- At the beginning of this chapter (pp. 7779) Thoreau tells the story of how he almost bought the Hollowell Farm. Many of the qualities that made this farm attractive to Thoreau would have made it very unattractive to most real estate buyers. What were some of those qualities? What does Thoreau's preference for these qualities say about the difference between his priorities and those of most people?
- We are often advised to make a commitment to relationships or to goals that are important to us. Yet Thoreau advises us at the bottom of p. 78, "As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail." What problems does Thoreau see in su ch commitment? Do you agree that such problems are good cause to be cautious about commitment? Why or why not?
- Compare Thoreau's description of the location of his cabin (pp. 7983) to the opening paragraphs of McKibben's introduction (pp. vii& #173;viii). Why do people seek such places of quiet retreat? What do they hope to find? How might experiencing such places alter our priorities? What do Thoreau and McKibben say about this?
- On pp. 8485 Thoreau discusses the importance of being truly "awake." How does his definition of being awake differ from the usual definition? How often are you and your friends awake, by Thoreau's definition?
- On the bottom of p. 85 Thoreau gives us his famous statement of his purpose in going to live by the pond. How is it possible "to live what was not life"? Give examples from people you know or have read about.
- A main theme of this chapter is misplaced priorities: Americans'
preference for material rather than spiritual reality. What does
Thoreau mean by the
following:
- "As for work, we haven't any of any consequence" (p. 87).
- "Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous" (p. 90). Or again on p. 91, "We think that that is which appears to be."
On pp. 103104 Thoreau accuses village governments of misplacing their spending priorities. What does Thoreau think villages should spend less on? More on? Does your town or city seem to share Thoreau's priorities? Give examples."Sounds"
Most people take what they see and hear literally, but Thoreau often finds symbolic value in such things in addition to the literal value. In the last section of this chapter (pp. 11621) he describes hearing the s ounds of various animals. Which sounds does he value simply for the quality of the sound, and to which does he attach symbolic value? Give examples."Solitude"
- According to his comments in this chapter, was Thoreau lonely at the pond? Why or why not?
- What does Thoreau mean by the following
comments:
- "I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude" (p. 128).
- "I have a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning, when nobody calls" (p. 129).
- Who are the "old settler" and "elderly dame" (p. 130) whom Thoreau describes as being among his favorite visitors at the pond?
Throughout Walden Thoreau expresses affection for and delight in the physical details of nature. In this chapter, however, he seems to reject the value of physical nature: "Nature is hard to be overcome, but she must be overc ome" (p. 207). The conflict between physical and spiritual priorities is a main theme of this chapter.
- What value does Thoreau think that physical activities such as hunting and fishing have (pp. 197201; see also pp. 26667)?
- What d oes Thoreau think is the danger of sensuality, and what solution to that problem does he suggest (pp. 2059)? How convincing do you find his solution to be, and why?
"Conclusion"
- This last chapter returns to the theme of finding a solid bottom, something to believe in as being essentially true (see, for instance, earlier passages on p. 92 and p. 26870). To what extent does the st ory of the traveller in the swamp (p. 309) suggest that it is pos-sible to find such essential truth?
- This chapter can also be viewed as Thoreau's prognosis for the
reader's spiritual recovery, based on Thoreau's own experience living
by the pond. Discuss how the following passages suggest the possiblility
of a favorable future:
- "I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one" (p. 302).
- "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" (p. 303).
- "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer" (p. 305).
- "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth" (p. 309).
- "Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star" (p. 312).
1.) Thoreau believes that he has a noble, and divine part of him, while at the same time can be savage like. He also feels that fishing and hunting is important to the early stage in a person’s education and upbringing. It brings a more natural and expresses symbolical values to one's life.
ReplyDeleteMichaela, Tyler, and Sophie
ReplyDelete"Solitude"
According to Walden Thoreau is not lonely in his solitude, because he is surrounded by other solitary things. He may not be with other people but he is with nature and the wild animals. "I am no more lonely than the mill brook or a weathercock or the north star or the south wind or..." In the two quotes given he means that he doesn't need human companions because he is entertained by the wilderness.
Who are the "old settler" and "elderly dame" (p. 130) whom Thoreau describes as being among his favorite visitors at the pond?
The elderly dame is Mother Nature. (90) "A ruddy and lusty old dame who delights in all weathers and seasons and is likely to outlive all her children yet."
The old settler is either Father Time or God. (89) "..who is reported to have dug Walden Pond and stoned it and fringed it with Pine who tell me stories of old time and of new eternity and between us we manage to pass a cheerful evening with social mirth and pleasant views of things...who i love much who keeps himself more secret than ever..."
Liam, Will, Patrick, Otis
ReplyDelete1. Thoreau believes that by spending their time hunting and fishing to get closer to nature and getting away from the social, noble activities. He also believes that these activities in nature give people courage and freedom.
2. Sensuality is caused by laziness and sloth. he believes that it is a detriment to human society.
not as in an actual sloth, but the sin.
DeleteNeriah & Oona
ReplyDelete1. Thoreau was not lonely at the pond. Living in the midst of nature he felt that "the most innocent and encouraging society can be found in any natural object (85)." To Thoreau it always seemed that every part of nature was keeping him company. He goes so far as to use personification to convey his feeling of connection with the environment. He writes "Every little pine needle expanded and swelled with sympathy and befriended me (86)." He always felt that there was always some force of nature was keeping him company. Thoreau only felt lonely early on in his stay when he once questioned if human neighbors were not necessary for "a serene and healthy life (85)." He realized that he was already being comforted. He didn't feel isolated, he felt intertwined with nature.
2. Thoreau presents with these statements his feeling that being alone does not equal loneliness. To Thoreau, being occupied with your thoughts or work is a sort of companionship. He actually feels that "We are... more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers 88)." Thoreau meant that being alone is stimulating and it allows one to get deeper in touch with themselves. It allows you to reflect on your inward self and have more of a connection and sense of self-identification because you can invest fully in yourself without distractions.
3. The old settler and elderly dame that Thoreau claims to have spent time with are aspects of the natural world. The old settler could be representative of time (Father Time). He tells Thoreau "stories of old time and of new eternity (89)." When he speaks of the elderly dame and her "Genius of unequaled fertility (89)" Thoreau is referencing Mother Nature. These are clearly not physical visitors, but they are what keeps Thoreau company at the pond.
Maya&Dayanara
ReplyDelete"Reading"
he feels that the village spends a lot of money on farmers and traders value, along with houses and politics. But they do not spend enough money on living wit. I think that our society now thinks that its good to spend money on politics and such and less on the things that an everyday person really should possess.
Demetrius, Ariyuanna, Jack
ReplyDelete1.) Thoreau spoke of how your not alone when your around nature due to the fact that humans and nature had a divine connection. As well as the fact that when your alone, there's a lot of time to learn about yourself, "I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude."
2.) A.) Thoreau said that when you live in solitude your not actually alone, and that you could often find companionship in your thoughts. When you only have yourself and nature there's also a lot of time for your thoughts to ferment and grow without being dampened by any human made force.
B.) When you live in a house alone its often a completely different atmosphere than if you live with a group of people. When you wake up alone it allows you to have a stream of conscious that isn't broken by anyone else. Especially when you live in solitude and your main goal is just to express your thoughts your left with a tremendous amount of time to grow self awareness.
3.) Both the "Old Settler" and the "Elderly Dame" were representative of different parts of the natural world. Thoreau often used personification to express nature because he believed that on a divine level that nature and humans were one in the same. So allowing the "Elderly Dame," who is mother nature to become someone who Thoreau is close with and learns from, it brings the human-nature connection closer together.