Thoreau would have to be influenced by Romanticism because of the high regards in which he holds nature as well as his dislike for conventional society. There are also themes of living one's life to the fullest which appear in both Romanticism and Thoreau's works. One quote that describes this is, "At the moment I am a sojourner in civilized life again." this meaning that he only plans to stay in society for a very short time and does not have many plans to stay there. The other quote is, "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." meaning that he feels life should be celebrated and not taken for granite.
Thoreau sees nature as above everything else in society shows how greatly romanticism influenced him. This is apparent when on page 143, when it reads,"Romanticism is the name given to those schools of thought that value feeling and intuition over reason." Thoreau values nature-intuition and self feeling over societal reason. He rejects what others think life should be and accepts what others tink of as uncanny. Another quote is on page 147, "They turned the insult on it's head."- This is when Europe is criticising America for being uncivilized. Many authors of this time make movies that display nature as a virtue. Thoreau uses what other people say about nature as well as his own life, to put himself into his own mind and create a philosophy that is unheard of.
Thorea definitely separated himself from the grimy city life where social norms contradicted most of what he believed in. Also, Thoreau separated himself from society and lived unorthodoxly in order to see the natural world for all of its beauty and potential; "The Romantics wanted rise above 'dull realities' to a realm of higher truth. They did this in two principal ways. First, the Romantics searched for exotic settings in the more 'natural' past or in a world far removed from the grimy and noisy industrial age. Sometimes they found this world in the supernatural realm, or in old legends and folklore. Second, the Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Additionally, Thoreau was definitely influenced by the Romanticism time period. This is because he believed that surrounding himself with nature, and going back to where everything had originated from helped him to understand God, and purpose in life. He was extremely enticed by the ideas of breaking free from social norms, and having individualism, while also living in a very natural state. The following excerpt helps explain this; "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of great value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation."
Thorea definitely separated himself from the grimy city life where social norms contradicted most of what he believed in. Also, Thoreau separated himself from society and lived unorthodoxly in order to see the natural world for all of its beauty and potential; "The Romantics wanted rise above 'dull realities' to a realm of higher truth. They did this in two principal ways. First, the Romantics searched for exotic settings in the more 'natural' past or in a world far removed from the grimy and noisy industrial age. Sometimes they found this world in the supernatural realm, or in old legends and folklore. Second, the Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Additionally, Thoreau was definitely influenced by the Romanticism time period. This is because he believed that surrounding himself with nature, and going back to where everything had originated from helped him to understand God, and purpose in life. He was extremely enticed by the ideas of breaking free from social norms, and having individualism, while also living in a very natural state. The following excerpt helps explain this; "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of great value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation."
Two quotes from Walden that represent how Romantics affected him are, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach" and "We do like cowbirds and cuckoos which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built and cheer no traveler with theirchattering and musical notes. Shall we forever resign the plessure of construction to the carpenter?". Both quotes show how Thoreau respected nature much like how the romantics respect nature as well as his view that society corrupts and that we would be much happier if we lived simply like the birds do. He believes that nature has something to teach and that what you learn from nature should be applied directly to your life and not to be constrained by cociety.
Thoreau definitely has a Romantic influence. Romanticism says that "imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." Imagination plays a huge part when Thoreau talks about things like the ants and beans and he compares them to issues in the human world to come to realizations. Also, "imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning, and cultivation." Thoreau definitely saw a lot of beauty and wonder in the natural world and used it as his form of reasoning.
Thoreau's romantic influence guides his writing throughout his time spent at Walden Pond. His belief that the beauty of nature will always remain is expressed in this quote; "Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains." Thorough's Romantic influence helps him to discover something new about himself; " I think that the richest vein is somewhere hereabouts; so by the divining-rod and thin rising vapors I judge; and here I will begin to mine." Thoreau used the beliefs of Romantics to influence both himslef and his writing.
