Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden Or Life In The Woods Genre'

Name: Benson Budiman Date: 10/17/15 Period: 1
Book Title: Walden; Or, Life In The Woods Genre: autobiography, nonfiction
Author: Henry David Thoreau Number of Pages: 216
Brief Summary and “Arrangement” of the Book:
This novel contains 18 chapters. They seem to appear in chronological order.
The 18 chapters are: 1. Economy, 2. Where I lived, and What I Lived For, 3. Reading, 4. Sounds, 5. Solitude, 6. Visitors, 7. The Bean-Field, 8. The Village, 9. The Ponds, 10. Baker Farm, 11. Higher Laws, 12. Brute Neighbors, 13. House-Warming, 14. Former Inhabitants; and Winter Visitors, 15.Winter Animals, 16. The Pond in Winter, 17. Spring, and 18. Conclusion.
In between those chapters, there are also sub-chapters on the top of each page, such as clothing, shelter, building the house, architecture, and furniture in Economy.

Economy: Thoreau begins his autobiography by reporting his two-year individual enterprise at Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts.

He identifies the minimalistic necessities of life as food, shelter, clothing, and fuel, and the greatest necessity is “to keep the vital heat in us” (8). He states that the establishment of his house and his calculations in the components for his house is a display of pure self-reliance.
Where I lived, and What I lived For: Thoreau remembers several locations where we considered before finalizing on Walden Pond, and he chooses Walden Pond based on his dream of a simplistic lifestyle. He takes full pride on his new residence and considers it as an achievement for his

well-being.
Reading: Thoreau states that although his residence is “beyond the range of the ordinary circulating library”(65), he has been influenced by numerous books from around the world. He believes that we learn the best of literature through reading. The best books are not peruse by the strongest readers, nor the dull books shaped by their readers.
Sounds: Thoreau acclaims readiness to presence and alerts against retention. He values the birds, the plants, and the sunlight as he lies on his doorstep, but his repose turns into chaos by the screams of Fitchburg Railroad. He is grateful that owls exists, for their "hoots" overwhelm the numbskull voices of the men.
Solitude: Nature comes inching up, and Thoreau feels one with nature. Since his closest neighbor is a mile away, he asserts that he might as well be in Asia, in support of his solitude. His loneliness occurs due to the absence of companions.
Visitors: Thoreau cherishes companionship, so he always keeps three chairs out for visitors. He claims that he receives more visitors than when he used live around the local area, and the quality of his social life has made strides. He also receives visitors who are local workers.
The Bean-Field: Thoreau plants beans, potatoes, turnips, and peas throughout the summer months. He enjoys the sights and sounds of the natural environment around him, but he also military exercises coming from a local town. He guarantees that nature does not care whether his crops succeed or fall flat, because the sun shines on all types of soil equally.
The Village: Several times a week, Thoreau hikes into Concord, where he receives the most recent news. On one of his excursions, he is imprisoned for his refusal to pay a poll charge.
The Ponds: Thoreau loves to invest his free time doing countryside activities, such as riding a boat in Walden Pond. He portrays the pond as not especially terrific, but very deep and pure. He additionally noticed that the paths of the previous eras are no longer visible near the pond.
Baker Farm: One day, Thoreau covers up inside a spread close to Baker Farm in order to shield himself from the thunderstorm. He finds John Field, and they chat about Field’s lifestyle and how he can spare himself from destitution. Thoreau further clarifies Field’s agony through acquired Irish poverty.
Higher Laws: One day, Thoreau has the urge to devour a woodchuck. Through this occasion, he sees his double identities, one grea and other malevolence, and he values both sides. He wishes to isolate his higher laws of nature from his savage-like inclinations.
Brute Neighbors: One day, Thoreau notices a smaller force of expansive dark ants fighting against a larger army of smaller red ants. He compares the miniature battle to human wars, and he concludes that ants are as sympathetic in war as human soldiers. Later on, he is on a boat on Walden Pond, and he sees no pattern from the loons or any movements that would permit his brute neighbors to go through.
House-Warming: As the season changes, Thoreau turns out to be completely mindful of the hardships of winter. He spends the last days of autumn by the pond, where he prefers the daylight rather than a fire in winter. At winter, Walden Pond solidifies over, and Thoreau is able to stroll on the slender ice and investigate the pond.
Former Inhabitants; and Winter Visitors: Thoreau believes the empty route between Concord and Lincoln used to be intensely populated with black occupants. During the days of winter, he has insignificant contact with different visitors, and even the animals keep to themselves.
Winter Animals: Thoreau finds the solidified Walden Pond vast and spacious, permitting many opportunities for sliding and skating. He hears tiny hints of owls, geese, and squirrels all through the forests during the winter times. Sometimes, he places food in front of his doorstep and watch tiny creatures crunch at their needed nourishment for hours.
The Pond in Winter: Each morning, Thoreau gathers water for the day, but it is a hard errand since everything is frozen over. Thoreau attempts to gauge the depth of Walden Pond in order to beat the myth that the pond is endless. Thoreau is able to measure the depth of the pond, and he obtains a general feeling of the base of Walden Pond.
Spring: Spring arrives, and Walden Pond starts to dissolve, which excites Thoreau. He feels that previous grudges and sins ought to be forgotten at this new season. He starts to fish again and admires the nature of creatures around him.
Conclusion: Thoreau expresses that it is a change of soul, as opposed to a change of landscape, that can cure the sick. He left Walden Pond, asserting that he has other lives and experiences to live. He concludes his autobiography saying that a normal individual will not comprehend his words, but that will not any difference; “There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star” (216).

