In Essay 1, “Total Eclipse,” Dillard describes an interaction with nature that leaves her in awe and terror and makes her rethink the normal routine of life. What other natural phenomena might produce a similar reaction in people?

Essay 2, “An Expedition to the Pole,” describes an encounter with God as being risky and something to approach with great caution. How does this view align with religious teachings about God in the Christian/Jewish/Muslim tradition?

Dillard has a deep interest in and respect for wild animals and the way they live. What does Dillard find superior about wild animals in comparison to mankind?