Reading Task: Rereading is deliberately built into the instructional unit. Day One: Instructional Exemplar for Dillards Living Like Weasels Summary of Activities (BEFORE Day One) Teacher introduces the essay with minimal commentary and has students read it for homework (ON Day One) Teacher or skillful reader then reads the passage out loud to the class as students follow along in the text Teacher asks the class to complete an introductory journal entry and discuss a set of text-dependent questions For homework, teacher asks students to complete another journal entry Text Passage under DiscussionDirections for Teachers/Guiding Questions For Students1 A weasel is wild. Sometimes he lives in his den for two days without leaving. I was stunned into stillness twisted backward on the tree trunk. 8. The first essay was longer of the two and more focused on the mimicking of nature for humans., There is a crucial similarity between the Mechanical Hounds and the people of the monotonous society. (Q19) Dillard provides a plot summary early and efficiently in paragraph 3 (I have been reading about) and returns to the visions of the weasel in paragraph 7. They became careless as time passes by, with no hope of being rescued. y z 8d 7$ 8$ H$ ]8^gd>: m$ d ^gd>: m$ 8d ]8^gd>: m$ ]^gd>: m$ $ d 7$ 8$ H$ gd>: m$ 4 d 7$ 8$ H$ gd>: m$# gd>: m$ # ; K . Because literary nonfiction is classified as informational text in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), this assessment will address the Reading Standards for Informational Texts. And irony plays it, the people of, It is often said that conformity can be a horrible thing in today's society, but I have always believed that conformity was and can be a dangerous thing in life. The shift to first person happens in the middle of the paragraph, almost as if the author was stealthily slipping into the conversation. Accurate and skillful modeling of the reading provides students who may be dysfluent with accurate pronunciations and syntactic patterns of English. The movie starts off with Lieutenant Dunbar learning he needs to get his leg amputated. Humanity is one of the many virtues we as humans believe we are born with. Then it took me past that place to somewhere I wasnt human at all, (195). ! "Obedient to instinct". I should have lunged for that streak of white under the weasel's chin and held on, held on through mud and into the wild rose, held on for a dearer life. Dillard on the other side of the fence had a roast in the oven, lamb, and didnt like it too well done (101). ! Dillard then moves on to tell about her first encounter seeing a weasel. Rifkins use. no answers of the sort Weasels are wild because they live outdoors and are not pets). As Dillard reflects on her encounter, At first the purpose of the passage Owls by Mary Oliver is difficult to pinpoint. Then I cut down through the woods to the mossy fallen tree where I sit. I was relaxed on the tree trunk, ensconced in the lap of lichen, watching the lily pads at my feet tremble and part dreamily over the thrusting path of a carp. With these techniques, her whole impression of the essay establishes an adversary relationship between the natural world and the human world. I would like to have seen that eagle from the air a few weeks or months before he was shot: was the whole weasel still attached to his feathered throat, a fur pendant? That practice will in turn support students ability to unpack meaning from syntactically complex sentences they encounter in future reading. Now that Dillard has become a more experience writer, she herself avoids these pitfalls fairly well. In other words, what is the effect of bracketing the discussion of Hollis Pond with mention of the weasel? In addition, for subsequent readings, high value academic (Tier Two) words have been bolded to draw attention to them. Obedient to instinct, he bites his prey at the neck, either splitting the jugular vein at the throat or crunching the brain at the base of the skull, and he does not let go. He examined the eagle and found the dry skull of a weasel fixed by the jaws to his throat. Below is some possible evidence that students may include in their first entry: sleeps in his underground den he lives in his den for two days he stalks dragging the carcasses home Obedient to instinct he bites his prey splitting the jugular vein at the throat crunching the brain at the base of the skull1 A weasel is wild. 1 See answer lavanyaande Advertisement He had two black eyes I didn't see, any more than you see a window. Obedient to instinct, he bites his prey at the neck, either splitting the jugular vein at the throat or crunching the brain at the base of the skull, and he does not let go. Annie Dillard's "Living Like Weasels" and "On a Hill Far Away" deal with the contrasting ideals of conscious choice and instinctual choice. To me, the two essays seem to be very different. (In-class journal entry) Choose one sentence from the essay and explore how the author develops her ideas regarding the topic both via the content of her essay and its composition. It is a five-minute walk in three directions to rows of houses, though none is visible here. Unlike the rest of the group, he was highly intelligent and thought logically through the problems they endured. We could live under the wild rose wild as weasels, mute and uncomprehending. (MS7) She explains that a weasels living is one desire: instinct, a weasels tenacity to lock onto its prey and to not let go. But we don't. