28 pages 56 minutes read

Annie Dillard

Total Eclipse

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1982

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

In what ways does Dillard explore the dualities of human experience and emotion using the motif of light and darkness?

2.

In what ways does “Total Eclipse” challenge an anthropocentric view of the world?

3.

How does Dillard’s depiction of her experience during the eclipse contrast with the responses of others, such as her spouse? What implications might this have regarding the individual perspectives and interpretations of profound experiences?