Thoreau uses his individual relationship with nature to try to influence others into forming a similar love and respect. He wants others to understand the true beauty of nature. When he says, "Why should I feel lonely? Is our planet not in the Milky Way?" it shows how much he respects nature, just by saying that the mere fact that our planet is among the rest of the universe is enough to say that there's never a reason to be lonely; there's always something more out there. Also, when he writes "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life..." he is explaining that he truly believes that in order to live life truly and purely, a person must have that relationship with and appreciation for nature.
To me, Romanticists and trancendentalists have very similar beliefs! So I would say that Thoreau has a Romantic Influence. First, he could appreciate nature and wanted to live in harmony with it, not make it his own. A quote that supports this is "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." He wanted to appreciate life, and live it to its fullest potential, not wasting anything. Another one of his romantic quotes is "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation." Romantics came after rationalists, and followed a completely different path. They believed life should be experienced at all times by experience, and not from books or plans.
This first quote explores the idea of Romanticism and how literature and people were effected by it: "In general, Romanticism is the name given to those schools of thought that value feeling and intuition over reason" (143). Thoreau did not use reason when he went to Walden Pond instead, he used intuition. While away from society, he did not think about what was logical but instead he explored everything and listened more of what his heart and gut told him to do than his mind. In this next quote, it discusses the idea of "eternal truths" and where these truths can be found: "Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). The Romantic period did not believe in a society as a whole, but more in nature and the thought of purity. This purity can be found only in nature and the beauty within it. Thoreau searched for these truths and found this beauty in Walden.
Thoreau was very influenced by Romantism and so were most of the other transcendantlists. This first quote that would support this is "If a man does not keep pace with his companions perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." This is romantic, because he sees the beauty of life an in people. The Romantics found beauty in the simplicity of life. Thoreau's quote about how people choice to live is Romantic because there is beauty in everyone and he wants the world to be okay with everyone showing that beauty. The second quote that shows he was inspired by the Romantics is "I went to the woods because...when I came to die,[I did not want to] discover that I had not lived." This is romantic because he wants to "viva la vida" or live the life. He wanted to get everything out of life that he could. By lving at Walden Pond it was a good way to live his life to the fullest.
Walden was inspired by the romantics and their way of thinkung. He found that the cold lonely wilderness was more beautiful and perfect than the city life he was living. he found that his life was not what he wanted, he lost his way and was confused; "I felt as if I alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax" (251). he found peace in his solitude and beauty in what others seemed to fear. "Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). he wanted to start over and truely learn who he was. he knew he couldn't cont on the life he was living to teach him anything, so he left.
Thoreau's personal philosophies were clearly influenced by Romanticism. His seclusion at Walden pond were evidence of him taking a Romantic Journey in which he spent time discovering himself. "The characteristic Romantic journey is to the countryside, which Romantics associated with independence, moral clarity, and healthful living"(142). Here he relied largely upon his imagination and had time to ponder moral ideas. He was also influenced by the Romantic's celebration of the imagination. In his time at Walden Pond, Thoreau explored his own moral beliefs and used nature as a whole as a metaphor for human life. Romanticism believed in this too, "The Romantics believe that the Imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." More than one aspect of his writing was influenced by the Romantic movement, as well as the idea behind his time spent at Walden.
Romanticism's impact on Thoreau is evident on page 147 when it is stated that "Virtue...was in American innocence, not in European sophistication." A key ideal of Romanticism is the concept of innocence. Thoreau, in Walden, was entirely innocent and had no ulterior motives. He simpley wanted to live in quiet desperation and sound his barbaric yawp. This innocent, pure spirit of adventure in nature is very prevalent in Romanticism. Another quote occurs on page 144 when Romantics are described as placing "a new premium on intuitive, 'felt' experience. Intuition is another ideal of Romanticism. Thoreau was very much driven by intuition, as seen in Walden when he described an experience when "they attached me to the earth and so I got strength like Antaeus." Thoreau felt powerful thorugh his connection with nature. His intuition told him that the earth was fueling this sensation.
