rules to live by. 1817-1862 extremely independent and stubborn, hard to get along with devoted to...
TRANSCRIPT
The information in this PowerPoint is on the test for this unit AND the midterm exam. You will need to know about Henry David
Thoreau’s life and you will need to know his 9 Transcendentalist Principles (this will be a
matching section on the test and the midterm). So make sure you copy ALL
of these notes down word for word.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU 1817-1862 extremely independent and
stubborn, hard to get along with devoted to the art of living fully
in nature Emerson was his friend and mentor Went to Harvard Students’ uniforms were black
robes. He wore green.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Briefly worked in a pencil factory and as a teacher after college, but quit both
Proposed to a woman who turned him down
FAIL
WALDEN POND
For two years he lived on 27 cents a week (=$12/week now) in a shack he built by himself on the shores of Walden Pond
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
While he was there, he wrote Walden- known as the “supreme work of Transcendentalist literature.”
HENRY DAVID THOREAU While he lived at Walden, when he
looked toward town (2 miles away), Thoreau saw his fellow citizen “so caught up in making a living that they became one-dimensional.”
THOREAU & THE MEXICAN WAR Thoreau did not agree with the
Mexican War b/c it was in favor of slavery
So he didn’t pay his taxes b/c he knew the taxes would go to support the war So he went to jail gladly He also helped fugitive escaped
slaves escape to Canada.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
After Walden, he lived with Emerson for a while, then moved back in with his parents Supported himself with taking odd
jobs around town Died of tuberculosis
Very clam about death.
#1: GOD AS NATURE
Look inside yourself for divine guidance in learning to
understand the nature of God.
God
Nature
Man
Oversoul
#2: CONTEMPLATION OF DIVINE NATURE AND NATURE
Live life close to nature, for there a person can most successfully contemplate his reason for being
#3: SEARCH FOR MEANING Devote yourself to the search
for the meaning of life and not to the acquisition of material things
#4: PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WORK
A person should be both physically and intellectually active throughout life
#5: KNOW THYSELF Have the courage to follow the
dictates of your own conscience, and be prepared to face the consequences
Example: Thoreau was a teacher, and when his headmaster tried to make him punish a kid with a whipping, Thoreau said “no” and quit.
#6: TIME AND PERSONAL GROWTH
Give time priority to personal growth rather than working for money Find a job you love to do, not just to
make $
#7: LEAST GOVERNMENT BEST
Have the courage to practice some sort of non-violent law-breaking if you believe the law to be in violation of your principles. Be willing to take the consequences that the government might invoke.
#8: DETERMINE TRUTH FOR YOURSELF
Live today for today, since yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come now is the only true reality accept only those traditions which
appear to be true to you and reject the rest