Henry David Thoreau's Writings

At this point in the narrative he tells readers about an experience he had while observing a woodchuck in the woods while on a walk. He then tells in detail how he wanted to eat this woodchuck in a brutal way. This thought process he was having while observing this animal brought him a better understanding that human beings still have a wild instinct inside of themselves. Which he respected the idea and acknowledged that these instincts still occurred within himself. This experience supported Thoreau belief that hunting/obtaining knowledge on nature was important at an early age.

For Thoreau, the individual should take action against societal problems instead of relying on the government to change them. Although it is not people’s responsibility to completely change the way society runs, they need to make their opinions known in order for change to happen. If they do not agree with an idea, they cannot just vote by “a strip of paper merely, but [their] whole influence” (Thoreau 7). People must actively work to enact change. Voting through a strip of paper will not do anything since the government will continue doing what they choose unless they are met with resistance.

Ariel Rosales August 09, 2023 AP English Johnson Walden Henry David Thoreau, in the novel “Walden” (1854), claimed that by simplifying one’s life one could gain a deeper connection with the world around them, finding the meaning of life. Supporting his desired message, the novel introduces imagery to allow the readers to gain a visual on what Thoreau experiences while living a self-reliant life. The author uses imagery to persuade the reader that decreasing distractions would allow one to live a simple and efficient life. Thoreau uses a condescending tone through logos delivering his view on decreasing needs in life to man and is trusted because he is a man who speaks from experiences leaving the reader trusting of him because he appears

In Thoreau’s text he uses many things that make it popular in his time as well as in ours. These things include; the use of diction, imagery, and emotional appeal. Even today, Thoreau’s “Civil

David Thoreau uses many different rhetorical strategies in his essay to make different connections to the reader's mind and imagination to get a clear point across. In his narrative, Walden, Thoreau uses many displays of figurative language and imagery to set the scene up for what he is trying to explain. Thoreau uses many different examples of figurative language, the biggest reason why I think he does this is because he wants to make his writing a little bit more expressive, and be able to make claims that will be interesting. “The hollow and lichen-covered apple trees, nawed by rabbits, showing what kind of neighbors I should have,” here Thoreau is explaining what his surroundings are like while he is in nature.

Thoreau went to Walden for the purpose of strengthening his own mind and following his own beliefs. Why should you do what everyone tells you? Well you should not because you are yourself and not society which

Thoreau uses Walden to share his lessons and ideas which often oppose to the common cliches and concepts. Thoreau reiterates that “A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will,” (Thoreau 277). Being alone gives us the time to think and work. In today's society it is often overlooked to study and research while in absolute solitude.

Henry David Thoreau was an extremely important person back in his day because of how he viewed the world and government. His views have helped the 21st century reader understand a few problems happening today with our government, while also giving them a way to solve those problems. Thoreau believed in people doing what was morally right to them, while not always following what the government or society believes and does. This is part of a person’s freedom as long as we try to minimize others sufferings by doing what we believe in.

I chose this quote because of the meaning behind it and the truth to it. When Thoreau says this he is backing up his stance that a man should put his conscience first and follow his own path above anything else. Suppose you have a lily that you want to plant and grow. Lilies should be kept in full and ample sunlight, be watered freely during the spring and summer months, and be trimmed occasionally. If you don’t water the flower, keep it in the dark, or don’t take care of it, it will die.

1) Thoreau is a quite unusual guy that wants to be isolated from civilization/human society due to the reasons that he believes should be obtained by every civilian. Thoreau wants to move to a place away from people but a place where there is nature around. Wild nature that isn’t touched by humans and that they would make. Thoreau wants to leave human society because he believes that there is something wrong with civilization for him. He believes that the world is moving too fast, and technology is growing faster.

You can’t walk in the woods and see a leaf that doesn’t quite know if it wants to fall to the ground or stay on the tree. Thoreau noticed this, and thought that if people could be decisive in the same way that nature was, then they could “live deep and suck out all the marrow of life… live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put as to put to rout all that was not life… cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner…” (Walden 771) This is something that Thoreau highly valued. He wanted to live as his own person, which was, in his mind, best accomplished by living in nature and not being involved with the government.

While in Walden, Thoreau pay himself to practice on learning from the nature, he kept learning by observing things like the snake in the freezing river and the fight between ants. All his knowledge got by himself which make it more impressive and unique. Francois said, “From the circumstances in which it is placed, mistakes its own character, until the truth is revealed to it by some holy teacher, and then it knows itself to be Brahme” (61). This told his own view about how he appreciated study on our own.

Having described the main characteristics of both, Emerson and Thoreau, at this point is significant to contextualize the texts “Self-reliance” (1841) and the second chapter of “Walden” (1854) to analyze the figurative language the authors

Henry David Thoreau especially supported the interaction between man and nature. With his experiment at Walden, he addresses a modern concept known as minimalism, focusing on the way one must supply for himself with his basic necessities. His intentions were not to isolate himself, but moreso to separate himself from a life dependent upon others. Through his actions, he is able to criticise society and many of their needs.

He made the choice to go live on his own at Walden Pond in complete isolation. He also had a reason to do so; he wanted and needed to reconnect with his natural self. In this case, Thoreau was successful. Choice and reason make all the difference when it comes to most situations in life. Given the choice to do something, and the reasons behind doing so affect whether the attempts are