Walden, or Life in the Walden, or Life in the WoodsWoods

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

from Economyfrom Economy Introductory sectionIntroductory section

Made a living by my own Made a living by my own handshands

““I trust that none will stretch I trust that none will stretch the seams in putting on the the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good coat, for it may do good service to him whom it fits…”service to him whom it fits…”

Do not stretch the philosophy, if Do not stretch the philosophy, if it works for you so be itit works for you so be it

from Economyfrom Economy Thoreau bought James Collins’ house for Thoreau bought James Collins’ house for

$4.25$4.25 Seeley steels his nails and spikesSeeley steels his nails and spikes

Compares the human to animal, in that they both act Compares the human to animal, in that they both act out of survivalout of survival

He soon knocked it down and built his ownHe soon knocked it down and built his own He makes an allusion to the city of TroyHe makes an allusion to the city of Troy

from Economyfrom Economy

Root cellarsRoot cellars Pits in the groundPits in the ground Used for storage of root vegetables (i.e. carrots)Used for storage of root vegetables (i.e. carrots) They kept the vegetables cool and the animals They kept the vegetables cool and the animals

away during the winteraway during the winter Human is one with natureHuman is one with nature

from Economyfrom Economy ““There is some of the same fitness in a man’s There is some of the same fitness in a man’s

building his own house that there is in a bird’s building his own house that there is in a bird’s building its own nest… But alas! We do like building its own nest… But alas! We do like the cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their the cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveler with their chattering and cheer no traveler with their chattering and unmusical notes.”unmusical notes.”

from Economyfrom Economy

His profit was in the time he could focus on His profit was in the time he could focus on his soul and ponderinghis soul and pondering

Thoreau’s crops = $14.72 ½Thoreau’s crops = $14.72 ½ Farmers’ crops = $23.44Farmers’ crops = $23.44

- 14.72 1/2- 14.72 1/2

$8.71 1/2$8.71 1/2

from Where I Livedfrom Where I Lived

from Where I Livedfrom Where I Lived ““I wanted to live deep and suck out the I wanted to live deep and suck out the

marrow of life…”marrow of life…” ““Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest

man has hardly need to count more then his man has hardly need to count more then his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!”simplicity, simplicity!”

from Where I Livedfrom Where I Lived ““If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails, If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails,

and devote days and nights to work, but go to and devote days and nights to work, but go to tinkering our lives to improve them, who will tinkering our lives to improve them, who will build railroads?”build railroads?”

from Where I Livedfrom Where I Lived Railroad workers give Railroad workers give

their lives to the their lives to the building of railroad, building of railroad, which, actually ride which, actually ride over them. Workers are over them. Workers are not in control of what not in control of what they create but instead they create but instead are being controlled by are being controlled by it.it.

from Solitudefrom Solitude Thoreau enjoyed Thoreau enjoyed

watching and listening watching and listening to the rain from his to the rain from his doorwaydoorway

““I have found that no I have found that no exertion of the legs exertion of the legs can bring two minds can bring two minds much nearer to one much nearer to one another”another”

from Solitudefrom Solitude

Thoreau argues that solitude is not created by Thoreau argues that solitude is not created by physical distance between people but distance physical distance between people but distance between their points of viewbetween their points of view

Solitude in nature brings us to the source of all Solitude in nature brings us to the source of all life life *This is the advantage solitude in nature gives us*This is the advantage solitude in nature gives us

from The Bean Fieldfrom The Bean Field ““I came to love my rows, I came to love my rows,

my beans, though so many my beans, though so many more I wanted. They more I wanted. They attached me to the earth, attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like and so I got strength like Antaeus.”Antaeus.”

Thoreau is studying beans Thoreau is studying beans and wanting to know all and wanting to know all about themabout them What is he trying to say What is he trying to say

here?here?

from The Bean Fieldfrom The Bean Field

Weeding a bean field = fighting a warWeeding a bean field = fighting a war He, himself, is a warrior He, himself, is a warrior He is trying to add self-mocking humorHe is trying to add self-mocking humor Many people do battle weeds; he is also pointing Many people do battle weeds; he is also pointing

out the heroic qualities of daily laborout the heroic qualities of daily labor

from Brute Neighbors from Brute Neighbors

A war between red ants and black antsA war between red ants and black ants Red republicans and the black imperialistsRed republicans and the black imperialists Personification – human characteristics to Personification – human characteristics to

inanimate objectsinanimate objects Page 200 Page 200 red ant is a warrior who has not yet red ant is a warrior who has not yet

been in battle, or has been victorious like Achillesbeen in battle, or has been victorious like Achilles

from Brute Neighborsfrom Brute Neighbors

Thoreau suggests the ants are fighting for a Thoreau suggests the ants are fighting for a principleprinciple He wants to add humorHe wants to add humor Also suggesting that humans should fight for a Also suggesting that humans should fight for a

worthy principle, not because of petty thingsworthy principle, not because of petty things Point of view – First and objective mixed; Point of view – First and objective mixed;

sounds like a war reporter or correspondent sounds like a war reporter or correspondent

from Brute Neighborsfrom Brute Neighbors

LoonLoon 10 men to one 10 men to one

loonloon

from Brute Neighborsfrom Brute Neighbors

Loon = a person’s meaning of their existenceLoon = a person’s meaning of their existence Always going beneath the surfaceAlways going beneath the surface Man has to guess where it will pop up againMan has to guess where it will pop up again Also a reflection of the relationship of humans to Also a reflection of the relationship of humans to

naturenature

from Conclusionfrom Conclusion Thoreau left the Thoreau left the

woods because he woods because he had many more lives had many more lives to liveto live

from Conclusion from Conclusion ““The surface of the earth is soft and The surface of the earth is soft and

impressible by the feet of men; and so with the impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels. How worn and paths which the mind travels. How worn and dusty, then, must be the highways of the dusty, then, must be the highways of the world, how deep the ruts of tradition and world, how deep the ruts of tradition and conformity!”conformity!”

from Conclusion from Conclusion Do you think people will meet success by Do you think people will meet success by

following their dreams?following their dreams? Anyone can discover their unique path in life, but Anyone can discover their unique path in life, but

this discovery comes at different times for this discovery comes at different times for different peopledifferent people

from Conclusionfrom Conclusion

Bug = idea of human lifeBug = idea of human life Dead wood = oppression of people by societyDead wood = oppression of people by society Page 204Page 204

HomeworkHomework

Read pages 208-216, Take notesRead pages 208-216, Take notes