Henry David Thoreau
By: Michael Schneck
Re 410 (Leisure Through the Ages)
Significant Contributor Assignment
Significant work
• A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849)
• "Civil Disobedience" (1849)
• Most of Thoreau’s work
• "Slavery in Massachusetts" (1854)
was mainly influenced by
• Walden (1854)
three things.
• Nature
• A Plea for Captain John Brown (1859)
• Social and political
• "Walking" (1861)
paradigms
• The Maine Woods (1864)
• Spirituality
• Cape Cod (1865)
Impact of Work on
Leisure/Recreation/Nature
• Along with other key writers, Thoreau’s work is seen to have influenced the nation to adopt a
positive view of conservation and preservation.
• Considered a Transcendental
• Writing influenced individuals to step away from the confines of society and seek the benefits of a life closer
to nature.
• Made the outdoors suitable for interpersonal benefits rather than just sport.
• Promoted a critical eye of law, government and society as a whole
• This can be seen as in influence on non-traditional, experiential outdoor education.
• Helped readers question the influence of law vs. the natural world.
• Most influential work was Walden in 1864
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Focused on living a life close to nature
Discussed deviating from typical working schedules
Influenced people to create relationships with the surrounding world
Pointed out key personal benefits of time spent alone in the outdoors.
Inspiration
• Seen as a key figure in the conservation movement
• His work and philosophies inspired environmentalists such as John Muir.
• Created and was the inspiration behind many clubs and societies which
served to protect wildlife and natural habitat.
• Walden specifically has influenced the work of many, especially
naturalists, environmentalists and writers.
• Inspired the creation of the Thoreau Society which promotes
preservation and spiritual relationships with nature.
• Has influenced historical figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther
King Jr.
Walden Pond
Legacy
• Although Thoreau’s writing was not particularly popular upon release,
year later his work influenced the way society viewed the natural
world.
• Seen today as a crusader for environmentalism.
• Was A key figure in developing and articulating the importance of
maintaining a personal connection with nature.
• A hallmark contributor in the criticism and questioning of traditional
values, systems and ideas.
Time Period/Influence of Time Period
• Industrial/Romantic Era
• Thoreau’s writings were influenced by a distaste for the increasing amount of
mass production and focus on industry during his lifetime.
• During this time period, art and writing were often influenced by nature,
serving as a juxtaposition to the shifting social and cultural norms brought on
by the Industrial Era.
• As society moved further away from what was natural, Thoreau, like many
artists of his time worked to retain a societal connection to nature.
• Many other writers and naturalists, such as Emerson, Muir and Aldo Leopold
served as pier influences for Thoreau.
Major Influences
• Family pencil factory
• Thoreau’s family owned a pencil factory in which Thoreau worked for tediously.
• This experience can be seen as a reason behind his criticism of traditional work
schedules.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Thoreau became his protégé after graduating from Harvard.
• Adopted Emerson’s transcendental ideals.
• Transcendentalism
• Moved away from traditional Christianity
• Partially focused on the influence of one’s relationship with nature on spiritual
identity.
Motivation
• Essentially, Thoreau was motivated to spread his philosophy in order
for future generations to be better stewards of the earth.
• Thoreau hoped to influence others to maintain spiritual and physical
connections with nature.
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Worked to expose people to new ways of thinking
Worked to advocate for the preservation of the outdoors
Worked to emphasize the importance of personal relationships with nature.
Motivated to promote preservation by witnessing the destruction of natural
resources.
Sources
• "Henry David Thoreau Biography." Biography.com. N/A. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <(Bio.com)
http://www.biography.com/people/henry-david-thoreau-9506784#walden-pond>.
• Historical Perspectives of Outdoor and Wilderness Recreation in the United States
(Historical Perspectives of Outdoor and Wilderness Recreation in the United States)
http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/history.htm
• Richard, Schneider. "Life and Legacy." Life and Legacy. The Thoreau Society. Web. 20 Nov.
2015. <http://www.thoreausociety.org/life-legacy>.
• Shmoop Editorial Team. "Henry David Thoreau Major Works." Shmoop. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 2 Dec. 2015.
• "World Wide Waldens - Putting Thoreau's Words Into Action - Meet Thoreau: Henry's
Global Impact." World Wide Waldens - Putting Thoreau's Words Into Action - Meet
Thoreau: Henry's Global Impact. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.worldwidewaldens.org/meet-thoreau-5-impact/>.