The Chase

Questions of Meaning

1. The story is that of how approaching a problem with passion and zeal can make the outcome all the more glorious, memorable, and not to mention, successful. Dillard is making the case that the only way to truly fulfill your mission is to forget yourself, and throw your whole heart into “climbing the mountain.”

2. I don’t believe the pursuer’s persistence is reasonable, given that the children were of a very young age, and their offense was of no long-lasting consequence. They were simply “kids being kids.”

3. To the narrator, the pursuer represents passion and devotion to a certain cause, no matter the sacrifices. As the chase goes on, the author thinks of the pursuer as a glorious example of dedication. Yet, when the chase ends, the climax turns out to be a monotonous tongue lashing, and over-all the author finds it quite anti-climactic.

4. The author uses that particular imagery because at the end of the glorious and magnificent chase, the only climax that would heighten the mood would have been violence. But, in reality, it was just a regular, ordinary, adult form of punishment. She says that the punishment was “beside the point” because, in her mind, the chase had been what had set the pursuer apart, and now that it was over there was nothing of real consequence left to incur.

Questions on Writing Strategy

1. Dillard opens her story by telling how the key to football is putting the consequences for oneself aside, and having wide open, yet focused passion, for the task ahead. This serves as a metaphor for the rest of the story when the author is making the point that the key to life in general is passion.

2. In paragraph two Dillard goes from speaking of her “boy arm” straight to “winter.” She also goes from being in trouble to her happiest days. I believe this helps establish the quick pace of her story.

3. Dillard interrupts the chase to describe her “immense discovery” because it gives emphasis to the moral of the story. It weakens the quick paced lead up to the climax, however it gives good emphasis to the moral of the narrative.

4. Dillard’s point of view is that of a seven-year-old girl. Her view of things is simplified, and the narrative is centered very much on the here and now.

5. Dillard implies that children are much more likely to do something, regardless of the outcome for themselves if that is what is truly necessary, while adults are much less likely to do so.
Questions on Language


1.crenellated = having battlements
nigh = nearly, almost
impelled/compelled = urged or driven forward
perfunctorily = lacking interest of enthusiasm
translucent = permitting the passage of light

2. In the statement “I got in trouble for throwing snowballs, and have seldom been happier since,” the author clearly states a paradox. This is that, in general, it is not a pleasant, or “happy” experience to be in trouble, however the author is saying she delighted in it. In her apparent view of childhood, Dillard shows that she believes a child in trouble is learning valuable life lessons.

3. The effect of the last sentence is to relive the tension of the story, as well as to bring the story back the glorious recounting of a child, rather than the musings of an adult.

K.D.