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Thoreau Notes

Thoreau took notes on his readings of Walden. He questioned why Thoreau referenced the Greeks so frequently and found that people overcomplicate life. Thoreau enjoyed the solitude of a rainstorm at his house and explained that he was not lonely despite being alone because he learned more about himself. He also detailed his experiences growing beans and battling pests and weather, finding satisfaction in maintaining his harvest. Thoreau described observing animals near his home like ants warring over chips and interacting with loon birds on a lake. He reflected on living in the woods having changed his perspective and creating a routine, concluding humanity should recognize their smallness in the universe and be more humble.

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Rennik McCaig
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76 views1 page

Thoreau Notes

Thoreau took notes on his readings of Walden. He questioned why Thoreau referenced the Greeks so frequently and found that people overcomplicate life. Thoreau enjoyed the solitude of a rainstorm at his house and explained that he was not lonely despite being alone because he learned more about himself. He also detailed his experiences growing beans and battling pests and weather, finding satisfaction in maintaining his harvest. Thoreau described observing animals near his home like ants warring over chips and interacting with loon birds on a lake. He reflected on living in the woods having changed his perspective and creating a routine, concluding humanity should recognize their smallness in the universe and be more humble.

Uploaded by

Rennik McCaig
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rennik M.

McCaig
2/2/22

Thoreau Notes
“Economy” question: Did they really hunt ground hogs back in the 1800’s?
“Economy” takeaway: It’s much more satisfying to live in a house you built yourself.
“Where I lived, and What I Lived for” question: Why does he make so many references to the
Greeks?
“Where I lived, and What I Lived for” takeaway: People try to make life a lot more complicated
than it is.
“Solitude” summary: Thoreau stays at his house feeling content during a rainstorm. He writes
about how some men come to him and ask if he feels lonely being all by himself. Thoreau
explains that he isn’t lonely, because even though he is farther away from other people he still
feels companionship from discovering more about himself.
“The Bean Field” summary: Thoreau shares his experience with his bean fields. He talks about
how they have become a sort of obsessive and enjoyable hobby of his. Thoreau writes of how
by growing beans he has also learned the warfare that is gardening (meaning his battles against
rodents, weeds, and cold weather).
Question 1: Thoreau explains that the no amount of space can bring men closer to each other,
but instead it is experiences of each of our lives that brings us closer to one another.
Question 2: Thoreau gains the satisfaction of maintaining a bountiful harvest from his bean
field.
“Brute Neighbors” summary: Thoreau describes the animals around his house and his
experiences with them. He depicts the red and black ants as having a war over some chips.
Thoreau also explains a situation with a loon bird near a lake, and later explains that he had to
run away from a flock of loon birds.
“Conclusion” summary: Thoreau summarizes his experiences with living in the woods, and
reflects on how it has changed him. He explains that while trying to escape from society and
conformity he has ironically created a routine for himself. Thoreau concludes with talking about
how humanity should realize how small they are in the universe, and humble themselves
greatly.

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