Director, Environmental Studies
Professor of English

Study Questions On John Muir

Three sources

Daniel G. Payne. Voices in the Wilderness, 84-102. .

John Muir. “ Hetch Hetchy Valley .”

John Muir. Selected Quotations.

1. Given Payne’s analysis, the Selected Quotations, and “ Hetch Hetchy Valley ,” what are the similarities and differences between Muir and Thoreau – especially in regards to spirituality, the wild, and ecosocial critique and environmental reform? In Payne’s view, how does Muir go beyond the contributions of Transcendentalism ? What was Muir’s attitude toward Emerson ? (Payne: 85, 94-95)

2. Muir’s spirituality is complex. What are the various sources for his spirituality? Considering Payne, Selected Quotations, and “ Hetch Hetchy Valley ,” what are the basic aspects of his spirituality of nature?

3. What was Muir’s perspective on anthropocentrism and biocentrism? ( Payne: 85, 88, 91) What passages in the Selected Quotations and “ Hetch Hetchy Valley” exemplify biocentrism? Do you see any anthropocentrism in Selected Quotations or “ Hetch Hetchy Valley ?”

4. What kind of ecosocial critiques does Muir make against contemporary practices and powers in the three readings? In what way was Muir actively involved in environmental reform? ( Payne: 97-102) What do you think are the social and political implications of Muir’s views – how would society and politics be different if we took seriously his ideas and values?

5. What type of rhetoric did Muir use? What kinds of rhetorical skills did he have? (Payne: 86-88, 90, 91-92, 98-99, 101-102) In the introduction to the book, Payne said nature writers who influence environmental reform (1) framed issues of the debate (2) provided ethical, ecological, and rhetorical underpinnings of reformist position, (3) attracted the mass audience. Their tasks are to alert, inform, persuade. In what way and to what degree did Muir do these things? What kind of stance does he take, and what kind of public persona does he take on?

6. In Selected Quotations and “ Hetch Hetchy Valley,” which of the Seven Elements of Nature Writing are most prominent? Which ones seem relatively unimportant or absent?

7. How does Muir represent nature in “ Hetch Hetchy Valley?” What characteristics does nature display? How does this representation compare to Chet Raymo’s perspective? How would Raymo criticize Muir?

8. Which of the common themes discussed in “The Spiritual Dimension of Nature Writing” (see list below) are found in Muir’s writings (in Payne, Selected Quotations, and “ Hetch Hetchy Valley”)? Below are the main themes noted in "The Spiritual Dimension of Nature Writing."

• nature: organic interrelatedness, vastness, vitalism, ongoing creation, mystery
• consciousness: attention, receptivity, union of subject & object, direct perception, present only, no meaning

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