The main difference between Robert Smithson’s tour of the monuments of Passaic and St. Brendan’s account of his voyage is that while St. Brendan is discovering new lands, never before seen, Smithson is returning to the place where he was born and is rediscovering it.
On his voyage, St. Brendan discovers a pillar of crystal. He records this discovery by spending four days taking measurements. St. Brendan and his companions spend their time measuring and mapping as they continue their voyage, assisting future cartographers.
Alternatively, Smithson records what he discovers in photos accompanied by an essay. In his essay, Smithson uses metaphors to describe his view of Passaic and debates the significance of the relics he finds.
Smithson states