Essay Example on Henry David Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods book review and comments

Subcategory:

Literature

Category:

Education

Words:

508

Pages:

2

Views:

2426

Economy Comments. 

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” Thoreau mentions this quote in the first chapter Economy to explain to readers that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” is caused by the misplace of value. When we are in a hopeless situation or a desperate situation we often use material things such as money, have expensive possession or live a luxurious lifestyle. While these things may bring happiness in our lives It does no last. We just want more of them. Thoreau defines happiness as living a simple lifestyle which includes affording your basic needs. To find it we must live a strict lifestyle austerely with no luxuries. Misplaced value leads to a quiet desperate life. It is possible for you to value all the right things and still live a quiet desperate life. An example of a quiet desperate life is if you have reached a certain level of success and you still feel dissatisfied or trapped. Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. Worldly distractions can distract us from our spiritual growth. Being distracted with the world can be dangerous. The more material things such as money the more problems we face. Where I lived and what I lived For Comments. Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquitos wing that falls on the rails.


When one tends to live in the woods in an uncivilized area, a desert or not accustomed to having a sheltered life they often learn to provide for their basic needs and do what is required to stay alive. Thoreau says that nature itself can also do that. Let us settle ourselves and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion and prejudice and tradition and delusion and appearance that alluvion, which covers the globe through Paris and London, through New York and Boston, and Concord through church and state through poetry, philosophy, and religion, till we come to a hard bottom and rocks in place which we can call reality. We should be humble and work together to achieve a goal. Walden involves a lot of natural metaphors' opinions and prejudice are often compared to mud. We don’t have the right to express our thoughts. Reading Comments Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations. Books are significant to us, Books helps to educate us and let us be knowledgeable. They inform us. A man’s best friend should be a book. How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book. Books inform us, without them we would not know what is happening today, we would know about our history culture or civilizations. When a man started to read books that were a new era because they can be knowledgeable, know how to think for themselves and know what is right. The quote can be related to the age of enlightenment when men started to be knowledgeable and think for themselves. Sound Comments. Much is published but little is printed. A book may be prepared and issued but they may never be produced especially in large quantities by a mechanical process involving the transfer of texts or images, printed Books may be prepared and issued but you will never find article information about the book or the context online. The book or article is not known worldwide since it is not printed I love a broad margin to my life. Thoreau had too much free time and was enjoying his leisure activities. He enjoyed chopping down the trees and doing whatever it takes to survive. He enjoyed the silence of woods Solitude Comments. “In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature in the very pattering of the drops and in every sound and sight around my house an infinite and uncountable friendliness, all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me as made the fancied advantage of neighborhood insignificant”. The author personifies nature as friendliness. He describes nature as mean and powerful. It seems as if the author does not like how nature reacts or does not like nature. He said that nature when it is raining has made the neighborhood insignificant. He is describing the effects nature can have. I am no more lonely than a single mullein or dandelion in a pasture or a bean leaf or sorrel, or a horse fly or a bumblebee. Thoreau is a part of nature like a plant or a bird. He is not alone. He enjoys the company of being a part of nature.
Visitors Comments. Individuals like nations must have suitable broad and natural boundaries. People should enjoy each other company or companionship but have limitations. Thoreau likes visitors and invites them, however instead of bringing them to his house, he brings them elsewhere. Therien is too immersed in his animal life. Therien is not treated as an equal person. Thoreau rather have someone who is more successful and has class. Therien behavior is not appropriate. The Bean Field Comments. Ashes of unchronicled nations Thoreau plants his crops during the summer months such as beans and turnips. The rain helps grow the crops. Thoreau has sufficient food because of this I felt as if I could spit a Mexican with good relish and looked around for a woodchuck or a skunk to exercise my chivalry upon. The author loves nature he often observes his environment. During the summer months, he plants his