Question

What does Dillard mean at the end of the second section when she says, "Only an extraordinary act of will could recall to us our former, living selves and our contexts in matter and time"?

A. Dillard is suggesting that the experience of witnessing a total eclipse is so disorienting that it temporarily severs our connection to our personal identity and our place in the physical world.

B. Dillard is implying that the act of observing a total eclipse requires a heightened level of focus and concentration in order to fully grasp its significance.

C. Dillard is expressing the idea that the eclipse's transformative power can only be truly appreciated through a conscious effort to recall our previous selves and our connection to the material world.

D. Dillard is emphasizing the fleeting nature of the eclipse experience and the difficulty of retaining its profound impact on our consciousness.

Answer 1

Dillard is suggesting that witnessing a total eclipse can cause a temporary disconnection from personal identity and the physical world, requiring a conscious effort to restore it.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given quote, Dillard is suggesting that the experience of witnessing a total eclipse is so disorienting that it temporarily severs our connection to our personal identity and our place in the physical world.

The phrase 'Only an extraordinary act of will could recall to us our former, living selves and our contexts in matter and time' implies that it takes a conscious effort to restore our sense of self and our connection to the material world after such a transformative event.