Walden | Study Guide

Henry David Thoreau

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

walden-henry-david-thoreauChapter 16eaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.Sources: Biography.com, The Days of Henry Thoreau: A Biography by Walter Harding, The Writings of Henry D. ThoreauCopyright © 2016 Course Hero, Inc.Waldenby the NumbersSquare footage of Thoreau's Walden cabin150Profit Thoreau made selling vegetables grown at Walden$8.71Years, months, and days Thoreau lived at Walden2Miles of rows Thoreau planted in his beanfield7Christened David Henry, Thoreau began calling himself Henry David in early adulthood—perhaps a sign of his many battles to change the status quo. Thoreau tried various occupations, including surveying and working in his father's pencil factory, but writing, philosophy, and abolitionism were constants throughout his life.HENRY DAVID THOREAU1817–62 AuthorIn 1845 philosopher and writer Henry David Thoreau built a tiny cabin in the woods of Concord, Massachusetts. There he lived, alone and self-sufficient, for two years. His observations and reflections became the basis of his book Walden, an essay collection that has inspired generations of students, environmentalists, and nature lovers.Marching to a Different DrummerTHEMESMain CharactersMotifsMinimalismDetaching ourselves from a goal-driven, materialistic worldview is the pathto genuine happiness.Self-RelianceLiving independently helps us break free from the expectations and conventions of traditional society.NatureClosely observing nature is key to the best education.Self-ImprovementMeditation allows us to "elevate our lives" and understand our place in the universe.The WoodchopperAlex TherienHumble, strong, and distinguished backwoodsmanThe PoetWilliam Ellery ChanningWitty wordsman, friend, and frequent visitorThe PhilosopherBronson AlcottUtopian thinker and educatorHenry David ThoreauRelentlessly self-questioning narratorThe Four SeasonsEach new season in Walden offers a new period of growth andreflection. The Old ImmortalityRalph Waldo EmersonSerenely wise, elegant, and intellectualWoodland CreaturesThey are Thoreau's most frequent companions—and teachers.John FieldIrish-American laborer;Eternal underdogThe Great ThinkersThoreau's many quotations from poetry and philosophy underscore his message that studying literature is crucial to self-understanding. Henry David Thoreau1854EnglishEssayAuthorYear PublishedOriginal LanguageWaldenPhilosophy
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