Henry david thoreau 18171862 was a follower of the philosophy of transcendentalism who strongly believed in selfreliance and living a spiritual life. Henry david thoreau biography of transcendentalist author. Henry david thoreau was a complex man of many talents who worked hard to shape his craft and his. The poetnaturalist appeared in 1873 and was reprinted in 1902. American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, henry david thoreau was a new england transcendentalist and author of the book. He wrote essays, poems, and books that still resonate with people today. Katie elsener, 2005 pius x high school lincoln, ne english. Celebrating the wonders of nature and the landscapes of the mind with equal awe, emerson and thoreau have an. Henry david thoreau, geboren als david henry thoreau concord massachusetts. While there, henry read a small book by his concord neighbor, ralph waldo emerson, nature, and. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Henry david thoreau biography transcendentalism walden.
He was involved with the 19th century american transcendentalism movement of his friend and mentor ralph waldo emerson although relatively unknown to the general public during his own lifetime, the influence of his philosophy of civil. Henry david thoreau 18171862 was an american author and naturalist. Henry david thoreau was a famous and influential transcendentalist writer. Transcendentalism and henry david thoreaus from walden lets talk about from walden theme moodtone transcendentalism.
Born on july 12, 1817, henry david thoreau was an american essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, widely recognized for his masterworks walden and civil disobedience the first one is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, inspired by transcendentalist philosophy, and the second one is an essay that reveals thoreaus defense of the private. How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live, henry david thoreau once observed. A leading transcendentalist, he is best known for his book walden, a reflection upon. An important contribution to new england transcendentalism, the book. The book, often read in grades 1112, reflects thoreaus attempt to live life simply. Ralph waldo emerson and henry david thoreau as fathers of transcendentalism transcendentalism was a movement in writing that took place in the midnineteenth century. He began writing nature poetry in the 1840s, with poet ralph waldo emerson as a mentor and friend. Thoreau, definitive edition of thoreaus works, directed by elizabeth hall witherell. Henry david thoreau 1817 1862 was an american philosopher, naturalist, writer and political activist of the early modern period. Thoreau and transcendentalism the walden woods project. The most famous of this set, ralph waldo emerson and henry david thoreau, are known today as pioneers of the first uniquely american literary movement.
He is best known for his book walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay civil disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to. A leading figure of transcendentalism, he is best remembered for walden, an account of the two years he spent living in a cabin on the north shore of walden pond in concord, massachusetts, and for civil disobedience, an essay that greatly influenced the abolitionist movement and the. Henry david thoreau was born on july 12th, 1817, in the town of concord, massachusetts. Henry david thoreau transcendentalist, tax resister, abolitionist, historian, author and poet henry david thoreau 18171862 is best known for his book walden.
This town lay some twentyfive miles inland from boston and served as a local market town. Henry david thoreau, born 200 years ago next july, is widely regarded as americas first environmental guru. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, andto some degreea manual for selfreliance. It formed in the early to mid nineteenth century and reached it climax around 1850 during an era commonly referred to as the american renaissance, americas golden day, or the. Analysis of thoreaus civil disobedience 670 words cram. Extensive site devoted to the writings, philosophy, life of henry david thoreau. The text is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. Thoreau retreated from civilisation and headed off to a remote woodland area, where he lived in a small cabin. Henry david thoreau quotes about reading az quotes. List of books and articles about henry david thoreau. It paired romanticism with reform, and championed individualism, emotion, nature, intuition, and the spiritual over groupthink, reason, mankind.
Schneider henry david thoreau 18171862 was born and lived nearly all his life in concord, massachusetts, a small town about twenty miles west of boston. Henry david thoreau virginia commonwealth university. As a writer, he drew strength from an understanding of the inseparability of his life and. Henry david thoreau books list of books by author henry. Henry david thoreau, born july 12, 1817, concord, massachusetts, u. Walden, thoreaus most famous writing articulating the essence of transcendentalism, was published in 1854. Although he exulted in the intuitive, creative genius that he felt within himself, throughout his life he was a disciplined craftsman who worked hard to revise and refine his material. Henry david thoreau introduction to thoreaus writing. Henry david thoreau was born on july 12, 1817 in concord, massachusetts, the son of john thoreau and his wife, cynthia dunbar. Henry david thoreau was an american essayist, poet, and philosopher. He received his education at the public school in concord and at the private concord academy.
