Littell 1
Name________________
Littell
English____ Block______
Date_________________
from “Civil Disobedience”
Part I: Follow the questions to guide you through the reading of the introduction and
essay “Civil Disobedience.” Answer the questions based on the reading and your
thoughts on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Read “Build Background” on page 369. What is the historical context for
Thoreau’s essay?
2. Copy the last sentence of the “Build Background.” (Hint: this relates closely to
his thesis.)
Thoreau’s essay challenges people to fight government injustice with civil disobedience.
This is a persuasive essay; therefore, it will follow the conventions of argument and
persuasive rhetoric.
3. Read the opening paragraph on page 370. How does Thoreau begin his essay?
4. How would you restate Thoreau’s attitude toward government in lines 1-9?
5. Read the first paragraph on page 371. Herein lies the thesis. What does
Thoreau favor?
6. What does he oppose?
The remaining questions and commentary all begin with the page and line numbers of
the text.
7. On page 371 in lines 29-37, what position does Thoreau take on the conflict
between majority rule and individual conscience?
8. On page 372 in lines 43-45, what can be the consequences of having too much
respect for the law?
9. On page 372 in lines 65-82, which way of serving the states does Thoreau
approve of? Which ways does he condemn?
a. Give examples of the people in his society Thoreau respects. (approval)
b. Give examples of the people for which Thoreau has little respect.
(condemnation)
10. On page 373 in lines 100-106, read the note in blue on the metaphor. Keep this
in mind as you continue to read the essay. It becomes an extended metaphor.
Littell 2
Find an example of diction that Thoreau uses to bring this metaphor back to
mind. Cite the word, page, and line number.
11. On page 373 in lines 114-122, what does Thoreau consider the most effective
way of expressing his displeasure with the government?
12. On page 374 in lines 123-141, note the feelings and attitudes Thoreau expresses
toward the tax collector. What are his reasons behind this attitude?
13. On pages 374-375 in lines 142-177, note the logical appeals Thoreau uses in this
persuasive essay.
14. On page 375 in lines 178-205, why does Thoreau include a personal anecdote
about his one night in jail?
15. On page 376 in lines 220-225, what message does Thoreau convey through this
example of the acorn and the chestnut?
Part II: Complete these reflecting questions.
16. In a one-paragraph response, how convincing do you find Thoreau’s argument?
17. What might some find threatening about Thoreau’s ideas?
18. “Civil Disobedience” is based on the paradox that a good citizen must be a
lawbreaker under certain circumstances. What other paradoxes are in the essay
that reinforce and extend this basic paradox?
19. Read Gandhi’s essay, “On Civil Disobedience” on page 377. What connections
do you see between Thoreau’s views and Gandhi’s in the excerpt?
Part III: Go back to your Transcendental Beliefs handout and your Transcendental
Notebook. What ideas from Thoreau can you and do you want to add?