TOW #2 - "Total Eclipse" (Written)

The essay was from about the author's experience seeing a total solar eclipse, and her thoughts before and after the event. The author was Annie Dillard, who is an author best known for her narrative prose. She has written poetry, prose, literary criticism, and a variety of other different forms of literature. She won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction, for "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek". Her description of the eclipse didn't seem to be for any particular audience, maybe those who have seen a solar eclipse before, as she frequently seemed to say that the way people describe it or photographs of it really can't compare to the actual thing. However, even to those who don't share this experience, she does an excellent job portraying her emotions as the eclipse occurred, and how she felt afterwards. She tried to describe the eclipse to everyone, as not just the eclipse but as a holistic experience. She starts with the hotel room and a detailed description of that, as well as the restaurant she visited after the eclipse. She not only described the eclipse, but it seems like she is showing the reader that nature is something to be appreciated and amazed by, because it can produce amazing events like this eclipse. I think she definitely achieved a sense of something bigger, as if it's more than just the sun being blocked out, it's the incredible magnitude of space and nature itself. Throughout the essay, she uses short anecdotes about things such as the clown painting in her hotel. However, I think some of the random information, such as the detailed description of the hotel, were not entirely necessary for the purpose of the essay. It was interesting in describing the entire experience, but may have detracted a bit from the main focus of the essay, which was the actual eclipse itself and the impact it had on her for long afterwards, which was shown in her thoughts at the restaurant.