The Truth is in the Details :: Comparative, The Naturalist

When I received the assignment of comparing and contrasting the naturalist to that of Landscape and autobiography, admittedly I was a bit dismayed at the idea of analyzing two writings I seemed to comprehend very little of. Upon reading them everyplace and over, jotting down idea after idea, and crumpling up paper after paper, I came to the conclusion that I may or may not be over-thinking the assignment. My interpretation, though a bit underdeveloped, is thisBarry Lopez, in The Naturalist explains what it means to be a naturalist, the expectations a naturalist, and the modern naturalists ideology. He speaks of how knowledge is outflank gained, which he believes is through enormously time-consuming (The Naturalist 122) firsthand experience by immersing yourself in its milieu (The Naturalist 116), or environment. He uses the example of the caracara, in the Naturalist. He says, if you wish to understand the caracara, you need to know a great deal about exactly where the caracara li ves and what the caracaras relationships are with each of the many components of that place, including its elevations, its seasonal light. (The Naturalist 116).This fits in nicely with the point he makes in Landscape and Narrative. He defines two landscapes external, the one we seethe landits plants and animalsits weather, its geology, the record of its modality and evolution. (Landscape and Narrative 5). The other is the internal one, which Lopez describes as a kind of projection within a part of the exterior landscape. (Landscape and Narrative 7). more(prenominal) or less, I think hes saying that ones mindset, feelings, and purpose are determined by nature the world approximately us. Lopez mentions that those fresh to a taskare the ones most likely to give themselves a deadlinewhich will challenge themselves to know all there is to know (The Naturalist 122) about a particular thing. But, as he points out, lack of end points (The Naturalist 122) conflict with the short-term de mands of modern life. (The Naturalist 122). He refers to the fact that he still goes down to the river and always feels like something new will reveal itself. Putting oneself on a deadline never works.Those opposed to, or believing otherwise than naturalists, or tyrants (The Naturalist 122), aim to silence the naturalists (The Naturalist 122), to avoid having their beliefs called into question or contradicted. Lopez fears those people some in a position of political power, and with an teemingness of confidence are ready to tell the county commissioners what the river is (The Naturalist 122).