The literary analysis paper will be due on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18th (four to six pages). The final paper will be due on the last day of class....but more on that to come.
For the lit analysis paper, you will couple one of the lessons provided by Henry David Thoreau with a modern problem that evinces the need for a little Transcendentalist philosophy. In other words, your paper will couple direct quotations from Thoreau himself with a little research into modern issues to answer the following question: What truth of modern living in 2012 would most disturb Thoreau? WWTD, to put it another way.
We will discuss the format and strategy for this paper in class on Wednesday, also, we will discuss the memoir in depth by focusing on the following points:
A. Explain the significance of: “Only they who go to soirees and legislative halls must have new coats, coats to change as often as the man changes them. But if my jacket and trousers, my hat and shoes, are fit to worship God in, they will do; will they not?” (p 17).
B. “All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be” (p 18). “Every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors, even in wet and cold” (p 21).
C. Explain the significance of these two quotations based on the whole book: “I am surprised to learn that (the farmers in town) cannot at once name a dozen in town who own their farms free and clear” (p 25). AND “I am wont to think that men are not so much the keeper of herds as herds the keeper of men, the former are so much the freer” (p 44).
D. Describe Thoreau’s philosophy on labor (this is expressed chiefly through his observations of the farmers and their farms). Would you describe him as “anti-work?” Why or why not? What are his feelings on leisure? Explain the Irish railroad builder parable (42 – 43).
E. Thoreau makes quite a few interesting comments on the nature of capitalism. In one particular rant, he talks about the problems involved in turning your “passion into business.” “My purpose in going to Walden Pond was not to live cheaply nor to live dearly there, but to transact some private business with the fewest obstacles; to be hindered from accomplishing which for want of a little common sense, a little enterprise and business talent, appeared not so sad as foolish.” (p 14)
F. You should’ve, at very least, been intrigued by Thoreau’s thoughts on college, since, well, you know. What are his thoughts on college? He seems to make a case against college being the social and economic necessity everyone portrays it to be. Agree or argue…just do it succinctly and completely. (p 40 – 41)
G. Does Thoreau want people to be like him? Then what does he want? Support your answer with specific textual evidence. (57)
Please expect to have these and other questions from the chapters posed to you in class.
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