Review of Annie Dillard

“Heaven on Earth and Earth in Jest”

By : Annie Dillard

Essay by : Jimmy Ripp

       Annie Dillard author of “Heaven and Earth  in Jest” depicts a meaningful and significant event bearing witness to real life nature at work, her connection to it and subsequent effect that it has on the stories character/narrator. Unlike the author Warren Bowe's work “Guns for Teachers” displayed in ironic / sarcastic rant with a potential mass impact. This topic displays an event that carried only a personal impact.  

       While both have an “impactful” motif in a sense that is where the similarities end.Dillard’s character gives the feeling that her words are spoken from the soul and heart rather than from a bias opinion of the mind as Bowe's narrator does.

       Dillard allows the entrance into the characters inner being and makes an easily overlooked happening at an unappreciated location far more significant and relevant. The character does so in a poetic fashion and conveys every emotion from within. Bowe's narrator is truly speaking to appeal to the masses.  

        Dillard's character is only speaking to appeal to herself and her soul. Only permitting the reader the permission to listen in.

       Bowe's story title takes a simple clear direct approach to the  subject matter and content.

       Dillard's “Heaven and Earth in Jest” doesn't reflect what exactly the story's content is or will be. It is apparent that it is holding a much deeper meaning to the event in which the content is about.

       So comparing the pieces as opposites is clear way to see how far different directions writers can go. The sarcasm and irony in a cynical manner or a deeper plain a with an in-depth spiritual and personal affect the story being conveyed has. Both are directly meant to have lasting effect.