Walden shows readers Thoreau’s connection to nature and how it creates a sense of individuality, personal thought, and freedom. When he states “I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted. They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus. But shy should I raise them? Only heaven knows. This was my curious labor all summer…” (238) Thoreau shows readers that because of his connection to nature, he does not need another being; he can make it on his own and still maintain happiness. He does not feel locked up in the chaos of society and can relax knowing that he is at peace. Thoreau also said he learned “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours” (243). He feels sure that what he has experienced is only more knowledge and hope for the future, knowing that if any one person sets a goal and has the power to succeed in it, they will achieve happiness and peace within themselves. Overall, Thoreau’s connection to nature and distance from a society shows romanticism in Walden.
Thoreau could have been influenced by the Romantic point of view that life is taken for granted by so many people, who need to take a moment to fully appreciate it; "Life is but an empty dream!" meaning they don't fully appreciate it; "Life is real- life is earnest-And the grave is not its goal," Your goal in life is not to just work and sleep, you must contribute something, work for something more than you.
Thoreau has been influenced because of the importance he holds in nature. "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." This quote says that people need to learn how to appreciate nature more. Since marrow is hard to get to inside the bone, Thoreau is suggesting that we need to go deeper and find the figurative meaning of nature as well. And since Romanticists also support individualism: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." This quote suggests that Thoreau also supports individualism and a man can walk to a beat that he hears which may be his own.
Thoreau sees himself in all aspects of nature; "My auxiliaries are the dews and rains which water this dry soil, and what fertility is in the soil itself." He became the dew and the rain and the dirt, just Romantics believe we should. It is evident that Thoreau needed to find himself in nature, therefore becoming a romantic, in turn influencing his writing. He deliberately placed himself in Nature by himself in order to understand and learn from Nature; "See if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, dicover that I had not lived." Along the way he found that he not only disturbed some of nature, but needed to find other things that the world had to offer, another element of Romanticism is sharing what you know and always learning more.
One quote that represents his Romanticism is "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.” He sees the beauty in the untamed, natural world and wishes to thrive in it. Another quote is "Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). His Romantic side suggests that one will gain more from experiencing the untamed and natural world than by facts (which Realists believed were a greater asset than nature).
Thoreau's influence from Romanticism spreads across all his works. Romantics "value feeling and intuition over reason." When Thoreau describes his feeling of the transparent eyeball, he is at one with nature, thoughts sound foreign, and the only thing he can do is feel. Romantics also believed that "imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." When Thoreau moved to the woods, he did so to escape this collective rational mind set and obtain an imaginative one.
Thoreau most definately was influenced by romanticisim, supported mainly by his value of nature. "I wanted to live deep and suck the marrow out of life." This quote shows that he would much rather dig into the dirt of life like a romanticist, who isn't going to follow strick rules like a puritan might.The romantics were also all about freedom, so this quote fits because someone who sucks marrow is sort of reckless and uncontrol, where someone who digs in is also implied to be free... "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life..." This quote demonstrates the desired simplicity of many of the romatics, and it also shows the actractiveness of the pastoral life because it dispalys the good that can happen when one is alone. When he states that he wants to "front only the essential facts of life..." shows that he as an individual has rights of his own. The ways of Thoreau at Walden pond can be directly attributed to the ideas of romantics.
There is no doubt that Thoreau was influenced by Romanticism because of its close relationship with transcendentalism. He believed in the power of an individual and its influence over a society, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer". This shows that Thoreau thought that no person should conform, but stick to his own path. Thoreau also greatly valued nature and its chances for spirituality. He believed that through nature one could connect with his soul (over soul). "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not,when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." This quote also shows that Thoreau isolated himself from society because he thought is was corrupting. But, he also realized that through his experiences that one falls into routines and bad just as society does. Walden Pond was a reaction to the society he was living in- Thoreau was reacting on impulse to the deeply rooted romantic ideals of his paradigm.
