The Death Of The Moth And The Sixth Extinction?

Annie Dillard’s piece “The Death of the Moth”, is about Dillard being reminded of the death of a moth she observes and how it relates to herself, this piece is a great depiction of the impact of life and death. Dillard describes her surroundings living in a rural area and within her bathroom is a spider which Dillard reminds of a moth that she killed in her past when she sees the web that the spider has spun and how it has caught many bugs including two moths. She is intrigued by the dead moth’s bodies and givings a vivid description of the bodies While describing the moth’s dead torn body she relates it to a personal experience from her past where she watched a moth die with candle two years ago. Dillard described the burning moth in vivid

In the short stories, the “Death of the Moth,” Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf discover a moth flying and observes it. The short versions has two versions and both author tries to explore the theme of life and death and explains their perspectives on it. Both of the short stories have similar titles, but both pieces exhibit several differences. Annie Dillard starts off her short story by beginning the death of the moth and realizes the value of life. Virginia Woolf tells us that she sees the moth as a pathetic creature and sees that death is a powerful force that no one can stand up to. Both authors go into great detail pertaining to life and death.

‘“One could not help watching him. One, was, indeed, conscious of a queer feeling of pity for him. The possibilities of pleasure seemed that morning so enormous and so various that to have only a moth’s part in life, and a day moth’s at that, appeared a hard fate, and his zest in enjoying his meager opportunities to the full, pathetic’” (Woolf 1). She continually pities the fact that the moth continues to make the most of his desperate and futile situation. No matter his frailty and impending doom, the moth continues to carelessly dance around the windowpane, either because he is unaware that he will soon die, or because he chooses not to care about his demise. However, Woolf begins to realize that the moth’s strength is failing him, and she comes to the cold conclusion that he is at death’s door. Not soon after that, the moth senses that his strength is failing him, but even upon knowing his inevitable death, the moth continues to fight. Woolf’s heart goes out to the insect. ‘“It was superb this last protest, and so frantic that he succeeded at last in righting himself. One’s sympathies, of course, were all on the side of life (Woolf 2)’”. She resolves to root for the moth, and applaud his final protest against death. By the use of her writing style, Woolf has caused the audience to root for the moth’s final efforts along with her. By getting so emotionally

In her essay, Woolf resorts to a melancholic, even a sad tone. Watching the moth and its unsuccessful attempts to get out of the windowpane to where life goes on, Woolf feels towards him “a kind of pity” (195). The word “pity” pops up in the work constantly, which puts reader into sympathetic mood. Then, describing the moth’s last effort to escape from the glass trap and her useless try to help it, Woolf uses a helpless tone. As well as the moth, she gives up. There is no way one “had any chance against death” (Woolf 195). These words evoke a hopeless feeling that there is no way out, no matter how hard we try.

In chapter three of The Sixth Extinction, Elizabeth Kolbert describes how the Great Auk went extinct. The Great Auk is considered “the original penguin.” Sadly, they became extinct in the 1800s. They were found in North Atlantic; were it is cold. The Great Auks were killed by poachers. The poachers killed them for food, feathers, and even used them to keep their fires stoked to keep them warm. “You take a kettle with you into which you put a Penguin or two, you kindle a fire under it, and this fire is absolutely made of the unfortunate Penguins themselves.” So the questions are: “How do animals, such as corals, survive in an ever-changing environment?” and “How do humans play a role in increasing or causing

Despite any futile resistance, every living creature eventually succumbs to death. Ultimately, death is part of living. Death is inevitable. Likewise, although a diminutive moth may appear to be insignificant and pathetic, it can symbolize the true, many connections between the duality of life and death and human beings. For instance, Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf illustrate similar, universal messages of the value of life through the metaphor of a moth. However, the manner in which they portray their themes and purpose varies, for their personal experiences and writing styles influence their provisions of life and death.

Moths, being a small insignificant creature, can possess an immense amount of energy when given the will to live, as they struggle trying to beat seeing the light. Virginia Woolf, in her essay “Death of a Moth,” emphasized how life is precious, as it can be instantaneously taken away from you, so you have to live life to the fullest, and to never give up hope. Throughout her essay, devices such as imagery, in addition to a certain syntax, and depressing tone, are used for the audience to understand her purpose of writing this essay.

