Transcendentalism: Henry David Thoreau Reading Guide “from ​
Walden, or Life in the Woods​
” (p. 216­228) from “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” (p. 220­221) 1. Paragraph 1​
: Summarize in your own words why Thoreau went to the woods. 2. At the end of the first paragraph, what does Thoreau say most people accept without question as being the purpose of life? Based on the text, is this meant to be a compliment to those people or not? Why? 3. In the second paragraph, how does Thoreau describe the way people tend to live? What does he suggest instead? 4. In the second paragraph (p. 221), Thoreau uses the construction of railroads as an ​
analogy​
, or an extended comparison between two unlike things, to explain his concerns about American life at this time. What is his message about progress and industry? How does it affect the individual? from “Solitude” (p. 221­222) 1. Why did Thoreau not feel lonely during these two years of solitude? 2. Thoreau argues that it is not physical distance that creates solitude, but rather intellectual differences. He further asserts that only nature can bridge that distance by bringing us closer to the source of life. Think about social media and its ability to connect people and its ability to make opinions louder. What would be Thoreau’s view on it? from “Conclusion” (p.227) 1. Paragraph 1​
: Why did Thoreau leave the woods and return to society? 2. Paragraph 2​
: What lessons did this experiment teach him? 3. Consider these two statements from the second paragraph: ● “if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” ● “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them..” a. What is Thoreau’s message about dreams? b. Evaluate that message. Is it good, practical advice? Is it true? Do you agree with it? Why or why not? 4. In the third paragraph, what does Thoreau have to say about comparing ourselves to others? 5. Look up the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses,” and explain it. How does Thoreau’s message in the fourth paragraph relate to this idea? 6. Explain Thoreau’s message in the fourth paragraph about the wood bug burrowing out of the table. What is he trying to explain by using this analogy? Final Thoughts: 1. Perhaps the most famous quote from Walden is this: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” What does he mean by this? Is this still happening today? How can you avoid it? 2. Where is your own personal Walden Pond? Where do you go when you need solitude and truth?