Thoreau believes that everyone should embrace their spirituality and realize the beauty of nature. Although sense and logic are valued in modern society, sometimes real logic is to not depend so much on the knowledge delivered in modern society; "...the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning, and cultivation." Romantics believed that people could get in touch with their individuality and spirit when in nature just like transcendentalists. This influenced Thoreau to build his own Walden Pond. Another quote that supports this is "The Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Thoreau believed that beauty and truth could solely be found in nature.
Henry David Thoreau wished to experience a full spiritual cleansing by returning to nature and ridding himself of society's impurities. He felt lost and confused when living in society because of the distractions that kept him from truly being himself. He stated that, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately." This quote shows his desire to find order and reason in his life, and the lengths he was willing to go to to find it. The barbaric yawp, a key element of transcendentalism is shown in the following quote: "I wanted to live deep and suck the marrow out of life." Thoreau desired to stop "going through the motions" of life and to get more out of everyday than he had before. He had a passion deep inside him that fueled his desire to adventure into nature.
Thoreau sought to find what society could not give him; the full understanding of life itself. By separating himself from the world, he would be able to see clearly without society and its condemnations clouding up his connection with Nature."Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." He believed that Nature held more knowledge and wisdom than the human race upheld; that the Eternal Truths of life do not lie within the civilized world, but within the untamed and unknown. The great importance of Nature is valued in Romanticism. "See if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, dicover that I had not lived." Once again, Nature gives those who seek knowledge, more knowledge than society ever will and live life to its fullest. Both Romanticism ideas.
Thoreau would have to be influenced by Romanticism because of the high regards in which he holds nature as well as his dislike for conventional society. There are also themes of living one's life to the fullest which appear in both Romanticism and Thoreau's works. One quote that describes this is, "At the moment I am a sojourner in civilized life again." this meaning that he only plans to stay in society for a very short time and does not have many plans to stay there. The other quote is, "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." meaning that he feels life should be celebrated and not taken for granite.
ReplyDeleteThoreau sees nature as above everything else in society shows how greatly romanticism influenced him. This is apparent when on page 143, when it reads,"Romanticism is the name given to those schools of thought that value feeling and intuition over reason." Thoreau values nature-intuition and self feeling over societal reason. He rejects what others think life should be and accepts what others tink of as uncanny. Another quote is on page 147, "They turned the insult on it's head."- This is when Europe is criticising America for being uncivilized. Many authors of this time make movies that display nature as a virtue. Thoreau uses what other people say about nature as well as his own life, to put himself into his own mind and create a philosophy that is unheard of.
ReplyDeleteThorea definitely separated himself from the grimy city life where social norms contradicted most of what he believed in. Also, Thoreau separated himself from society and lived unorthodoxly in order to see the natural world for all of its beauty and potential; "The Romantics wanted rise above 'dull realities' to a realm of higher truth. They did this in two principal ways. First, the Romantics searched for exotic settings in the more 'natural' past or in a world far removed from the grimy and noisy industrial age. Sometimes they found this world in the supernatural realm, or in old legends and folklore. Second, the Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Additionally, Thoreau was definitely influenced by the Romanticism time period. This is because he believed that surrounding himself with nature, and going back to where everything had originated from helped him to understand God, and purpose in life. He was extremely enticed by the ideas of breaking free from social norms, and having individualism, while also living in a very natural state. The following excerpt helps explain this; "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of great value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation."
