Page turners discussion

As we can see, Annie Dillard is constantly alluding to other written works in her book. Evaluate why she references other pieces of literature in her novel.

Dillard does not write her story alone. She uses help from other sources throughout her writing. She is constantly alluding to other pieces of text including the Hebrew bible. She quotes the book of Ezekiel passage 3:1 when she writes "Eat this scroll" (25). She references the book to give further explanation on her topic of Israel and is able to connect the dead snake with an important piece of text from their religion.

Dillard references several other written works in her story. She uses these other sources to help better portray her message and purpose to the readers. Dillard quotes the Mahabharata which is one of the major Sanskrit epics of Ancient India. "The Mahabharata says, "Of all the worlds wonders, which is the most wonderful? That no man, though he sees others dying all around him, believes that he himself will die" (20). I believe she included this as a way to give insight to her view on life- we see people dying everyday, yet the average human continues carry on with their lives daily , without any thought of death. Most do not wake up and think, "I am going to die today," rather people plan on having a future and creating more relationships in their lives, which is what she is trying to prove.

Anne Dillard constantly refers to other texts in her book such as, "One may unearth this airy treasure by reading Israeli novelists Meir Shalev's Esau. There on page 335, Shalev cites Ancient Graves of Jerusalem, from which he drew his record" (page 47). Dillard uses so many quotes from other books, and references to help develop an appeal to logos. She does this because if she shows where she gets her historic evidence which develops the main theme of the purpose of life, then the reader will trust her more with the information she shares. For a large portion of historic examples described in this book, another source of information is given which makes me as a reader, feel as though she did her research and knows what shes talking about.

Throughout this text Anne Dillard alludes to many other texts and works by other authors. An example of this is on page 49 when she says, " 'The Dead outnumber the living,' Harvard's Nathan Keyfitz wrote in a letter to Justin Kaplan. Credible estimated of the number of people who have ever lived on earth run from 70 billion to over 100 billion." I believe the author alludes to other written works in order to provide her arguments with credibility and to support them more. I think by doing this the readers trust her arguments more because she has other evidence to support her claims.

Annie Dillard is constantly alluding to other literature. She injects random passages into her book to help her find the meaning of life. What I mean is, every single reference she uses has a particular take on why we exist. By mixing all these works, she is able to accurately answer and explore these three questions: Why do we exist? Where do we come from? How can one person matter? I've noticed that she frequently references the paleontologist Teilhard's notes. In his notebook he writes "There are only beings everywhere" (43). On page 50, she brings the question "How can one person matter?" back into play when she heard about people drowning in Bangladesh. She said "It was hard to imagine 138,000 people drowning" then her daughter says "No, it's easy...Lots and lots of dots in blue water". By connecting her own story and what she referenced she showed that humans are grouped by insignificant and meaningless numbers. We as a society look at humans as a whole rather than individuals that matter.

Annie Dillard habitually alludes to other written works in her text. She alludes to "Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation" (64). She alludes to this piece of text to appeal to ethos. She is creating credibility by bringing up a book about Birth defects while she talks on that subject. Furthermore she is talking about birth defects in order to show that every life is precious no matter what you look like or what you are born with. Dillard does this by saying a child with a certain disorder is "cute" and that "someone loves us all" confirming that every life is important.

Anne Dillard is alluding to other pieces of literature, many of which has to do with religion. On page 48 she references the testament when she states "In his last will and testament, Rabbi Yedudah Hechasia, a Kabbalist and ethicist of the twelfth century, left numbered precepts for sensible and holy living" and then proceeded to states some of the precepts. She adds these intercepts from other pieces of literature so that the reader can see how other peoples way of life helps other cultures and groups of people live their life. This all concludes back to the purpose and way of life. She does this many times to also prove her credibility of her voice and appeal to logos.

Jessica wrote: "Dillard references several other written works in her story. She uses these other sources to help better portray her message and purpose to the readers. Dillard quotes the Mahabharata which is one ..."

Dillard definitely uses other pieces of literature to incorporate the fact that death is part of life into her writing. On page 48 she states that in Rabbi Yehudah Hechasid's last will and testament he writes on his 15 precept "Don't weep excessively for a deceased person. There are three days for weeping, seven days for eulogizing, thirty days for mourning". He is saying that you can be upset over the death of a individual for only so long and then you have to move on with life, that you cant stay sad forever. This indicates to the reader that he is inferring that the purpose of life is not to be sad. Life is supposed to be sensible and holy.

