1.  Man and nature are both inherently good  Organized religion, higher education, and political mandates lessen both an individual’s and a society’s strength  Man is at its best when being self-reliant Man can find truth only through introspectiveness and personal experience Human problems can be solved through the development of individual emotions  Man and nature are both inherently good  Organized religion, higher education, and political mandates lessen both an individual’s and a society’s strength  Man is at its best when being self-reliant Man can find truth only through introspectiveness and personal experience Human problems can be solved through the development of individual emotions When done with your journal entry, get out the 10 questions due today. Ensure your name and hour are on top and get ready to turn them in.

2. 1817-1862

3.  Born in Concord, MA in 1817  His family was quite poor  He attend Harvard (graduated in 1837)  He died in Concord, MA in 1862  Born in Concord, MA in 1817  His family was quite poor  He attend Harvard (graduated in 1837)  He died in Concord, MA in 1862 Thoreau’s childhood home

4.  The two met at Harvard: Emerson quickly became Thoreau’s mentor  Emerson was the first to encourage Thoreau to write, and he provided Thoreau with valuable criticism  After Harvard, Emerson hired Thoreau as a gardener and handyman (this afforded Thoreau with the funds and time to focus on his writing)  Emerson taught Thoreau about the transcendentalist philosophy  The two met at Harvard: Emerson quickly became Thoreau’s mentor  Emerson was the first to encourage Thoreau to write, and he provided Thoreau with valuable criticism  After Harvard, Emerson hired Thoreau as a gardener and handyman (this afforded Thoreau with the funds and time to focus on his writing)  Emerson taught Thoreau about the transcendentalist philosophy

5.  Thoreau’s most famous work One of the most widely read works of nonfiction still today One of the most commonly quoted works of American Literature  It was inspired by his year spent living alone just off the shore of Walden Pond He lived there from July 1845 until Sept. 1847 He insisted that his time living alone was an experiment in simple living and not a withdrawal from society  Thoreau’s most famous work One of the most widely read works of nonfiction still today One of the most commonly quoted works of American Literature  It was inspired by his year spent living alone just off the shore of Walden Pond He lived there from July 1845 until Sept. 1847 He insisted that his time living alone was an experiment in simple living and not a withdrawal from society

6. Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond:  Size: 10’ x 15’  It had two secondhand windows, a door, and a simple brick fireplace  It held a desk, a small table, three chairs, and a rope-bed  In the back was a small covered area to house wood Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond:  Size: 10’ x 15’  It had two secondhand windows, a door, and a simple brick fireplace  It held a desk, a small table, three chairs, and a rope-bed  In the back was a small covered area to house wood

7.  He published two books in his lifetime: Walden A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers  Four books were published after his death: Excursions The Maine Woods Cape Cod A Yankee in Canada  He published two books in his lifetime: Walden A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers  Four books were published after his death: Excursions The Maine Woods Cape Cod A Yankee in Canada

8.  Thoreau was one of the most influential spokesmen for civil disobedience, the deliberate and public refusal to obey a law  In 1846, he spent a night in jail for refusing to pay taxes He argued that he did not owe allegiance to a government that captured runaway slaves and waged war on Mexico to expand its area of slavery  In his most famous essay, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” he declared that people should refuse to obey any law they believe is unjust  Thoreau was one of the most influential spokesmen for civil disobedience, the deliberate and public refusal to obey a law  In 1846, he spent a night in jail for refusing to pay taxes He argued that he did not owe allegiance to a government that captured runaway slaves and waged war on Mexico to expand its area of slavery  In his most famous essay, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” he declared that people should refuse to obey any law they believe is unjust

9.  Thoreau influenced the works and actions of many authors and public rights activists, including (but not limited to) : Leo Tolstoy of Russia Mohandas Gandhi of India Martin Luther King, Jr. and most other leaders of the American civil rights movement  Thoreau influenced the works and actions of many authors and public rights activists, including (but not limited to) : Leo Tolstoy of Russia Mohandas Gandhi of India Martin Luther King, Jr. and most other leaders of the American civil rights movement DUE TOMORROW Answer the two questions that ask you draw personal connections to Walden. This will be your ‘ticket in the door’.