Henry David Thoreau's life and works, including his time at Walden Pond and essays like 'Civil Disobedience,' reflect his Transcendentalist beliefs and his views on nature and society. His advocacy for social justice and his contributions to natural science have left a lasting impact on literature and political thought. Thoreau's distinctive prose style combines clarity with rich metaphor, making his writings a cornerstone of American literature.
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Thoreau's formative years in Concord, surrounded by nature, greatly influenced his later writings and philosophies
Studies at Harvard
Thoreau studied a variety of subjects, including classics, philosophy, and science, during his time at Harvard
Refusal to pay diploma fee
Despite completing his coursework, Thoreau chose not to pay the customary fee to receive his official diploma
Thoreau briefly worked as a teacher and later co-founded the Concord Academy, a progressive school that emphasized the importance of nature in education
Thoreau's meeting with Emerson was a significant event that led to his immersion in the Transcendentalist movement
Thoreau's early writings were heavily influenced by the Transcendentalist belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature, and the importance of self-reliance
Emerson became Thoreau's mentor and introduced him to other leading figures in the Transcendentalist movement
In 1845, Thoreau began his famous experiment in simple living at Walden Pond, where he sought spiritual enlightenment
Refusal to pay poll tax
Thoreau's refusal to pay a poll tax, as a protest against slavery and the Mexican-American War, led to his brief imprisonment
Release and Inspiration for "Civil Disobedience"
Thoreau's release from jail, after an acquaintance paid the tax, inspired his influential essay "Civil Disobedience," which argued for the moral imperative to disobey unjust laws
Thoreau's experiences at Walden Pond, captured in his seminal work "Walden," combine personal narrative with philosophical insights on nature and society
After leaving Walden Pond, Thoreau returned to Concord and engaged in various occupations, including working in his family's pencil manufacturing business and as a land surveyor
Thoreau's later life was marked by a deepening interest in natural history, leading to extensive ecological studies and observations
Despite battling tuberculosis, Thoreau continued to write and revise his works, leaving a significant legacy in both literature and natural science
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______ ______ ______ was born on ______ ______, ______, in ______, ______, and his upbringing there significantly influenced his future works.
Henry David Thoreau
July 12
1817
Concord
Massachusetts
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Thoreau attended ______ ______ at 16, studying subjects like ______, ______, and ______, but he didn't pay the fee for his diploma.
Harvard College
classics
philosophy
science
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After leaving Harvard, Thoreau started a ______ ______ with his brother, which focused on the role of ______ in education, but it closed following his brother's ______.
progressive school
nature
death
