Buell suggests that there are 7 environmental “projects” in Walden: 1.Pastoral project of edenic recovery 2.Pastoral project of critique 3.Experiment in frugality (adds georgic elements to his use of pastoral) 4.Interest in natural history (the seasons, proto- ecological) 5.Landscape aesthetics 6.Geography (landscape of Concord vs. landscape of the text) 7.“Politics” of nature

Checklist of characteristics of environmental texts The nonhuman environment is present not merely as a framing device but as a presence that begins to suggest that human history is implicated in natural history. The human interest is not understood to be the only legitimate interest. Human accountability to the environment is part of the text’s ethical orientation. Some sense of the environment as a process rather than a constant or a given is at least implicit in the text.

From an anthropocentric, transcendental Thoreau to an ecocentric, environmentally aware Thoreau Compare two geese passages, page 32 and page 210 “On the 1 st of April it rained and melted the ice, and in the early part of the day, which was very foggy, I heard a stray goose groping about over the pond and cackling as if lost, or like the spirit of the fog” (32).

From an anthropocentric, transcendental Thoreau to an ecocentric, environmentally aware Thoreau Compare two geese passages, page 32 and page 210 “On the 1 st of April it rained and melted the ice, and in the early part of the day, which was very foggy, I heard a stray goose groping about over the pond and cackling as if lost, or like the spirit of the fog” (32). “As it grew darker, I was startled by the honking of geese flying low over the woods, like weary travellers getting in late from southern lakes, and indulging at last in unrestrained complaint and mutual consolation. Standing at my door, I could hear the rush of their wings; when, driving toward my house, they suddenly spied my light, and with hushed clamor wheeled and settled in the pond. So I came in, and shut the door, and passed my first spring night in the woods” (210).

Darwin reading for Thursday: Editor’s introduction to book (xv- lii) Darwin’s introduction (11-15) Chapter III, Struggle for Existence (63-79) Chapter IV, Natural Selection, first 5 paragraphs of chapter (80-84), take a look at the diagram in the middle of the chapter ( ), and read the last section of chapter called “Summary of Chapter” ( ); Recapitulation and Conclusion ( ; )

Darwin reading questions for Thursday: How does a literary perspective help us read Darwin? Where can we find Darwin relying on metaphors or other figurative language/literary tropes to explain his theory? How does Darwin’s theory challenge a pastoral conception of nature? Does it also continue to use pastoral formulations?