During the Transcendentalist movement, Henry David Thoreau was a leading transcendentalist whose work focused mainly on nature and adventure. Walden, or Life in the Woods is an exceptional example of a story based on adventure. In Thoreau’s account of his life at Walden pond, he first states, “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.” Through this quote Thoreau explains that he was tired of the complexity of normal life and desired to go on an adventure to live simply. Additionally, Thoreau states, “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life…,” which again reveals his motivation for new life by adventure and simplicity. Finally, as Thoreau concludes his account he states, “I left the woods …show more content…
Walden, or Life in the Woods is a outstanding example of an adventure story, furthermore the quotes given help support that adventure motivated Thoreau to seek new life. James Thurber, a modern cartoonist and author is widely known for his short stories and cartoons that were posted in The New Yorker magazine. Of his short stories, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of his most notable short stories that features adventure and humor. In this short story, Walter Mitty is a meek and bidding man that frequently finds himself encountering the everyday challenges of life. In return, Walter Mitty is motivated by adventure and creates a new life of daydreams and fantasies that often involve him as the protagonist or antagonist. The story begins