Annie Dillard's Total Eclipse Insights

Claire discusses the upcoming 2017 solar eclipse and Annie Dillard's essay 'Total Eclipse,' which describes her experience during the 1979 eclipse. Dillard's vivid writing captures the disorienting and apocalyptic nature of the event. Claire encourages viewers to read Dillard's work, highlighting her unique style and the essay's availability on The Atlantic.

What is the significance of the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017?

• It is the first total solar eclipse visible in the US since 1979.

• It is the first solar eclipse ever recorded.

• It is the first eclipse visible from space.

• It is the longest solar eclipse in history.

Who is Annie Dillard?

• A professional photographer

• A famous astronomer

• A renowned scientist

• A Pulitzer Prize-winning writer

What is the title of Annie Dillard's essay about the eclipse?

• Eclipse and Beyond

• The Great Eclipse

• Total Eclipse

• Eclipse of the Century

In which book is 'Total Eclipse' the opening essay?

• The Abundance

• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

• Teaching a Stone to Talk

• The Eclipse Chronicles

What was the narrator's initial knowledge about eclipses before reading 'Total Eclipse'?

• A background in science

• Experience in eclipse photography

• No prior knowledge of total eclipses

• Extensive knowledge of astronomy

Where did Annie Dillard travel to witness the eclipse?

• The Sierra Nevada

• The Rocky Mountains

• The Cascade Mountains and Yakima Valley

• The Appalachian Mountains

What did the observers wear while waiting for the eclipse?

• Binoculars

• Sunglasses

• Eclipse glasses

• Welding masks

How does Annie Dillard describe the eclipse's effect on the world?

• The world appears wrong

• The world appears brighter

• The world appears smaller

• The world appears unchanged

What is a common reaction to witnessing a total eclipse, according to Dillard?

• Feeling of joy

• Feeling of disorientation

• Feeling of boredom

• Feeling of clarity

What existential question does Dillard explore in her essay?

• What is the future of humanity?

• What is the meaning of life?

• How can meaning exist when everything changes?

• Why do eclipses occur?