crops which has been destroyed by a woodchopper. He discovers that ancient people have lived in the same area before he did since there is ancient tools such as pottery. The Village Comments. The infinite extent of our relations. During Thoreau’s leisure time he hikes and goes to Concord where he gets the latest information. On his way back home he gets lost and this is where he says the infinite extent of our relations. This quote simply means that we will only start reflecting on ourselves and know who we are once we isolate ourselves from the world some have got more than is sufficient while others have not enough. Thoreau lives without fear except for government intrusions. He does not lock up or feels the need to be protective. He thinks that thieves will only trouble the rich since they have expensive possessions but not the poor.
The Ponds Comments. A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. In this chapter the author personified nature so that readers can have an image and an idea of what the author is talking about. The author is trying to make us have some connection with nature. There have been caught in Walden pickerel one weighing seven pounds to say nothing of another which carried off a reel with great velocity perch and pouts, some of each weighing over two pounds shiners chivins or roach. Leuciscus pulchellus a very few breams Pomotis obesus one trout weighing a little over five ponds. Thoreau carefully documents the different types of species. A scientific tone is being expressed in this chapter. The author sometimes uses science in his literary work. Baker Farm Comments. Grow wild according to thy nature, like these sedges and brakes, which will never become English hay Baker Farm 8. The author likes it when nature is wild, not domesticated or well kept like a park or a petting zoo. Thy entry is a pleasant field. Which some mossy fruit trees yield, partly to a ruddy brook. By gliding, musquash undertook. And mercurial trout Darting about Thoreau takes a trip to Walden Pond and Flints Pond while he is there he gets stuck in a storm and goes to a hut to get shelter surprisingly when he goes inside the hut he sees John Field, his family poor Irish immigrants. He gives John Field advice on how to live a better life. He challenges everyone inside the hut to live without luxuries such as food.
Higher Laws Comments. We are conscious of an animal in us which awakens in proportion as our higher nature slumbers. It is a reptile and sensual Nature can have both positive effects and negative effects. Thoreau talks about negative effects animals can have on nature. The hare in its extremity cries like a child I warn you mothers that my sympathies do not always make the usual philanthropic distinctions. Thoreau can not eat meat knowing that the animal has suffered or has been slaughtered and have gone through cruelty. Brute Neighbors Comments. This was his looning perhaps the wildest sound that is ever heard here making the woods ring far and wide I concluded that he laughed in derision of my efforts confident of his own resources. The author personifies animals in this chapter as well Thoreau gets defeated by a loon bird. Loons are smart and cunning. You should try to catch one before you laugh. For numbers and for carnage it was an Austerlitz or a Dresden Humans and animals are brutes seeking food shelter and providal. The warring ant is an example of the human civilization and animal savagery. In the chapter, Thoreau says For numbers and for carnage. it was an Austerlitz or a Dresden mentioning two famous battles in the nineteenth century.
House Warming Comments. I would that our farmers when they cut down a forest felt some of that awe which the old Romans did when they came to thin or let light to a consecrated grove locum consecrate that is would believe that it is sacred to some god. Nature is very important and we should value and appreciate nature. We should not take it for granted. Nature can be a beautiful site boundless chestnut woods of Lincoln they now sleep their long sleep. Natural products, goods made from nature is being used for commercial use. Former Inhabitants and Winter Visitors Comments Old Immortal. The visitor who never comes. Thoreau has little contact with human beings Emerson a mentor is mentioned as the Old Immortal Out of courtesy Thoreau looks out for the visitor that never comes. Former Inhabitants and Winter Visitors Comments Down the road on the right hand on Brister's Hill lived Brister Freeman a handy Negro slave of Squire Cummings once there where grow still the apple trees which Brister planted and tended large old trees now but their fruit still wild and ciderish to my taste. On a gravestone, it tells when the person died and where the person is from. Scipio Africanus was the Roman general who defeated by Hannibal Africanus was a title given to him for his victory this also represents bravery. Winter Animals Comments For sounds in winter nights and often in winter days. I heard the forlorn but melodious note of a described hooting owl indefinitely, far such a sound as the frozen earth. A plectrum is a thin piece of plastic used to pluck the strings of a guitar and a lyre is similar to a harp. The author compares the owl singing to the instruments and says it sounds so natural and melodious I also heard the whooping of the ice in the pond my great bedfellow in that part of Concord as if it were restless in its bed and would fain turn over. The Winter season is being described such as the cold air and the wind. The author explains the winter noises the ice makes in spring.
