Annihilation

by

Jeff VanderMeer

The Tower/The Tunnel

At the beginning of the novel, the members of the 12th expedition find a passageway into the earth, which the biologist thinks of as a tower, even though everyone else calls it a tunnel. This…

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The Lighthouse

The lighthouse represents the foolishness of believing in human power over nature. Lighthouses are usually viewed as symbols of safety—they are beacons guiding lost ships to the safety of human civilization and out of the…

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The Swimming Pool/The Empty Lot

The swimming pool and the empty lot illustrate nature’s persistence, power, and complexity. Both are key aspects of different stories that the biologist tells about the formation of her personality and interests. In the first…

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