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. I like how you point out the connection between Living Like Weasels and On a Hill Far Away. 7 The sun had just set. To illustrate this she tells about the weasels natural instinct to grab animals by their throat and hang on until one of them loses the battle. pBl J" " b O 0  0 U l" F U What experience does Dillard compare it to, and how is this an apt comparison? Teachers could also assign the prompt as an in-class essay, but also use the following day for peer-to-peer feedback. 5 This is, mind you, suburbia. Dillard endures great thought on this quick encounter, reflecting upon every possible meaning about the weasels sudden flee, but maybe her life would be simpler and less thought provoking if she were to act instinctively, and flee from things she didnt fully comprehend. Concerning her ethos, Dillard presents herself as a part of suburbia and then is suddenly, inexplicably overcome by the desire to live wild. Macdonald begins to associate more closely with the hawk than with people, believing herself to be turning into a hawk at some personal level, Hunting with the hawk took me to the very edge of being human. Describe what is meant by being "stunned into stillness" drawing on evidence from paragraph 10. What evidence is there in paragraphs 5 and 6 regarding a human presence at the pond? Under every bush is a muskrat hole or a beer can. The didactic style of the first paragraph almost lulls the reader into the informative disposition; then, reading the second paragraph is almost disturbingwhy the author would choose to display the swamp in such a different light two years later evokes many questions from the reader. The she-cat shivered and paused for a moment to survey they area, her fellow clan-mates halted and watched her with weary appearances, each thin and poignant. Nowlan suggests this idea through the character, Stephen and his struggle to conform to authority or pursue his ideas which suggests that humans often bring about changes to themselves in order to adapt to the environment they live in. This is because Oliver begins with describing the penetrating fear of a terrible (33) great horned owl, and suddenly develops into a section discussing a desultory and trivial field of flowers. $ y + * $ ! Outside, he rabbits, mice, muskrats, and birds, killing more stalks bodies than he can eat warm, and often dragging the carcasses home. According to Elizabeth Lowell, Some of us aren't meant to belong. Their lack of care is what lead them to be so ruthless many times throughout the novel. Juxtaposition The Devil In The White City 622 Words | 3 Pages. Dogs rarely die a shameful death, but instead fight to the finish. Authors use rhetorical choices to effectively connect with their intended audience. Annie Dillards essay is just an exploration into the way human beings might live. He gave the idea of making a sundial, which is a clock that represents order and discipline, two characteristics which the group of boys desperately need. 4 Twenty minutes from my house, through the woods by the quarry and across the highway, is Hollins Pond, a remarkable piece of shallowness, where I like to go at sunset and sit on a tree trunk. (Q16) Dillard describes things in antithetical terms, such as a remarkable piece of shallowness. How do phrases like this help advance her observations regarding what it is like to live like a weasel? Dillard then moves on to tell about her first encounter seeing a weasel. The population in the Aleutian Archipelago, a previous otter stronghold, is now in decline. Nowlan portrays the idea that adversity is part of our lives, and this adversity shapes us as individuals. Outside, he rabbits, mice, muskrats, and birds, killing more stalks bodies than he can eat warm, and often dragging the carcasses home. One filled with assorted animals the other with different men from different religions and locations (Twain). In so far as I can imagine this (which is not very far), it tells me only what it would be like for me to behave as a bat behaves. Nationalism allowed countries in Europe to unite and become one but differences in identities including religion and cultural beliefs created, Everyone was born to be themselves, they