Wild Apples Rhetorical Analysis

Henry David Thoreau passionately wrote several essays about different aspects of nature and humans’ relationship with nature. For instance, in the essay “Wild Apples”, Thoreau summarizes the history of wild apples, the current state of wild apples, and the possibility that wild apples might become extinct. Furthermore, throughout “Wild Apples”, Thoreau argues why wild apples should be maintained ( does “maintain” work to replace conserve ?)for the future generations. To address this inquiry, he discusses apples’ importance during ancient times, the ways apples are the most efficient of all crops, and the bond several animals have with apple trees. ( Is it ok if the highlighted portion is almost the same as the intro for my other essay ?I’m

5 part 1]. He utilizes comments from historical figures, the Greek language, and references to literary works to support his argument. For instance, Thoreau refers to Tacitus, a Roman historian, when Thoreau emphasizes on his point that wild apples were a source of food in ancient times. Tacitus asserted that “the ancient Germans” met their hunger needs “with wild apples (agrestia poma) among other things” [paragraph 3].Through Thoreau using this (do I use this or that?)example, Thoreau strengthens his claim that apples were noteworthy in ancient times, since that example shows insight on the role apples had in ancient society. Furthermore, in part one and two of “Wild Apples”, Thoreau elaborates on the ways apples are the most efficient of all crops. He refers to historical figures and describes what he has observed in relation to wild apples and his opinions on the qualities and nature of apple trees. For example, Thoreau supports his claim that apple trees can grow without people helping them by mentioning an apple tree he noticed that grew naturally on a portion of a cliff surrounded by a forest and rocks[ paragraph 3 -4 part

By Thoreau not providing evidence for the qualities and nature of other crops, he loses part of his credibility for the evidence he provides to support that apples are the most efficient of all crops. He only superficially compared wild apples to other crops, since he did not show how other crops are like and how other crops grow in harsh living conditions.(Does this elaborate on the previous sentence ?) For Thoreau to convince his readers better that apples are the most efficient of all crops, Thoreau could give examples of other fruits and vegetables with similar living conditions and compare them to wild apple trees. Therefore, his readers will see how well other fruits and vegetables grow in harsh living conditions when compared to wild apples and realize that other crops need humans to help them thrive.

The essay “Wild Apples” helps readers realize the value of wild apples. If wild apples become extinct, society would lose part of its culture and some animals will lose a food source and shelter. As a result, the wild apple would just become a thing of the past and gradually be