of Nature. Every man has to learn the points of compass again as often as he awakes, whether from sleep or any abstraction.
I really enjoy how metaphoric I have found most of Thoreau's writing. In this sentence, is he talking about the confusion that we find in life then finding our way back to our self? Or is he being literal and talking about direction?
It was very pleasant, when I stayed
I am shocked that he found it pleasant to stay in town. He seems like he is so anti-social.
he chickadees in flocks, which, picking up the crumbs the squirrels had dropped, flew to the nearest twig, and, placing them under their claws, hammered away at them with their little bills, a
He is so observant of the animals around him. It is as if they are almost friends of his. This reminds me of the Disney Movie Cinderella, when she is cleaning her only friends are the mice and birds.
All day long the red squirrels came and went, and afforded me much entertainment by the
He is always finding entertainment in what I think is so simple. I wish I could have the opportunity to enjoy nature as he is.
ither long since, they would settle down by a slanting flight of a quarter of a mile on to a distant part which was left free; but what beside safety they got by sailing in the middle of Walden I do not know, unless they love its water for th
The ending to this paragraph shows how much he felt secure in nature by himself, also it shows how unbothered the animals were to have him around.
gain and again, when I was straining my eyes over the surface one way, I would suddenly be startled by hisunearthly laugh behind me. But why, after displaying so much cunning, did he invariably betray himself the moment he came up by that loud laugh?
It is funny that the loon was so previously stated as being too quick to be caught, but once Thoreau is no longer actively on pursuit of the loon, the loon teases him and reestablish the chase.
s merely. We have no festival, nor procession, nor ceremony, notexcepting our Cattle-shows and so called Thanksgivings, by which the farmer expresses a sense of the sacredness of his calling, or is reminded of
I like that he recognizes that the land provides us with so much and we rarely show it very much respect.
The pines still stand here older than I; or, if some have fallen, I have cooked my supper with their stumps, and a new growth is rising all around, preparing another aspect for new infant e
This sentence shows how all aspects of the tree are used.I also like that he said new growth is rising for an infants eye.So the new trees would be viewed and appreciated for later generations.
ions on the alert. Who would not be early to rise, and rise earlier and earlier every successive day of his life, till he became unspeakably healthy, wealthy, and
I wonder if when he says healthy, wealthy and wise is he speaking of spiritually or is he speaking of financially? Thought his writing he has shown such a negative out look on monetary riches.
As I sit at my window this summer afternoon, hawks are circling about my clearing; the tantivy of wild pigeons, flying by twos and threes athwart my vi
This seems so serene. It does make me wonder if he really enjoyed the solitude of if he would have rather shared the experience with someone.
Now that the cars are gone by and all the restless world with them, and the fishes in the pond no longer feel their rumbling, I am more
This sentence shows to me for the first time that he may be missing the presence of others. This makes him seem more relatable to me.
nothing memorable is accomplished. Instead of singing like the birds, I silently smiled at my incessant good fort
I really like this sentence. He says nothing memorable was accomplished at the same time he is happy about his good fortune.
I did not read books the first summer; I hoed beans. Nay, I
This sentence shows that there was to much work to be done during his first summer, he did not have any leisure time.
When a man is warmed by the several modes which I have described, what does he want next? Surely not more warmth of the same kind, as more and richer food, larger and more splendid houses, finer and more abundant clothing, more numerous incessant and hotter fires, and the like. When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that
Thoreau again delivers a very descriptive paragraph about mans need for abundance, and mans inability to be satisfied with what he already has.
When a man is warmed by the several modes which I have described, what does he want next? Surely not more warmth of the same kind, as more and richer food, larger and more splendid houses, finer and more abundant clothing, more numerous incessant and hotter fires, and the like. When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to adventure on life now, his vacation from humbler toil having commenced. The soil, it appears, is suited to the seed, for it has sent its radicle downward, and it may now send its shoot upward also with confiden
This part of the paragraph is also very relevant to todays society, once we have something we are always yearning for something more, bigger and better.
Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of
I believe that this sentence is still relevant today, we are always advancing in technology, but are also quickly forgetting the most primitive skills."positive hindrance to the elevation of mankind.
or literature, or art. There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosop
This sentence stands out to me "professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. Thoreau continues to surprise me with his observation and opinion of people.
Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think that they must have such a one as
This sentence is powerful, because it clearly shows that Thoreau's opinion of others is that they are always competing with others "they think they needs to have one such as their neighbors