Although he published only two books in his lifetime. Contains biography, bibliography, research and manuscript material, links to related sites on american literature, transcendentalism, nature writing, natural history, environment. An important contribution to new england transcendentalism, the book was a record of thoreaus experiment in simple living on walden pond in massachusetts 184547. Henry david thoreau was born on july 12, 1817, in concord, massachusetts. Henry david thoreau was born in concord, massachusetts, in july 1817. As a boy thoreau was often called upon to drive his mothers cows to and from their grazing pastures and developed an early love of solitude and communion with nature. A thorough collection of thoreaus works in html, including books, essays, correspondence and many poems. Henry david thoreau was born in concord, massachusetts, on july 12, 1817.
Henry david thoreau 1817 1862 was an american poet, philosopher, essayist, abolitionist, naturalist, development critic, and historian. A supreme individualist, he championed the human spirit against materialism and social conformity. The american poet, essayist and philosopher certainly held himself to that standard living out the tenets of transcendentalism, recounting the experience in his masterpiece, walden 1854, and passionately advocating human rights and civil liberties in the. He was the third child of john thoreau and cynthia dunbar thoreau. Unquestionably, thoreau enjoys greater national and international popularity today than ever before. Henry david thoreau henry david thoreau poems poem hunter. The best books on henry david thoreau five books expert. Henry david thoreau was an american author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist.
Her most recent book is the biography henry david thoreau. Henry david thoreau hardcover 18501899 antiquarian. Henry david thoreaus words that disobedience is the true foundation of liberty and that the obedient must be slaves is a political statement that never lost its topicality during the romantic era. Walden, series of 18 essays by henry david thoreau, published in 1854 and considered his masterwork.
Reading in your books go to page 407 and read the story from walden and then we discuss it further. Like his fellow transcendentalists, thoreau was into nature. Through an overview of henry david thoreaus life, writings, and philosophies, students will engage in writing activities and field trips that will encourage them to relate to the wisdom of henry david thoreau and be able to apply such wisdom to their. Henry david thoreau is the fella who brought you civil disobedience and walden pond, and hes the other big name associated with transcendentalism. Thoreaus walden is a beautifully written piece of american literature describing the life and experiences of the author as he embarks on a yearlong adventure.
Biography of henry david thoreau, american essayist. In fact, he was so individualistic that he decided to go off and live in the woods on his own. She specializes in american transcendentalism, especially henry david thoreau and ralph waldo emerson, as well as transatlantic romanticism and environmental literature. Henry david thoreau was an exacting practitioner of the art of writing. Walden, civil disobedience, life without principle, slavery in massachusetts, a plea for captain john brown, p. Henry david thoreau, individualism, and transcendentalism transcendentalism was an american movement in the 1800s suggesting a move back to nature and away from a strict societal structure. Thoreau appeared in 1882, the personality of thoreau in 1901, and the life of henry david thoreau in 1917. His family owned a small pencil factory, though they made little money from the business and were often poor. He became a follower and a friend of emerson, and described himself as a mystic and a transcendentalist. Thoreau and the transcendentalist movement in new england grew up together.
Thoreau pioneered the field of ecology and environmentalism by writing about his observations in nature and his philosophies of limiting the role of government. Henry david thoreau thoreaus reputation and influence. Thoreau is considered one of the most influential figures in american thought and literature. Henry david thoreau by individual philosopher philosophy.
341 579 1516 1606 99 145 291 194 1308 42 489 780 231 11 1121 1584 407 280 581 6 893 1487 478 1461 434 1093 775 1459 334 1499 1495 497 92 160 112 1420 187 932 752 54 484 1019 664 887 130 1296