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Thoreau's Written Words Analysis

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The same written words on a page can affect different people in different ways while at the same time connecting people through the love of literature. Words are timeless and give us the opportunity to enter into a new, old world that existed before us. Many stories have been able to survive through generations in order to keep the spirit of the past alive and well, which is why Thoreau described the written word as the “choicest of relics”. The intimacy Thoreau speaks of is the connection each individual reader draws the the words on the page to their own life, which creates a bond between the reader and the author’s words. However, in addition to being able to apply those words to your personal life, those words are universal in the way that
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269 Words | 2 Pages

In the passage from "Civil Disobedience," the author, Thoreau, utilizes rhetorical devices to support his theme. Such devices include tone and diction. The theme expressed in the text is that the government is in need of change and acceptance, not a replacement. The author conveys a serious and professional tone throughout the passage. This helps add more to the seriousness of the subject and theme created which is the government needs change and acceptance, not a replacement.

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198 Words | 1 Pages

Thoreau’s use of semicolons makes me feel solemn which causes me to pay extra attention to that sentence. It also forces me to read slower to really comprehend what he is saying since it is likely an important piece of information. Thoreau uses semicolons in this way to do exactly what it does to me as a reader. He wants his readers to slow down and focus on those few words to give emphasis. Since semicolons are not a very commonly used form of punctuation, it draws in the reader’s attention and makes them think deeper about the true meaning behind his words.

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259 Words | 2 Pages

Thoreau uses extended metaphors to convey his frustration and disapproval towards the government by comparing man and the government to thoughtless machines. He states that “the mass of men serve the states thus, not as men, but as machines….(Thoreau, 941)” He uses metaphors similar to this one to better get across the loss of individuality of the people and drastic change into uniform and thoughtless machines without a moral compass, for when people become machine-like they act unjust and without acknowledgment of the consequences their actions can have, such as soldiers participating in war (mentioned in paragraph two). This idea of a lack of human individuality and integrity goes against Thoreau’s views on the world at large. Thoreau again

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578 Words | 3 Pages

Anoosha Balebail The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Essay Rewrite As Shakespeare had once said in the past, “To thine own self be true.” During the Transcendentalist era of American literature, many writers took on the liberal mindset of the time, and that was with no exception to Ralph Waldo Emerson. During his time, Emerson compiled a list of nine maxims, or universal truths/themes on life, and used these as an approach to life.

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188 Words | 1 Pages

At this point in the narrative he tells readers about an experience he had while observing a woodchuck in the woods while on a walk. He then tells in detail how he wanted to eat this woodchuck in a brutal way. This thought process he was having while observing this animal brought him a better understanding that human beings still have a wild instinct inside of themselves. Which he respected the idea and acknowledged that these instincts still occurred within himself. This experience supported Thoreau belief that hunting/obtaining knowledge on nature was important at an early age.

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422 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or

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589 Words | 3 Pages

The Influence of Literature Capturing a reader within every word, a strong piece of literature holds the power to reshape a reader’s perspective. Readers of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Joe Fassler’s article entitled “How Literature Inspires Empathy,” discover how quality literature can improve humanity. Bradbury and Alaa Al Alswany display literature’s capability to transform the compassion, knowledge, and vision of a person. Aswany says, “‘Literature is not a tool of judgment— it’s a tool for human understanding’”

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320 Words | 2 Pages

In my personal perspective, Henry Thoreau makes several valid points within his essay. The government gets its power from the people yet lately it goes above and beyond to control these same people. It invades our privacy, reading our emails and text messages, listening to our conversations, tracking our transactions, and placing cameras where they see fit. It taxes everything from their hard earned money to the property they own. It is even creating and manipulating laws solely for its own benefit.

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2124 Words | 9 Pages

Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience) is a dissertation written by American abolitionist, author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau published by Elizabeth Peabody in the Aesthetic Papers in 1849. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was born and lived almost his life in Concord, Massachusetts. After finishing public and private school in Concord he attended the prestige Harvard University. He excelled at Harvard despite leaving school for several months due to health and financial setbacks. Mr. Thoreau graduated in the top half of his class in 1837.

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474 Words | 2 Pages

In reading Henry David Thoreau, I was halted by the views he shared. Thoreau was a suspicious man that felt there is not a reason to be taxed if person did not agree with usage of funds or need government protection. Thoreau lived in the woods, mostly self sustainable. He came into town to have a shoe mended and found himself confronted by a city official to pay a poll tax. He refused and the sheriff put him in Jail.

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668 Words | 3 Pages

Thoreau is a self centered man who thinks he is above all of mankind and mocks other people’s opinions. In Walden, he compares the battle of ants to that of men. He says “there is not a fight in history that can bear a moment's comparison to the battle of the ants”. Thoreau is implying that the war efforts and reasons people fight wars are stupid and pointless, even if it’s about freedom and justice. He is bashing on other people's opinions just because they are different than his.

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468 Words | 2 Pages

Jon Krakauer, Emerson, Thoreau, and Donovan are all great writers. The four writers share a lot of ideas but one of the main ones is transcendentalism. In a lot of their writings and pieces you can find a good amount of these ideas about individuality and being yourself all the time. These four writers stand up for what they believe in as that is one of the ideas of transcendentalism. One thing that shows how their ideas convey with each other is in the title of the poem “it’s all on me” by Donovan.

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294 Words | 2 Pages

After being refusing to pay his poll taxes for 6 years, Thoreau was thrown into jail for a night. It was here he decided to take the time to write Civil Disobedience. While in jail, given the fact that he, being behind an iron and wooden door and surrounded by 3 feet thick stone walls, did not feel restricted in any form or manner (29). He believed that his punishment was only affected him physically and, that it would never change a man’s thinking. He turned a dire situation into something more favorable.

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889 Words | 4 Pages

The purpose of Where I Lived, and What I Lived for, by Henry David Thoreau is to express that life should be lived with simplicity and with purpose. His advanced syntax and high vocabulary makes this passage difficult to read, while giving the reader a challenge. His use of rhetorical devices throughout the passage also helps convey his message about the purpose of life. In the first set of paragraphs, he introduces that he moved into the woods, so he could enjoy the many things nature has to offer deliberately. He compares humans to ants when he says that “we live meanly, like ants.”

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1273 Words | 6 Pages

Near the beginning of his renowned essay, "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau appeals to his fellow citizens when he says, "...I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. " This request serves as a starting point from which the rest of "Civil Disobedience" emerges. Thoreau 's essay is particularly compelling because of its incorporation of rhetorical strategies, including the use of logos, ethos, pathos, purposive discourse, rhetorical competence and identification. I will demonstrate how each of these rhetorical techniques benefit Thoreau 's persuasive argument. Thoreau uses logos throughout his essay to strengthen his argument with reasoning.

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