including great tragedies that involved the deaths of
untold numbers of innocent victims. Do the stories that Dillard has to
tell support de Waal's argument about nature or Huxley's? If "moral emotions"
are part of the genetic makeup of humans, then how can we account for
the disasters that Dillard describes? And how do we account for the fact
that some, perhaps including Dillard, feel so little distress at learning
about the pain others have experienced?
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The Pursuit of Happiness: Perception and Definition (Assignment 3)
Annie Dillard’s remarkable essay, “The Wreck of Time,” weaves stunning facts, statistics, and poetic images into an unstructured essay about human existence, life, and death. While the essay may seem simply depressing on first reading, there are messages and insights that go beyond the inevitability and finality of death. Once we acknowledge the billions who have died and will die, we are left with her question, “How can an individual count?” (123).
Essay Question: How can an individual count? Discuss the question by crafting a thesis statement that answers Dillard’s question, (123). This is not a personal essay. Your answer must be based on the three readings to date. You could begin by imagining how you think the scientists in the Gertner essay would answer the question and then how Chris McCandless or Jon Krakauer might answer it. You must then weave the three essays together.
After brainstorming the question, develop an outline around quotations from each of the three readings that can serve as the bases for your analyses. It might also help to develop topic sentences that explore varying aspects of the question.You don’t have to devote equal time to each, but your paper must include all three.
Your conclusion should do more than summarize. It should reflect a thoughtful response to the question and perhaps a lesson for others.
Judith E. Glass, Rutgers University, Fall 2005
From The Pursuit of Happiness: Perception and Definition.
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