The Pond in Winter Comments. There was dawning Nature in whom all creatures live looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face and no question on her lips Thoreau tries to collect water but this is difficult as the water is frozen. He is joined by fishermen who catches a pickerel that interests the author. In the quote the author mentions creatures crawling on his window and they seem satisfied. The author has a special relationship with animals. “Heaven is under our feet as well as under our heads. We should all meditate and believe that there is a symbol of heaven”. This quote simply means that heaven is all around us. Heaven can be on Earth. Spring Comments. The opening of large tracts by the ice cutters commonly causes a pond to break up earlier for the water agitated by the wind even in cold weather wears away the surrounding ice. But such was not the effect on Walden that year for she had soon got a thick new garment to take the place of the old. Walden has a greater depth and a different region and location that is why it is slower to freeze and slower to melt thaw. A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always and took advantage of every accident that befell us like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty. We loiter in winter while it already springs In a pleasant spring morning all men sins are forgiven. Such a day is a truce to vice Rebirth and forgiveness is shown in this chapter. The pond is being reborn so is the man. This is similar to the saying once a man twice a child, which means that you are a boy who grows to be a man and one you reach old age you are a boy because you can not do anything for yourself and you need to depend on someone.
Conclusion Comments. It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar. This means that the problem lies within you Instead of going around and finding a fault with everyone you should look in the mirror and the problem within yourself and fix it. The universe is wider than our views of it. There is more to the universe than what we think. There is more to learn and be knowledgeable about the universe and we should value the universe. For example a problem may be more difficult than how we think it is. Mr. Rottini Walden project Share Vocabulary Words and Meaning 1 apotheosis n the elevation of a person as to the status of a god, 2 callous adj emotionally hardened, 3 conjecture n reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence. 4 consanguinity n a close relation or connection, 5 cordial adj showing warm and heartfelt friendliness, 6 to daub v To coat or smear in a rough or liberal way. 7 to defray v To bear or pay all or part of the costs expenses etc. 8 denomination n a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith 9 detriment n damage or loss. 10 dilettante n an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge. 11 egotism n an exaggerated opinion of your own importance. 12 elasticity n the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed. 13 encumbrance n any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome can be mental as well. 14 to enervate v to weaken to sap strength from ennui n the feeling of being bored by something tedious. 15 equipage n a vehicle with four wheels drawn by two or more horses. 16 ethereal adj characterized by lightness and insubstantiality. 17 to exact v to demand call for require or take. 18 excursion n a journey taken for pleasure. 19 exorbitant adj greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation. 20 to hew v To chop down or cut with blows from an ax. 21 hindrance n something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress. 22 impartial adj showing lack of favoritism. 23 impervious adj not affected or hurt by admitting of no passage or entrance. 24 improvidence n the absence of foresight a failure to provide for future needs or events. 25 impunity n exemption from punishment or loss. 26 ignoble adj completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose. 27 incapacitated adj lacking in or deprived of strength or power. 28 incessant adj occurring so frequently as to seem ceaseless or uninterrupted. 29 incidental adj not of prime or central importance. 30 to incur v to bring upon oneself indispensable adj absolutely necessary. 31 insolvent adj unable to meet or discharge financial obligations. 32 inveterate adj firmly established long-standing habitual. 33 magnanimity n liberality in bestowing gifts mortise and tenon n building technique to obtrude. 34 v thrust oneself in as if by force. 35 oracle n an authoritative person who divines the future. 36 palatable adj acceptable to the taste or mind. 37 perennial adj recurring again and again plume. 38 n a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament. 39 pecuniary adj relating to or involving money. 40 penance n atonement for sin. 41 posterity n all future generations. 42 progenitor n an ancestor in the direct line.

Write and Proofread Your Essay
With Noplag Writing Assistance App

Plagiarism Checker

Spell Checker

Virtual Writing Assistant

Grammar Checker

Citation Assistance

Smart Online Editor

Start Writing Now

Start Writing like a PRO

Start