Director, Environmental Studies
Professor of English

Study Questions
Daniel G. Payne, Voices in the Wilderness: American Nature Writing and Environmental Politics.
Hanover , N.H. : University Press of New England , 1996.

CHAPTER 9: EDWARD ABBEY

1. Payne analyzes the Abbey’s rhetoric at various places in the chapter. What are the various characteristics of Abbey’s rhetoric he mentions? Make as detailed a list as possible. What are the various ways people have taken his rhetoric (e.g., did he really mean what he said)?

2. Payne also assesses the relative effectiveness and impact of Abbey’s rhetoric at various places in the chapter. This is complex issue. What are the different factors involved in “effectiveness?” What kind of effectiveness? With what audiences? Also note the support Payne gives to his assessments. How does he support his claims? How might one criticize his judgments?

3. What criticisms have been made about Abbey’s environmental and social views? About his writing style? Who made them, and why?

4. According to Payne, what are the different aspects in the theme of freedom in Abbey’s writings? How is freedom related to wilderness?

5. What are the ecosocial criticisms Payne mentions in this chapter? Why does Abbey hold these views? How do you respond to them, and why?

6. According to Payne’s analysis, what was Abbey’s environmental and social ideal ? What was the goal of his writing – what was he trying to do

7. According to Payne’s analysis, what are the characteristics of Abbey’s “ monkey-wrenching ?” What are the disputes about Abbey’s true views on the subject, and whether he participated in that type of activism? What arguments could be made in support of such tactics? What arguments could be made against them? How might Abbey respond to those criticisms?

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