ReplyDeleteThorea definitely separated himself from the grimy city life where social norms contradicted most of what he believed in. Also, Thoreau separated himself from society and lived unorthodoxly in order to see the natural world for all of its beauty and potential; "The Romantics wanted rise above 'dull realities' to a realm of higher truth. They did this in two principal ways. First, the Romantics searched for exotic settings in the more 'natural' past or in a world far removed from the grimy and noisy industrial age. Sometimes they found this world in the supernatural realm, or in old legends and folklore. Second, the Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Additionally, Thoreau was definitely influenced by the Romanticism time period. This is because he believed that surrounding himself with nature, and going back to where everything had originated from helped him to understand God, and purpose in life. He was extremely enticed by the ideas of breaking free from social norms, and having individualism, while also living in a very natural state. The following excerpt helps explain this; "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of great value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation."
ReplyDeleteTwo quotes from Walden that represent how Romantics affected him are, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach" and "We do like cowbirds and cuckoos which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built and cheer no traveler with theirchattering and musical notes. Shall we forever resign the plessure of construction to the carpenter?". Both quotes show how Thoreau respected nature much like how the romantics respect nature as well as his view that society corrupts and that we would be much happier if we lived simply like the birds do. He believes that nature has something to teach and that what you learn from nature should be applied directly to your life and not to be constrained by cociety.
ReplyDeleteThoreau definitely has a Romantic influence. Romanticism says that "imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." Imagination plays a huge part when Thoreau talks about things like the ants and beans and he compares them to issues in the human world to come to realizations. Also, "imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning, and cultivation." Thoreau definitely saw a lot of beauty and wonder in the natural world and used it as his form of reasoning.
ReplyDeleteThoreau's romantic influence guides his writing throughout his time spent at Walden Pond. His belief that the beauty of nature will always remain is expressed in this quote; "Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains." Thorough's Romantic influence helps him to discover something new about himself; " I think that the richest vein is somewhere hereabouts; so by the divining-rod and thin rising vapors I judge; and here I will begin to mine." Thoreau used the beliefs of Romantics to influence both himslef and his writing.
ReplyDeleteThoreau uses his individual relationship with nature to try to influence others into forming a similar love and respect. He wants others to understand the true beauty of nature. When he says, "Why should I feel lonely? Is our planet not in the Milky Way?" it shows how much he respects nature, just by saying that the mere fact that our planet is among the rest of the universe is enough to say that there's never a reason to be lonely; there's always something more out there. Also, when he writes "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life..." he is explaining that he truly believes that in order to live life truly and purely, a person must have that relationship with and appreciation for nature.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Romanticists and trancendentalists have very similar beliefs! So I would say that Thoreau has a Romantic Influence. First, he could appreciate nature and wanted to live in harmony with it, not make it his own. A quote that supports this is "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." He wanted to appreciate life, and live it to its fullest potential, not wasting anything. Another one of his romantic quotes is "To the Romantic sensibility the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning and cultivation." Romantics came after rationalists, and followed a completely different path. They believed life should be experienced at all times by experience, and not from books or plans.
ReplyDeleteThis first quote explores the idea of Romanticism and how literature and people were effected by it: "In general, Romanticism is the name given to those schools of thought that value feeling and intuition over reason" (143). Thoreau did not use reason when he went to Walden Pond instead, he used intuition. While away from society, he did not think about what was logical but instead he explored everything and listened more of what his heart and gut told him to do than his mind. In this next quote, it discusses the idea of "eternal truths" and where these truths can be found: "Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). The Romantic period did not believe in a society as a whole, but more in nature and the thought of purity. This purity can be found only in nature and the beauty within it. Thoreau searched for these truths and found this beauty in Walden.
ReplyDeleteThoreau was very influenced by Romantism and so were most of the other transcendantlists. This first quote that would support this is "If a man does not keep pace with his companions perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." This is romantic, because he sees the beauty of life an in people. The Romantics found beauty in the simplicity of life. Thoreau's quote about how people choice to live is Romantic because there is beauty in everyone and he wants the world to be okay with everyone showing that beauty. The second quote that shows he was inspired by the Romantics is "I went to the woods because...when I came to die,[I did not want to] discover that I had not lived." This is romantic because he wants to "viva la vida" or live the life. He wanted to get everything out of life that he could. By lving at Walden Pond it was a good way to live his life to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteWalden was inspired by the romantics and their way of thinkung. He found that the cold lonely wilderness was more beautiful and perfect than the city life he was living. he found that his life was not what he wanted, he lost his way and was confused;
ReplyDelete"I felt as if I alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax" (251).
he found peace in his solitude and beauty in what others seemed to fear.
"Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). he wanted to start over and truely learn who he was. he knew he couldn't cont on the life he was living to teach him anything, so he left.
Thoreau's personal philosophies were clearly influenced by Romanticism. His seclusion at Walden pond were evidence of him taking a Romantic Journey in which he spent time discovering himself. "The characteristic Romantic journey is to the countryside, which Romantics associated with independence, moral clarity, and healthful living"(142). Here he relied largely upon his imagination and had time to ponder moral ideas. He was also influenced by the Romantic's celebration of the imagination. In his time at Walden Pond, Thoreau explored his own moral beliefs and used nature as a whole as a metaphor for human life. Romanticism believed in this too, "The Romantics believe that the Imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." More than one aspect of his writing was influenced by the Romantic movement, as well as the idea behind his time spent at Walden.
ReplyDeleteRomanticism's impact on Thoreau is evident on page 147 when it is stated that "Virtue...was in American innocence, not in European sophistication." A key ideal of Romanticism is the concept of innocence. Thoreau, in Walden, was entirely innocent and had no ulterior motives. He simpley wanted to live in quiet desperation and sound his barbaric yawp. This innocent, pure spirit of adventure in nature is very prevalent in Romanticism. Another quote occurs on page 144 when Romantics are described as placing "a new premium on intuitive, 'felt' experience. Intuition is another ideal of Romanticism. Thoreau was very much driven by intuition, as seen in Walden when he described an experience when "they attached me to the earth and so I got strength like Antaeus." Thoreau felt powerful thorugh his connection with nature. His intuition told him that the earth was fueling this sensation.
ReplyDeleteWalden shows readers Thoreau’s connection to nature and how it creates a sense of individuality, personal thought, and freedom. When he states “I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted. They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus. But shy should I raise them? Only heaven knows. This was my curious labor all summer…” (238) Thoreau shows readers that because of his connection to nature, he does not need another being; he can make it on his own and still maintain happiness. He does not feel locked up in the chaos of society and can relax knowing that he is at peace. Thoreau also said he learned “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours” (243). He feels sure that what he has experienced is only more knowledge and hope for the future, knowing that if any one person sets a goal and has the power to succeed in it, they will achieve happiness and peace within themselves. Overall, Thoreau’s connection to nature and distance from a society shows romanticism in Walden.
ReplyDeleteThoreau could have been influenced by the Romantic point of view that life is taken for granted by so many people, who need to take a moment to fully appreciate it; "Life is but an empty dream!" meaning they don't fully appreciate it; "Life is real- life is earnest-And the grave is not its goal," Your goal in life is not to just work and sleep, you must contribute something, work for something more than you.
ReplyDeleteThoreau has been influenced because of the importance he holds in nature. "I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life." This quote says that people need to learn how to appreciate nature more. Since marrow is hard to get to inside the bone, Thoreau is suggesting that we need to go deeper and find the figurative meaning of nature as well. And since Romanticists also support individualism: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." This quote suggests that Thoreau also supports individualism and a man can walk to a beat that he hears which may be his own.
ReplyDeleteThoreau sees himself in all aspects of nature; "My auxiliaries are the dews and rains which water this dry soil, and what fertility is in the soil itself." He became the dew and the rain and the dirt, just Romantics believe we should. It is evident that Thoreau needed to find himself in nature, therefore becoming a romantic, in turn influencing his writing. He deliberately placed himself in Nature by himself in order to understand and learn from Nature; "See if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, dicover that I had not lived." Along the way he found that he not only disturbed some of nature, but needed to find other things that the world had to offer, another element of Romanticism is sharing what you know and always learning more.
