Total Eclipse

Annie Dillard is an American author who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1975 for Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (1974). She is known for her lyrical prose, philosophical reflections, and observations of the natural world. Born in 1945, she has explored diverse literary genres, including nonfiction, poetry, essays, and literary criticism. Her writings often explore themes related to nature and the human experience. By employing a contemplative and poetic style, she bridges the gap between observation and contemplation. Dillard’s literary style is characterized by her capacity to notice the world and then translate those observations into contemplations on human existence and humans’ relation to nature and spirituality.

“Total Eclipse” is one of the pieces in Dillard’s Teaching a Stone to Talk (1982), a collection of short essays in which she explores the relationship between the natural world and humankind. Her description of the total eclipse exemplifies her depictions of natural phenomena coupled with philosophical reflections. The essay demonstrates her ability to find the profound in the everyday and to write about experiences that are both deeply personal and more broadly resonant. Dillard’s prose beckons readers to consider their role in the universe and recognize the profound within the simplicity of nature.