Despite any futile resistance, each living creature eventually succumbs to the forces of death. Ultimately, death is a part of living. Death is inevitable. Likewise, although a diminutive moth may appear to be insignificant and pathetic, it can symbolize the true connections between the duality of life and death and human beings. For instance, Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf illustrate similar, universal messages about the value of life through the metaphor of a moth. However, the manner in which they portray their themes and purpose varies, for their personal experiences and writing styles influence their perspectives of life and death.

The monarch butterfly is something that we all have known and loved ever since we were children. During the present time, the monarch butterflies are becoming extinct. Due to human and natural activities, the monarchs population has been declining for two decades. Delaware and its citizens are taking action to save the monarchs from extinction. The monarch takes on a long migration from America and Canada to Mexico during the winter (vice versa). The monarch lives in three distinct population areas. People in Delaware are working hard to save an American icon.

Virginia Woolf and Annie Dillard are two exceptionally talented authors who wrote two comparative pieces. In response to Woolf's essay, “The Death of the Moth”, Dillard wrote a companion piece titled “Death of a Moth”. With vivid imagery and creative diction, both authors wrote themselves into the narrative and became a character within their own story, giving them a unique point of view. As they each recounted the moments leading up to the symbolic end of their moths’ life, it becomes clear both writers were affected by the death, but the impressions that the moth left were greatly contrasted. Witnessing the moths failed attempt at escape, Woolf was inspired to accept death and the finality that comes with it.

It is often said that death is an inescapable inevitability in life. In Virginia Woolf’s narration “The Death of the Moth,” the struggle between life and death is depicted exactly as such—a battle that is not, in the end, ever won. Woolf utilizes rhetorical devices such as tone, fragmentation within the narration, and metaphors to convey this message and invoke the feeling of pity in her reader. As the tone shifts throughout the piece, Woolf’s metaphors and stylistic choices strengthen and drive home the idea that death is the one fight that can’t be won.

Marlee Matlin once said,“The Earth does not belong to us: We belong to the Earth.” In Aldo Leopold’s essay, “The Land Ethic”, there are several overwhelming examples that illustrate why we as humans would believe we own the Earth when we really don’t. Paradoxically, looking at Virginia Woolf’s work, “The Death of a Moth”, one would come to believe that none of that matters because all living beings will suffer the fate of death. However, both works show that there can be a reconciliation between a certain kind of symbiosis: man vs man, land vs land, or man vs land. “The Death of a Moth” may show that all life forms end eventually, but “The Land Ethic” convinces readers that

Virginia Woolf’s “Death of a Moth” may, at first glance, seem lackluster; however, her creative and impactful message is brilliantly hidden within symbolism that demands an abstract perspective. She uses imagery to describe a moth and personify its actions in order to present it as a symbol for life. Additionally, pathos throughout her work evokes emotions and prompts the analytical thinking needed to understand her underlying meaning. Thus, Woolf’s analysis about life is composed using symbolism, imagery, and pathos that combine to create a contemplative style and motivational purpose.

When the 6th Mass Extinction does occur, the effects will be tremendous. Unlike the other extinctions, it is predicted that the changes associated with this extinction will not only create a new epoch in history, but also shape the Earth in the way microbes evolved into multicellular organisms did (Hance, 2015). The effects, however, will be somewhat similar to past extinctions. One predicted effect of the 6th Mass Extinction is the availability of empty niches-unoccupied habitats and places in an environment. When a species is killed off by some natural or anthropogenic event, the habitat it once lived in is left empty, unless that is also destroyed. The species of animals that weren’t harmed

     The character of the moth and the way that Woolf’s story unfolds makes you, as a reader, feel as if you are there actually watching the moth die. Her descriptions of the moth’s flight and the struggle against death as he lived his life that day involves you in the mourning of someone or something you love dying. You feel every movement that Woolf saw in the moth’s life that day by reading this essay. As Woolf describes how the moth “flew vigorously to one corner of his compartment, and after waiting there a second, flew across to the other, “ you can feel the moth’s movements (1178).