Compare And Contrast John Audubon And Annie Dillard

Bird Essay 2.0 In life, there are often many different ways to experience an event depending on a person’s background and field of study. Regarding these two passages, John Audubon, a scientist, and Annie Dillard, an artisan, describe a murmuration of starlings based on their experiences. The use of their craft in the description of this phenomenon is shown through their styles of writing. While both authors use descriptive language, Audubon utilizes an exact and scientific style while Dillard utilizes a reflective and poetic style. Audubon speaks about the phenomenon in seemingly awestruck way, noting their power and magnitude while noting the birds’ formation as a natural wonder. A striking characteristic of his description is his†¦show more content†¦Unlike Audubon’s lengthy, complex syntax, Dillard employs a variety of sentence lengths and structures. She uses simple sentences and complex sentences to show the constant movement and rhythm of the bird s. Dillard also uses a multitude loose sentences to emphasize her descriptions of the murmuration. For example, she writes, â€Å"They seemed to unravel as they flew, lengthening in curves, like a loosened skein,† which allows each additional phrase to deepen her description. Dillard used words such as â€Å"strayed†¦ unraveling†¦ sifting†¦ rushing† to describe the murmuration of starlings. These words all create an image of movement and life. She also mentions many aspects of textiles and weaving, using words such as, â€Å"skein†¦ banner†¦ oriflamme†¦ knitted†¦ rugs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her choice of these words indicate that she saw the the flocks of birds as a work of art rather than a scientific observation. Moreover, Dillard uses intense imagery within her writing, including figurative language and sensory details. As an illustration, she writes, â€Å"They gathered deep in the distance, flock sifting into flock, and strayed towards me, transparent and whirling, like smoke.† Her view of the birds is not one of scientific observation but rather an artful description of nature and its beauty. She reflects on these images when she asks, â€Å"Could tiny birds be sifting through me right now, birds