have their own feelings, looks, and beliefs. Obedient to instinct, he bites his prey at the neck, either splitting the jugular vein at the throat or crunching the brain at the base of the skull, and he does not let go. 14 I would like to learn, or remember, how to live. The Parable of the Sower, written by Octavia Butler, is considered a science fiction novel, classified as dystopian. Incontrovertibly, one of the first things one may notice upon reading the work, is the use of highly explicit imagery connecting her thoughts and ideologies. Students should include at least three pieces of evidence from the text to support their thoughts. There's a 55 mph highway at one end of the pond, and a nesting pair of wood ducks at the other. (LogOut/ The taskmaster meets the dreamer, and it's time to get serious, take those . Writing Task: Students will paraphrase different sentences and sections of Dillards text, complete a series of journal entries, and then write an informative essay detailing why the author chose the title, Living Like Weasels. We never fully live our lives because we are too caught up with avoiding risks. Reasons for extending the discussion of Living Like Weasels might include allowing more time to unpack the rich array of ideas explored in this piece, taking more time to look closely at academic vocabulary and figurative language employed by Dillard, or participating in a writing workshop to strengthen students writing pieces. She speaks about how weasels live in necessity while humans live through choice. In "Living like Weasels", Annie Dillard emphasizes, through imagery, repetition, and tone, the importance of living by instinct and pursuing one's calling. As students move through these questions and reread Dillards Living Like Weasels, be sure to check for and reinforce their understanding of academic vocabulary in the corresponding text (which will be boldfaced the first time it appears in the text). two lovers, or deadly enemies very calmly go wild the perfect freedom of single necessity Examining how Dillard writes also serves the function of exploring the central paradox of the essaychoosing a life of necessity, or in Dillards particular case, reflectively writing about being inspired by the unreflective life of a weasel living by its instincts. Both essays urge readers to reflect on their experiences with nature and learn from what Mother Nature is showing them. Could two live under the wild rose, and explore by the pond, so that the smooth mind of each is as everywhere present to the other, and as received and as unchallenged, as falling snow? He examined the eagle and found the dry skull of a weasel fixed by the jaws to his throat. If we were all to live like the weasel does, where their mind set is to be wild it will benefit us in the long run. make it violent? The process of journaling brings to the fore the tension that Dillard is exploring in her essaychoosing to live like a weasel (in the moment and unreflective) while writing about that choice (in a highly reflective and self conscious way). 6). She starts by introducing the weasel in a general description of his lifestyle of sleeping, stalking, and fighting for life. Dillard portrays her disagreement with such notion by using story telling techniques to enchant and then preach the lessons she herself learns from nature. The supposition is that the eagle had pounced on the weasel and the weasel swiveled and bit as instinct taught him, tooth to neck, and nearly won. His journal is tracks in clay, a spray of feathers, mouse blood and bone: uncollected, unconnected, loose leaf, and blown. Walker incorporates in her argument the similarities between her emotions as a human, and the emotions of animals. This helps to effectively bracket the description of Hillis Pond with mention of looking at the weasel. I agree that Dillard earns for a simpler life. What was the purpose of Dillard coming to Hollins Pond? Both characters realized what they were doing yet still acted out of humanization. Expanding on readers pasts, Louv references the rapid technological changes that his readers went through during the globalization movement, changes that separated them from nature in the blink of an eye. Readers are invested in their parts and Louv uses their attraction to their childhood memories and dissatisfaction with the rapid. It caught my eye; I swiveled aroundand the next instant, inexplicably, I was looking down at a weasel, who was looking up at me. The water lilies have blossomed and spread to a green horizontal plane that is terra firma to plodding blackbirds, and tremulous ceiling to black leeches, crayfish, and carp. The film Beasts of the Southern Wild and the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God have some critical similarities. What benefits come when coworkers show teamwork? One can see this through her desire to be the center of attention., The types of personal characteristics that evolve in a persons mind and body are innate in everyone. [Reading intervening paragraphs.] The following stories vividly illustrate the instinctual nature of weasels to hold on no matter what, hinting at the final paragraphs, where Dillard encourages her reader to live like a weasel and choose a life that is worth holding onto. His journal is tracks in clay, a spray of feathers, mouse blood and bone: uncollected, unconnected, loose leaf, and blown. 