Exploring the Text

1. The first section of the essay (paras. 1–19) begins and ends with a reference to the title. Why do you think Terry Tempest Williams frames this section this way? How does it affect the tone?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: The first section of the essay (paras. 1–19) begins and ends with a reference to the title. Why do you think Terry Tempest Williams frames this section this way? How does it affect the tone?
2. Williams claims that “[t]raditionally, as a group of people, Mormons have a low rate of cancer” (para. 5). What are some of the possible reasons for this?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: Williams claims that “[t]raditionally, as a group of people, Mormons have a low rate of cancer” (para. 5). What are some of the possible reasons for this?
3. Research the story that a group of women warriors called the Amazons each slashed off one breast to get better leverage when using bow and arrow. How effectively does Williams use the reference to this legend?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: Research the story that a group of women warriors called the Amazons each slashed off one breast to get better leverage when using bow and arrow. How effectively does Williams use the reference to this legend?
4. What is the effect of repeating the word contaminated three times in paragraph 19?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: What is the effect of repeating the word contaminated three times in paragraph 19?
5. At paragraph 20, why does Williams interrupt the story of her own family’s illness to begin to tell the story of Irene Allen and her family?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: At paragraph 20, why does Williams interrupt the story of her own family’s illness to begin to tell the story of Irene Allen and her family?
6. Williams says in paragraph 22, “Assuaging public fears was simply a matter of public relations” by the government. What does she mean? Is she being ironic, or is she giving a matter-of-fact description of public policy at the time? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: Williams says in paragraph 22, “Assuaging public fears was simply a matter of public relations” by the government. What does she mean? Is she being ironic, or is she giving a matter-of-fact description of public policy at the time? Explain your response.
7. Why does Williams put a section break between paragraphs 29 and 30? Why is there no smooth transition from the Supreme Court case to Mormon culture?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: Why does Williams put a section break between paragraphs 29 and 30? Why is there no smooth transition from the Supreme Court case to Mormon culture?
8. How does footnote 9 differ from the others?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: How does footnote 9 differ from the others?
9. What is the effect of the footnotes Williams includes and of the reference to the National Institutes of Health in paragraph 35?

   Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: What is the effect of the footnotes Williams includes and of the reference to the National Institutes of Health in paragraph 35?
10. In paragraph 43, Williams writes, “The time had come to protest with the heart, that to deny one’s genealogy with the earth was to commit treason against one’s soul.” What underlying assumption connects her support to this claim?

    Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: In paragraph 43, Williams writes, “The time had come to protest with the heart, that to deny one’s genealogy with the earth was to commit treason against one’s soul.” What underlying assumption connects her support to this claim?
11. In paragraphs 43 and 58, how does Williams give the impression of a spiritual presence in nature?

    Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: In paragraphs 43 and 58, how does Williams give the impression of a spiritual presence in nature?
12. What is the rhetorical effect of shifting among narration, exposition, and argument in this essay?

    Chapter 12 - The Clan of One-Breasted Women - Exploring the Text: What is the rhetorical effect of shifting among narration, exposition, and argument in this essay?