Comparing "Living like Weasels" (Annie Dillard) and "Nature" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
This paper will compare and contrast two essays. The first being "Living like Weasels" by Annie Dillard. The second essay called "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. They both focus on the natural world and human living. The essays seem similar on the surface but use different types of analogies and examples to relate the two topics. The first essay was longer of the two and more focused on the mimicking of nature for humans.
"Living like Weasels" is a short essay, which describes Dillard's adventures in watching a weasel. She starts by introducing the weasel in a general description of his lifestyle of sleeping, stalking, and fighting for life. Dillard then moves on to tell about her first encounter seeing a weasel. She describes the landscape of a shallow and murky pond covered in lily pads, surrounded by wilderness. When reading this second chapter you begin to feel as if you are there. Dillard uses a vivid description of the landscape to draw you into her adventure. She then continues on to tell of her actual sighting of the weasel.
The description of the weasel in front of Dillard is also quite vivid. She claims to have related to the weasel in whole new way. Their brains were intermingled. Dillard states she had a hard time remembering exactly what the weasel was thinking but she does start ponder on why humans are not like weasels. She then moves on to discuss why humans should live like weasels and be free of want and greed. The next essay is not structured the same and much shorter.
"Nature" is actually an excerpt from a longer book. Emerson explains the relationship between human and nature as one that should be cherished, yet it is rarely understood. He mentions the fact that only a young child can see nature how it is meant to be seen. Emerson then moves on to discuss being a transparent eye-ball, seeing all and letting the natural element flow through him. He also explains that the relationship between the two cannot be described as it is of a
"Living like Weasels" is a short essay, which describes Dillard's adventures in watching a weasel. She starts by introducing the weasel in a general description of his lifestyle of sleeping, stalking, and fighting for life. Dillard then moves on to tell about her first encounter seeing a weasel. She describes the landscape of a shallow and murky pond covered in lily pads, surrounded by wilderness. When reading this second chapter you begin to feel as if you are there. Dillard uses a vivid description of the landscape to draw you into her adventure. She then continues on to tell of her actual sighting of the weasel.
The description of the weasel in front of Dillard is also quite vivid. She claims to have related to the weasel in whole new way. Their brains were intermingled. Dillard states she had a hard time remembering exactly what the weasel was thinking but she does start ponder on why humans are not like weasels. She then moves on to discuss why humans should live like weasels and be free of want and greed. The next essay is not structured the same and much shorter.
"Nature" is actually an excerpt from a longer book. Emerson explains the relationship between human and nature as one that should be cherished, yet it is rarely understood. He mentions the fact that only a young child can see nature how it is meant to be seen. Emerson then moves on to discuss being a transparent eye-ball, seeing all and letting the natural element flow through him. He also explains that the relationship between the two cannot be described as it is of a