At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stories. One of the people she may not often talk about but helps to support her main focus is Nelly Sachs. Sach's was in war so he knows a lot about the ending of a life and he writes about it saying "The voices of the dead speak through reed pipes of seclusion" (78). This excerpt explains that life isn't over after death. The people are still around and want to be heard. This helps to answer the question why does one person matter? It's because they still have an affect on society even if they are no longer there. She shows with the help of Sach's that death does not terminate a life.

Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stories. One of the ..."

I agree as the book continues, Dillard's views on life and death become very prominent. She analyzes the purpose of humankind on earth in several unique ways and constantly questions the value of a single person and groups of people. Adding onto your point, Dillard quotes Joseph Stalin and I think it does a great job in evolving her message. "One death is a tragedy; a million deaths are a statistic" (75). This leads to the question why can one person count and why do we grieve over individuals, but if millions of lives are lost their names are forgotten and it quickly becomes a statistic .

Dillard mentions many other book ]s in For The Time Being. One of the books she mentions The Divine Milieu, she says "Pressed for his opinions, Teilhard Produced them, and their peculiarly disagreeable lexicon"(102). Dillard then says how even through conflict Teilhard still produced these books in Rome even though it ended up getting banned. He kept his theology even though many people opposed that religious ideology.

Jessica wrote: "Dillard references several other written works in her story. She uses these other sources to help better portray her message and purpose to the readers. Dillard quotes the Mahabharata which is one ..."

I totally agree. However, I also think this means that every human thinks that they are invincible. It seems to be human nature that we see pain, death and suffering around us yet we never think it could happen to us. Annie Dillard is not only exploring human existence but also human behavior. Before the Mahabharata responds, he asks a rhetorical question, which was "Of all the world's wonders, which is the most wonderful?"(20). I pondered why humans think that they are invincible and I found this. In a "Psychology Today" article they said "our optimism bias causes us to believe that we are luckier and less likely to experience negative events than the average person". So I've concluded that humans are more optimistic than realistic which leads us to believe that we are invulnerable. It is truly wondrous.

Jessica wrote: "Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stori..."
Exactly, the way people approach large amounts of human deaths is insensitive. Dillard is constantly reflecting on individuals themselves and everyone as a whole. Humans are regarded as numbers instead of people. On page 21, Dillard references when Ted Bundy said "I mean, there are so many people" to justify his crimes. There are so many of us but if you think about it we are just microscopic specs in the whole universe. We are massive in numbers but also so small compared to the rest of the world.

Emily wrote: "Anne Dillard is alluding to other pieces of literature, many of which has to do with religion. On page 48 she references the testament when she states "In his last will and testament, Rabbi Yedudah..."

I agree that most of Anne Dillard's references to other works of literature are allusions to texts that regard religion. I also strongly agree with your point that by referencing other works written by other scholars she improves her credibility to the reader. Another example of this is, " Actually many scholars think 'Jesus of Nazareth' was likely born in Nazareth. Early writers hooked his birth to Bethlehem to fit a prophecy."(79). This quote shows an example of the author researching and alluding to the opionion's of other historians in order to further strengthen her claim and greatly improve her credibility which allows for the reader to listen to her more.

Kailee wrote: "Dillard does not write her story alone. She uses help from other sources throughout her writing. She is constantly alluding to other pieces of text including the Hebrew bible. She quotes the book o..."
In reading this book I have found that many of her references are related to religion and in specific she uses Judaism a lot. For example she references quotes said by a rabbi, "Holy One of Being... I am yours and my dreams are yours" (p 52). Many people use religion to answer the deeper questions in life which is why it is scene so often in this book.

Vincent wrote: "Kailee wrote: "Dillard does not write her story alone. She uses help from other sources throughout her writing. She is constantly alluding to other pieces of text including the Hebrew bible. She qu..."

I agree this book proves that when people are doubting the way they are living they will turn to religion as a way for comfort or guidance. It seems to be a common theme that Dillard is using written works and literature as a way to explain life and death's purpose. She includes Rabbi Hechasid's last will and testament speaking of a way to live at peace. "Don’t weep excessively for a deceased person. There are three days for weeping, seven days for eulogizing, thirty days for mourning...Beyond that God says "Don’t be more merciful than I am" (48). This could be interpreted differently depending on the person but I think in a way it is supposed to be assuring to some and to have faith in their God and life's plan, and that life will keep on moving forward.

Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stories. One of the ..."
Dillard also shows this when she alludes to "Among the Lowest of the Dead" (21). This text she alludes to is about a serial killer Ted Bundy who states in the text "I mean, there are so many people." Bundy is saying that there are so many people in the world and that there is life after death, so he uses this as a justification for his killing.

Jon wrote: "Annie Dillard habitually alludes to other written works in her text. She alludes to "Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation" (64). She alludes to this piece of text to appeal to ethos...."
This is such a powerful quote because is not only appeals to logos, with Dillard's use of researched texts, but it appeals to the emotions of the readers because of the babies mentioned. Dillard does a great job of using rhetorical devices such as tone to help make these appeals to pathos and logos. Another example that i think goes along with this quote is, "once a Rabbi scholar was studying Torah in the fields of Safad, he saw a bunch of souls in a tree"(page 23). Dillard alludes to another text, which happens to be very spiritual to make the reader trust her, while appealing to their emotions of religion.

Jake wrote: "Throughout this text Anne Dillard alludes to many other texts and works by other authors. An example of this is on page 49 when she says, " 'The Dead outnumber the living,' Harvard's Nathan Keyfitz..."
I like this piece of evidence you found because it is not one that stands out. Most other pieces of text refer to religion but this one did not. I also found another piece of literature that is not religiously related and it was from The Portrait of a Lady. Touchett makes the comment " There's nothing that makes us feel so much alive as to see others die "(110). I have never thought about death in that sense. This was an eye opener for me to look at death from another point of view, and that's Dillard's purpose for writing this book. To get a new understanding of death from all angles; the good and the bad. It's true in Touchett's writing you never really take the time to think about death unless you are in a situation where you have to experience it. As ironic and it is, it makes people more grateful for their lives when another life has been taken.

Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stories. One of the ..."

She does reference death a lot and every time she does she incorporates another piece of wisdom about life. In the quote you choice she is describing how even though when death approaches it all seems to come to a end but however a new chapter is only starting for you. Another quote where she gives wisdom about death is on page 88 when she states "when the heavens opened up and he saw visions of god". On this page she is talking about how although some people seem to have it better then you or have more then you, your lives are still the same amount as worthy and important. She strengthens this idea by stating on page 88 that "There is no whit less enlightenment under the tree by your street than there was under the Buddha's BO tree."

Gabriella wrote: "Anne Dillard constantly refers to other texts in her book such as, "One may unearth this airy treasure by reading Israeli novelists Meir Shalev's Esau. There on page 335, Shalev cites Ancient Grave...". I really like the quote you picked out of the book. I feel like this is one of the best appeals to logo made in the book. I feel like she really gets her point across. also Dillard says "who have been alive for this most recent verse of human life? How many people lived and died"(pg 48). Logos is used in this quote also

Emily wrote: "Anne Dillard is alluding to other pieces of literature, many of which has to do with religion. On page 48 she references the testament when she states "In his last will and testament, Rabbi Yedudah..."
I totally agree with you, and to piggy back off your quote, Dillard states "'Don't cut down the fruit bearing tree"'.(pg 48) I feel like this is a really important saying. I feel like its really showing me an important life lesson, don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stories. One of the ..."
I think its obvious the outlook Dillard has on life and death at this point too. I think its important to note that the reason we trust her so much and her outlook on life is because the appeal to logos she makes as she alludes other texts into many sections of her book. Another example that I think helps demonstrate her main idea, and allusion to other texts is, "wrote a text in which Rabbi Isaac said, 'it is five-hundred-year journey from the earth to the firmament.... The thickness of the firmament is a five-hundred-year journey" (page 80-81) This quote gives insight on the Rabbi and religious experiences which appeals to logos and emotion, which is why Dillard's writing is so powerful.

Reid wrote: "Dillard mentions many other book ]s in For The Time Being. One of the books she mentions The Divine Milieu, she says "Pressed for his opinions, Teilhard Produced them, and their peculiarly disagree..."
I love the way Dillard is consistent throughout her writings. She makes sure that throughout the entire essay her constantly makes remarks and mentions other important texts. She does this so the reader trusts what she is preaching and makes sure we are listening to what she is writing. We trust her credentials more by mentioning the other books which is an appeal to logos. I also think it is essential to note how Dillard picks specific texts to mention, either having to do with the beauty of life or death, or religion. It is her way of developing the main idea which is her own outlook on life and death.