Rhetorical Analysis
Exigence: Thoreau’s two year venture on Walden Pond prompted Thoreau to expound on the significance of self-reliance and simplicity. Since he lives alone in the woods, his writing is loaded with metaphors, perceptions, and reflections. To Thoreau, independence is predominant in financial and relations with visitors and neighbors.
Audience: Basing of the last sentence, Thoreau’s autobiography is meant for scholarly individuals with higher literacy aptitudes than a standard human. However, his audience stretches out to further people. Based on the time era (1854), the area (Massachusetts), and my insight from US History, the target audience could be New England citizens who are fascinated in surrounding cultures and scenes.
Purpose: At the beginning of the book, Thoreau expresses his purpose, stating that he expects to answer questions asked by the New Englanders about his two year life at Walden Pond. However, in the conclusion, it appears that Thoreau’s intended purpose of his autobiography is to undermine the definition of expectations, success, and freedom. Through his two year journey, he learned that if you inspire yourself in the course you envision it, you will discover undreamable success at the end. He stated, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where the should be. Now put the foundations under them” (209).
Logos: Thoreau’s autobiography somewhat appeals to Logos. Thoreau’s two year isolated project at Walden Pond can persuade readers that this novel is a lesson on autonomy, self-reliance, or simplicity. However, after reading his work (especially after reading the conclusion), some may reason that Walden’s motivation is to inform readers to take after their fantasies no matter what happens.
Pathos: Thoreau’s autobiography will not always appeal to Pathos to readers. Due to the extended analogies and long, exhausting anecdotes that appear chapter after chapter, some may not capture the appeal in Pathos, but he does provide generous sensory details of events. However, if there is one thing that will appeal to Pathos, it will be Thoreau’s two year enterprise itself. Some may wish to experience a life of detachment simply like Thoreau’s, and they may become envious.
Ethos: Thoreau’s autobiography unquestionably appeals to Ethos. Since Thoreau lives in isolation in the woods close to Walden Pond, we can trust that his information is credible and trustworthy since it is based on his own individual encounters, and he regularly alludes to outside sources, including phrases from the Bible and quotes by philosophers like Confucius. The readers can conclude that Thoreau’s character is great and humble as his actions show simplicity and kindness to the nature of Walden Pond.
Style/tone: Thoreau often speaks in two voices: either humorless and solemn or imaginative and inventive. He speaks in an empirical, straightforward voice when he is listing specifications, especially in “Economy”, and he speaks in a melodious, inquisitive voice when he is portraying the nature and appearance of Walden Pond. At the “Conclusion”, he uses a open-minded, nonpartisan voice in order to powerfully convey his message and purpose to the readers.
Delivery: The book has only one picture in his entire work; it is on the cover. This implies that the book is exclusively created for reading. The author does not want the readers to be intrigued by any pictures. In par with only reading, the text is Times News Roman and it appears to be size 12 font. The minimal spacing between each row indicates that Thoreau does not wish to waste paper and squeeze the contents of the book into 216 pages.
Use of Outside Sources:
I did not notice any frequent uses of additional sources in Thoreau’s autobiography; I only saw a total of ten actual uses of outside sources. Most of the sources were quotes from the Bible or about famous philosophers. The sources were used to explain a phenomenon at Walden Pond, used to support a description of the surroundings of Walden Pond, or used just as plain filler. They did not provide any superior effect on the plot of the book; therefore, they are not authoritative. There are no additional notes added to his outside sources. However, Thoreau seems to praise his outside sources as they are phrased in lengthy sentences or paragraphs.
Personal Response:
To be honest, I did not like the book. There was no exciting action or sudden plot development. It was just filled with lengthy descriptions and anecdotes of Walden Pond. The only message I learned from Walden; Or, Life In The Woods was in the conclusion; it is the false message that if you believe in anything, the results will be unbelievable success. I would not praise the book, nor criticize the book. It is just not meant for me. I recommend that this book should be kept in class; many students are very imaginative, and I am pretty sure if they read the book, they will be able to draw the landscape of Walden Pond in their minds and hopefully appreciate Thoreau’s autobiography.