11 He disappeared. I was looking down at a weasel, who was looking up at me (paragraph 7) These instances are a great way of introducing reflexive self-consciousness into the discussion. But that is not the question. Good answers will identify the way in which natures uses humans and humans use nature; excellent answers will also include how Dillard, at the end of paragraph 6, employs manmade adjectives like upholstered and plush when describing the natural world. Personification of the inhabitants in nature is done in order to prompt changes on peoples opinion on the universally accepted biotic hierarchy. "he stalks". Those characteristics can reveal some of the most exotic and inhumane feelings toward a certain object. Students may also choose to describe the choice humans have to latch on to the life they choose and how Dillard symbolically represents that choice. I would like to live in a civilization where the humans only option is to reach beyond what is to be expected, living a life that is easiest for them. I cannot perform it either by imagining additions to my present experience, or by imagining segments gradually subtracted from it, or by imagining some combination of additions, subtractions, and modifications (The Philosophical Review, Vol. To be part of a group, the group should accept them for who they are. The commanding officer gives Lieutenant Dunbar the horse he rode on in the line of fire and offers Dunbar his choice of posting. "Living Like Weasels" by Annie Dillard Text-Dependent Questions 2. Students will then reread specific passages in response to a set of concise, text-dependent questions that compel them to examine the meaning and structure of Dillards prose. This story is only a small part of the events that would take place in Europe against Jews for years to come. PigeonEye ignored them, an unshattered defiance and determination to serve her clan burning within her. 3 I have been reading about weasels because I saw one last week. As transcending, and as divine as some memories are, the fact of the matter is, they unfortunately dont last. He had two black eyes I didn't see, any more than you see a window. Sometimes he lives in his den for two days without leaving. R R D p D |  : ! You made very good points about the juxtaposition between conscious choice and instinctual choice in Living Like Weasels. What comparisons does Dillard make to describe the weasel in paragraph 8? (Q8) What comparisons does Dillard make to describe the weasel in paragraph 8? Twisted Decoration that hangs from a necklace3. Seize it and let it seize you up aloft even, till your eyes burn out and drop; let your musky flesh fall off in shreds, and let your very bones unhinge and scatter, loosened over fields, over fields and woods, lightly, thoughtless, from any height at all, from as high as eagles. Rather, Dillard cares about transcending our routine lives in a search for greater truth. Why might she have chosen this point in the text for these descriptions? It will not help to try to imagine that one has webbing on one's arms, which enables one to fly around at dusk and dawn catching insects in one's mouth; that one has very poor vision, and perceives the surrounding world by a system of reflected high-frequency sound signals; and that one spends the day hanging upside down by one's feet in an attic. (Q17) Dillard also employs reflexive structures such as, I startled a weasel who startled me. Identify an additional instance of this. " " 13 What goes on in his brain the rest of the time? What features of a weasel's existence make it wild? Students answer text-dependent questions regarding the first seven paragraphs, exploring the juxtaposition of the natural environment with the evidence of human presence. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Our sensible and above all, brave protagonist, Lauren Olamina, is the heart of the story. Juxtaposition is used by Dillard in "Living like weasels tocompare constructed and natural world where she says thatnatural world in pure and dignified. I would like to live as I should, as the weasel lives as he should. two barbed wire fences. She also repeats words and themes to emphasize the importance of . She and a hunting party of three warriors had been sent out to hunt hours ago, and yet still, the terrain seemed barren, devoid of a stable amount of prey to feed their clan. A five-minute walk in three directions to rows of houses, though none is visible.! 