What Kind of Writer is Dillard?

Many critics have tried and failed to give a name for Dillard’s writing, but truthfully, there is no way to sum up the incredible amount of material that Dillard has covered in her writing career.  Some people have tried using labels such as “nature writer” or “ecological, theological, or ecotheological writer” (Smith 343).  The most universal thing about Dillard’s copious texts is that she “wrestles with the essence of things” and comes away with things she has learned and applied to life (Brown-Davidson 1).
As far as nature is concerned, it “is not a blithe passage from winter to spring to summer to fall and to another winter” for Dillard (Smith 351).  Instead she becomes a part of her natural world, and makes her observations from there.  This blending of self into nature also shows that “the enriching power of solitude is another concern of Dillard’s” (Brown-Davidson 3).  Her careful observations are not simply seeing, but also a form of self-actualization.  Dillard embraces nature so that she may learn and discover things about her own life.   This is why it is impossible to deem Dillard simply as a nature writer, or an ecological writer.  Her connections add more to the page than observations do.
Another crucial reason Dillard is difficult to classify is because her writing focuses on so many themes.  She has discussed natural things such as the jungle, muskrats, weasels, and a total eclipse, but she has also talked about her idols, people, and her own writing.  Her personal experience is so important to her observations and through that technique she “manages to recreate with a fresh sense of discovery” (Brown-Davidson 4).   Dillard’s style cannot be described in any other way besides “Dillard”, as it is so crucial to her personal experience.

Works Cited:

Brown-Davidson, Terri. "'Choosing the Given with a Fierce and Pointed Will': Annie Dillard and Risk-Taking in Contemporary Literature". The Hollins Critic: 30.2 (1993 Apr.), pp. 1-10. 28 May 2013.

Smith, Pamela A. "The Ecotheology Of Annie Dillard: A Study In Ambivalence." Cross Currents 45.3 (1995): 341. Web. 28 May 2013.

Is Dillard a transcendentalist?

Annie Dillard has a notorious reputation as a nature writer.  This title also leads to the idea that Dillard follows the style of transcendentalism.  This belief comes from the fact that Dillard’s writing typically “watches the details of her natural environment with a sense of amazement and is overwhelmed with the lessons which nature can teach her” (Reimer 184).  However, Dillard’s “preoccupation is more personal, less inclined to make final statements about the human and social order” (Reimer 186).   Rather than focusing completely on the elements of nature, Dillard is a natural observer who takes away important realizations and lessons from her experiences.

            While Dillard often writes essays that focus on nature and the description of an environment, the connections she creates are less universal and much more personally based.  Another difference is that Dillard almost never references other literary writers, and instead focuses “her attention almost completely on the observations of scientists and biblical writers” (Reimer 184).  Rather than criticize the corruptions that men run into when they stray from nature, Dillard focuses her attention simply on what can be learned from nature.  Her personal observations are at the heart of her works, and the conclusions she draws form the meaning she intends.  

Works Cited:

Reimer, Margaret Loewen. "The Dialectical Vision Of Annie Dillard's Pilgrim At Tinker Creek." Critique 24.3 (1983): 182. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 May 2013.