Essay Questions

Annie Dillard explores the association between materiality as well as spiritualism. Show how she achieves this in the work.

Dillard’s work in the novel is significantly related to the juxtaposition of materiality as well as spiritualism. In her argument, the two ideologies are presented as somewhat interlinked with each other rather than being separate and distinct. In her discussions of sand, the writer relates this to the God and his sovereignty. On the other hand, evil is explained through historical occurrences of such acts as violence and suffering. All in all, these elements are in tête-à-tête with regard to each other. The writer uses materiality as a metaphor for spirituality, which then becomes the meaning of the material.

Bring out the role of history in Dillard’s For the Time Being.

The role that history plays in Dillard’s, For the Time Being, is somewhat related to the fact that the book tackles humanity. The writer, to bring out the color in her meditations, draws upon the events that happen to real people. For instance, Tielhard de Chardin is an emblem of ideas related to harmony, notably the harmony of body, soul as well as mind. She also discusses some history, including Chinese, Jewish histories, as well as some of her selected philosophers. Through this focus on history, Dillard is able to bring out his ideas.