ReplyDeleteOne quote that represents his Romanticism is "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.” He sees the beauty in the untamed, natural world and wishes to thrive in it. Another quote is "Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." (147). His Romantic side suggests that one will gain more from experiencing the untamed and natural world than by facts (which Realists believed were a greater asset than nature).
ReplyDeleteThoreau's influence from Romanticism spreads across all his works. Romantics "value feeling and intuition over reason." When Thoreau describes his feeling of the transparent eyeball, he is at one with nature, thoughts sound foreign, and the only thing he can do is feel. Romantics also believed that "imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not reach." When Thoreau moved to the woods, he did so to escape this collective rational mind set and obtain an imaginative one.
ReplyDeleteThoreau most definately was influenced by romanticisim, supported mainly by his value of nature. "I wanted to live deep and suck the marrow out of life." This quote shows that he would much rather dig into the dirt of life like a romanticist, who isn't going to follow strick rules like a puritan might.The romantics were also all about freedom, so this quote fits because someone who sucks marrow is sort of reckless and uncontrol, where someone who digs in is also implied to be free... "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life..." This quote demonstrates the desired simplicity of many of the romatics, and it also shows the actractiveness of the pastoral life because it dispalys the good that can happen when one is alone. When he states that he wants to "front only the essential facts of life..." shows that he as an individual has rights of his own. The ways of Thoreau at Walden pond can be directly attributed to the ideas of romantics.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that Thoreau was influenced by Romanticism because of its close relationship with transcendentalism. He believed in the power of an individual and its influence over a society, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer". This shows that Thoreau thought that no person should conform, but stick to his own path. Thoreau also greatly valued nature and its chances for spirituality. He believed that through nature one could connect with his soul (over soul). "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not,when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." This quote also shows that Thoreau isolated himself from society because he thought is was corrupting. But, he also realized that through his experiences that one falls into routines and bad just as society does. Walden Pond was a reaction to the society he was living in- Thoreau was reacting on impulse to the deeply rooted romantic ideals of his paradigm.
ReplyDeleteThoreau believes that everyone should embrace their spirituality and realize the beauty of nature. Although sense and logic are valued in modern society, sometimes real logic is to not depend so much on the knowledge delivered in modern society; "...the imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were of greater value than reason, logic, planning, and cultivation." Romantics believed that people could get in touch with their individuality and spirit when in nature just like transcendentalists. This influenced Thoreau to build his own Walden Pond. Another quote that supports this is "The Romantics tried to contemplate the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying beauty and truth." Thoreau believed that beauty and truth could solely be found in nature.
ReplyDeleteHenry David Thoreau wished to experience a full spiritual cleansing by returning to nature and ridding himself of society's impurities. He felt lost and confused when living in society because of the distractions that kept him from truly being himself. He stated that, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately." This quote shows his desire to find order and reason in his life, and the lengths he was willing to go to to find it. The barbaric yawp, a key element of transcendentalism is shown in the following quote: "I wanted to live deep and suck the marrow out of life." Thoreau desired to stop "going through the motions" of life and to get more out of everyday than he had before. He had a passion deep inside him that fueled his desire to adventure into nature.
ReplyDeleteThoreau sought to find what society could not give him; the full understanding of life itself. By separating himself from the world, he would be able to see clearly without society and its condemnations clouding up his connection with Nature."Eternal truths were waiting to be discovered not in dusty old libraries or crowded cities or glittering court life, but in the American wilderness that was unknown..." He believed that Nature held more knowledge and wisdom than the human race upheld; that the Eternal Truths of life do not lie within the civilized world, but within the untamed and unknown. The great importance of Nature is valued in Romanticism. "See if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, dicover that I had not lived." Once again, Nature gives those who seek knowledge, more knowledge than society ever will and live life to its fullest. Both Romanticism ideas.
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