Gabriella wrote: "Jon wrote: "Annie Dillard habitually alludes to other written works in her text. She alludes to "Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation" (64). She alludes to this piece of text to appe..." Dillard's use of various forms of rhetoric like ethos, logos, and pathos, really help her win the audience over. In addition these various allusions to other texts are present in order to appeal to this rhetoric.

Gabriella wrote: "Kailee wrote: "At this point I think it's clear to everyone Dillard's outlook on life and death. She supports this by using evidence from her own personal experience and through other peoples stori..."

Yes, this is an important point made that Dillard is constantly bringing up written works and people of the past, increasing her credibility. I feel like it adds to her message she is trying to deliver that people of the past live's will live on even after death, even a single person can impact the future and they do not deserve to be forgotten. By her mentioning people of the past and their work, she is proving they have an impact even when they are gone. She quotes "nowadays, an eleventh century Chinese buddhist master complained, "we see students who sit dilligently but do not awaken" (61). I think this quote she included in particular is interesting because it will make the reader question and think. Yes students in society conform and care about their work but many little will enlighten and truly learn

Lili wrote: "Annie Dillard is constantly alluding to other literature. She injects random passages into her book to help her find the meaning of life. What I mean is, every single reference she uses has a parti..."
Throughout the book I feel that it is a theme that all life is precious no matter how a person appears and she uses other people to support this. For example she uses it when she references "Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation" but also when she references the "Memoirs of a Cape Breton Doctor" (p 35). When Dillard references these memoirs she speaks to how children with birth deformities are the same as us and repeatedly states this truth. She see's those with deformities as the same as us because all of them are living the same as us and we all had a chance of being born with birth defects as well.

Vincent wrote: "Lili wrote: "Annie Dillard is constantly alluding to other literature. She injects random passages into her book to help her find the meaning of life. What I mean is, every single reference she use..."

She uses the information on children with deformities to relate to the theme that all lives are precious no matter how the appear again on page 4. She states that "The Talmud specifies a certain blessing a man says when he sees a person deformed from birth." She is saying how no matter you come out at birth your live is always valuable. This relates back to the main theme of the meaning of life.

Jake wrote: "Throughout this text Anne Dillard alludes to many other texts and works by other authors. An example of this is on page 49 when she says, " 'The Dead outnumber the living,' Harvard's Nathan Keyfitz..."
I think the purpose in Dillard referencing this is because she is trying question and understand if we live just to become numbers. She speaks of how 138,00 drowned in one day in Bangladesh and Dillard its hard to imagine that; her daughter says just picture a bunch of dots in the water (p 48). Dillard wants us to question are we just another number or is there a purpose in our existence.

Reid wrote: "Dillard mentions many other book ]s in For The Time Being. One of the books she mentions The Divine Milieu, she says "Pressed for his opinions, Teilhard Produced them, and their peculiarly disagree..."

Dillard mentions these books in order to provide herself with more evidence for her claims. Throughout the text she references the bible, the Torah, and works of other historians and authors to make her argument about the significance of life more credible. It shows how much research she has done in order to write her claims on life and shows how she knows what she is talking about. Another example of this is on page 98 when she quotes Teilhard, " We live surrounded by ideas and objects infinitely more ancient then we imagine..." This shows yet another time when Anne Dillard's quotes work from another person in order to strengthen her arguments.

Reid wrote: "Dillard mentions many other book ]s in For The Time Being. One of the books she mentions The Divine Milieu, she says "Pressed for his opinions, Teilhard Produced them, and their peculiarly disagree..."
I believe that Teilhard was a hard believer in his work. What I mean is that "he loved: people, landscapes, stones" (43) which was part of his work. He did not care who agreed with him because he had his own philosophy like most scientists. Backlash from others did not phase him because he had his beliefs that kept him focused on important matters to him. On page 44, he goes on to say that "If I should lose all faith in God...I think that I should continue to believe invincibly in the world". He was an Aristotelian who believed that each individual in the world has built-in patterns of development, which help growth, purpose, and direction.

Vincent wrote: "Jake wrote: "Throughout this text Anne Dillard alludes to many other texts and works by other authors. An example of this is on page 49 when she says, " 'The Dead outnumber the living,' Harvard's N..."
Adding to Vin's response, I agree that she brings up numbers to make death more real to the readers. If they haven't experienced it how are they supposed to? She provides them with hard hitting evidence from her common topic of numbers. She recites a quote from Stalin that "One death is a tragedy; a million deaths are a statistic" (75). That sentence gives a whole new perspective, which is what this book is about. It allows the reader to see death and what happens once it occurs.