The Death of a Moth: Dillard
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Revisit the paragraph that begins with "Today the earwig shines darkly..."
Find your favorite adjective or descriptor.
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Choose an interesting or compelling noun from the reading for us.
Everyone 1: take out a piece of paper (put your name on it) and label it “Moth-Dillard”.
Write the noun and then surround it with words you think of when you hear this noun. Connect each word to the noun with a line.
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Where are Dillard's nouns particularly connotative and thus a precise and effective
choice? What effect does such diction have on you, the reader, in terms of what you
picture in your head?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Read the several paragraphs about the moth flying into the candle. The death of the moth is a horrible event for the insect yet Dillard describes the incident beautifully.
Which diction achieves this effect of beauty? Everyone 2: Identify those words and phrases that make it beautiful on your paper.
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Dillard uses several figures of speech to describe the moth's death. What simile or
metaphor is the most surprising and unique to you? Why?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
What qualities does the personification give the moth? Why might Dillard's description choose to make such a comparison?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Everyone 3: Where do any of her comparisons become hyperbole? Why would she use such exaggerations instead of a straight metaphor or simile?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
The piece begins with a description of the spider's activities and then ends with a
description of the moth's activities. How does Dillard connect these different creatures?
How does she relate to these creatures?
Everyone 4: Give an example of diction that shows her attitude or feeling toward the spider and toward the moth.
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Is Dillard's description mostly objective or impressionistic or both?
Can you find an example of each type of description?
Why do you think she chose this particular angle for her description?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Everyone Discuss:��The editors of The Mercury Reader for Developing Writers suggest that the spider and the moth are symbols for writers and the writing life.
Would you agree or disagree?
How much, and why?
The Death of a Moth: Dillard
Everyone 5: Choose one of the following activities
burned in the flames of Dillard's candle or the interior monologue of Dillard. Provide the moment-by-moment thoughts and feelings that either experiences.
the death of a moth? A hungry spider? Generate a list of words based on your own
observations of these creatures and compare them to Dillard's diction. What are the
important similarities and differences? Why did you choose the diction you did?
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
How does Woolf use rhetorical devices to make her argument?
Yet, because he was so small, and so simple a form of the energy that was rolling in at the open window and driving its way through so many narrow and intricate corridors in my own brain and in those of other human beings, there was something marvellous as well as pathetic about him.
Using your knowledge of rhetorical analysis (organization, appeals, syntax, morphemes, phonemes, rhetorical choices, etc.), explore (analyze) WHAT Woolf is saying in this sentence and HOW she conveys this to you (the reader):
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
Discuss:
How might the essay be divided into two parts? Why would you divide it as you did?
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
Return to your desks
On your paper label “Moth-Woolf” and answer the following question:
Everyone 6:
Given Woolf’s argument, how might you (or any reader) want to consider living life differently? Use at least 2 specific references to the text in developing your argument.
Side-by-Side
The Death of a Moth
Dillard
The Death of the Moth
Woolf
Moth: Woolf and Dillard
Take notes during the discussion- it will help you for your essay!!!!
Moth: Woolf and Dillard
(Consider the titles, too)
Similarities
Differences
Discuss: Compare the way both writers describe the death of the moth? What are some of the key phrases and details that create a vivid picture of the moths’ deaths in the mind of the reader (violent? Physically, philosophically, or metaphorically violent?)? What might each author be saying about …. Death? Violence? Transformation? inspiration?
Woolf
Dillard
TONE: How would you describe the tone of these pieces? Consider the impact the death of the moth has upon both the narrator and the reader.
STRUCTURE/ENDING: How does each author develop the theme of her essay? What is the effect on the reader of the final paragraphs of each essay? How do we react to violence and death in nature? Why does the death of this seemingly insignificant insect evoke such strong feelings in the narrators?
Woolf
Dillard
In a well-developed essay, compare Virginia Woolf’s and Annie Dillard’s use of rhetorical devices such as diction, tone, and structure in their treatment of the death of the moth and each author’s understanding of death (and life). You may discuss Dillard as a response piece to Woolf, but this is not necessary. 3 pages, 1.5 spaced, TNR or Calibri, 1” margins- Consider the poster/ link of transition words to develop relationships between the works.
You may choose Death? Violence? Transformation? inspiration?
Example thesis statement:
Both Dillard and Woolf use ________________ (a variety of rhetorical devices) to discuss _____________ (general similar subject or purpose) but lead the reader to unique understandings of _________________________________ in each.
OR
While Dillard and Woolf use ________________ (rhetorical devices) to achieve _________ (similar/different) effects, they both lead to ________________ (similar/different) understanding of ___________(their purpose).
Remember to introduce the author, the text, and some context of each in your introduction before your thesis. Each of these statements is an example of a formulaic/ adequate approach. You do not need to use either. They are just to give you a place to start.
To Compare and/or Contrast To Show Time and Sequence
To Show Addition To Elaborate
To Conclude or Summarize To Show Cause and Effect
Attorney in Chicago.”
To Emphasize
PEER REVIEW
The Death of a Moth
Dillard
The Death of the Moth
Woolf
PEER REVIEW PARTNERS
Peer review 2016
Share your essays with each other
On the top right
Change the pencil
To suggesting
Peer Review 2016
In a well-developed essay, compare Virginia Woolf’s and Annie Dillard’s use of rhetorical devices such as diction, tone, and structure in their treatment of the death of the moth and each author’s understanding of death (and life). 3 pages, double spaced
The Death of the Moth
Woolf
The Death of a Moth
Dillard
Remember to
The Death of the Moth: Woolf
Again