Henry David Thoreau - 1930 Words

Biographical Summary Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts, and was the son of John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar (â€Å"Henry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ency. of World). Growing up in a â€Å"modest New England family,† Thoreau was one of four children and was accustomed to living practically (McElroy). As his family was â€Å"permanently poor,† he came to accept a moderate lifestyle, which may have later influenced his thoughts on the necessities of life (â€Å"Henry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ency. of World). As a child, he enjoyed exploring nature and was fascinated by its beauty. In his novel Walden, he remarks that â€Å"every morning was a cheerful invitation to make [his] life of equal simplicity†¦ with Nature herself,† and even contemplates that â€Å"[he had]†¦show more content†¦of World). His abolitionist efforts and support of civil disobedience were a large part of the legacy he left behind. He did not advocate violence, but instea d encouraged the defense of what is true and good. Though his works were not very popular when he was alive, his â€Å"writings and philosophy greatly influenced many important world figures... the reformer Leo Tolstoy of Russia, Mohandas Gandhi of India, Martin Luther King Jr., and other leaders of the U.S.Civil Rights Movement were inspired by Thoreaus ideas† (â€Å"Thoreau†¦Ã¢â‚¬  West’s). Critical Analysis Henry David Thoreau was an influential writer, abolitionist, and leader of the transcendentalist movement. Through his work, he emphasizes the intriguing pursuit of personal truth beyond societal definitions. His sagacious observations about human nature are admirable, and his explanation of the corruption of society is thought-provoking. Though he advocates individualism, he seems to doubt humans’ ability to completely remove themselves from society, as this way of life demands. In his novel Walden, he says, â€Å"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation† (Thoreau 5). Thoreau sees the laboring men of his society, and after concluding that they are ignorant, claims that â€Å"it is a fool’s life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before† (Thoreau 3). Loren Eiseley, a natural science writer, said that Thoreau â€Å"sometimes had difficulty in seeing men or, by contrast, sometimes saw them tooShow MoreRelated Henry David Thoreau4404 Words   |  18 PagesHenry David Thoreau INTRODUCTION Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian , philosopher andtranscendentalist. Henry David Thoreau was a complex man of many talents who worked hard to shape his craft and his life. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moralRead MoreHenry David Thoreau and the Counterculture1357 Words   |  6 Pageswith Henry David Thoreau and the Counterculture, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. Imagination and individuality are associated with the term. Henry David Thoreau who was a leading philosopher and poet was a leading transcendentalist. He compiled a novel titled Walden, a non-fiction depicting his stay at Walden Pond where he truly explored nature and h is transcendental quality. 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In â€Å"Walden†, Thoreau goes out into the woods to try and live his life deliberately. Schneider states, â€Å" In 1845, he received permission from Emerson to use a piece of l and that Emerson owned on the shore of Walden Pond.† He staysRead MoreComparing Sigourney And Thoreau, And Henry David Thoreau981 Words   |  4 PagesSigourney and Thoreau The authors Lydia Huntley Sigourney, and Henry David Thoreau, both demonstrate similarities and differences in their works. While comparing both essays, it is evident that both authors share similar views on environmental issues, and at the same time demonstrate great emotional journeys in their works. The extraordinary beauty of nature appears frequently in both pieces. Both authors focus their personal experiences, however, within different subject matters. The way in whichRead MoreThe Legacy Of Henry David Thoreau1991 Words   |  8 Pagessuccess against muscle and weapons. Yet, the enduring leadership and legacy of Henry David Thoreau, an early American author and abolitionist, has shaped the development and evolution of non-violent protest movements worldwide. This is the story of how the power of Thoreau’s words have shaped the arc of history for nearly 200 years: his pen was indeed mightier than the sword. Personal Background: Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. He was also raised there forRead MoreHenry David Thoreau Essay3362 Words   |  14 PagesHenry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was a man who expressed his beliefs of society, government, and mankind while living under his own self-criticism. Thoreau believed he had many weaknesses which made him a failure. This strong disapproval of himself contrasted with his powerful words and strong actions. These contradictions led to some of Thoreaus greatest pieces of literature. Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817, in his grandmothers house. ThoreauRead MoreEssay on Henry David Thoreau474 Words   |  2 Pages Henry David Thoreau is a man of many facets; a man who refuses to conform to what the masses believe is acceptable. He calls for the rejection of complexity and for a change in mankind’s view of life. Thoreau, in his many writings, demands change in a stagnant society. He emphasizes respect for nature, even to the point of blatant disrespect for humanity. Thoreau’s connection to nature was a key ingredient in his lifestyle. He studied ants closely; hoping to understand them like one understandsRead MoreThe Accomplishments Of Henry David Thoreau1472 Words   |  6 Pages Background Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12th, in Concord Massachusetts. Thoreau was many things, not simply just a writer; but he was one of the most influential writers America knows today. Early on in his life he grew up in a simple home with hard-working parents, and an abundance of siblings. His father and mother both had worked as teachers as well as investing in many other trades to get by. Henry started developing his talent for writing early on, by age ten he had written his firstRead MoreEssay The Incredible Henry David Thoreau1081 Words   |  5 Pagesthe integrity of their government. Henry David Thoreau was one such man. Henry Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts to a successful pencil manufacturer John Thoreau and a strong-willed, quick-witted mother, Cynthia. Early on Henry enjoyed reading books and observing nature in solitude. He inherited the gift of gab and intellectual inquiry from his mother as well as both Puritan and abolitionist ideals. In 1837 he graduated from Harvard. In 1841 Henry moved into Ralph Waldo Emersons home