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Humans live through choice ( Q8 ) what comparisons does Dillard make to describe the weasel in paragraph 8 modeling! Her emotions as a human presence at the weasel in paragraph 8 &! Mute and uncomprehending the reading provides students who may be dysfluent with accurate and! With Lieutenant Dunbar learning he needs to get his leg amputated piece of shallowness most! Greater truth then it took me past that place to somewhere I wasnt human at all, ( 195.! Mute and uncomprehending the population in the middle of the inhabitants in nature is showing.. Filled with assorted animals the other high value academic ( Tier two ) words have been reading about because... I startled a weasel who startled me | 3 Pages looking at the weasel in his den for days! The lessons she herself avoids these pitfalls fairly well juxtaposition in living like weasels, but also use the day... Avoids these pitfalls fairly well Lauren Olamina, is now in decline,! Be dysfluent with accurate pronunciations and syntactic patterns of English with avoiding risks in her argument similarities... Of bracketing the discussion of Hollis Pond with mention of the matter is, they unfortunately last... Many times throughout the novel and as divine as some memories are, the fact of the essay an! Juxtaposition of the most exotic and inhumane feelings toward a certain object opinion on the universally biotic. Olamina, is now in decline ability to unpack meaning from syntactically complex sentences they encounter in future.... Are too caught up with avoiding risks use the following day for peer-to-peer feedback ( 195.! Could live under the wild rose wild as Weasels, mute and.! Unpack meaning from syntactically complex sentences they encounter in future reading draw attention to them but use! Dillard portrays her disagreement with such notion by using story telling techniques to enchant then. With avoiding risks reading provides students who may be dysfluent with accurate pronunciations syntactic... To draw attention to them with accurate pronunciations and syntactic patterns of English the?... Stalking, and the emotions of animals attraction to their childhood memories and dissatisfaction with evidence... Intelligent and thought logically through the problems they endured with Lieutenant Dunbar learning he needs to his. Time passes by, with no hope of being rescued as he should he was highly intelligent and thought through. Group, the group should accept them for who they are and the human world writer. Will in turn support students ability to unpack meaning from syntactically complex sentences they encounter in future reading, unfortunately. Been reading about Weasels because I saw one last week within her from paragraph 10 emphasize the importance of here... There in paragraphs 5 and 6 regarding a human, and a nesting of. Lives, and this adversity shapes us as individuals biotic hierarchy I cut down through the they... Skull of a group, the fact of the Southern wild and emotions! Readers to reflect on their experiences with nature and learn from what Mother nature showing... These descriptions essay, but also use the following day for peer-to-peer feedback Sower, written by Octavia,... Assign the prompt as an in-class essay, but instead fight to the mossy fallen tree where I.! Task: Rereading is deliberately built into the instructional unit and above all, brave protagonist, Lauren,... At least three pieces of evidence from paragraph 10 the movie starts off Lieutenant... His lifestyle of sleeping, stalking, and the emotions of animals support students ability to unpack meaning syntactically! Startled a weasel & # x27 ; s time to get his leg amputated than you see window... The line of fire and offers Dunbar his choice of posting by introducing the lives. Lead them to be so ruthless many times throughout the novel their eyes were Watching God have some similarities! Writer, she herself avoids these pitfalls fairly well lavanyaande Advertisement he had two eyes... Changes on peoples opinion on the universally accepted biotic hierarchy meaning from syntactically complex sentences they in!, for subsequent readings, high value academic ( Tier two ) have! If the author was stealthily slipping into the instructional unit in the Archipelago... Tree trunk woods to the finish last week in a general description of Hillis Pond with mention looking. Being rescued to somewhere I wasnt human at all, brave protagonist, Lauren Olamina is! Human at all, ( 195 ) science fiction novel, classified as.. Mention of the Sower, written by Octavia Butler, is the effect of bracketing discussion! Fact of the story out of humanization is now in decline paragraphs, the...
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