Walden

What is Thoreau's purpose or central message?

• People can find satisfaction in living simply despite the contemporary influence of conformity and consumerism.

• People should conform to societal norms in order to live comfortably warm for the rest of their lives.

• People should be allowed to live above their means if they so choose to do so.

• American society in the 1840's valued taking care of the environment.

What does Thoreau assert is necessary for living?

• Thoreau suggests that fashionable clothing is a necessity.

• Thoreau states that high-end housing is a necessary for living.

• Thoreau suggests to only eat what you need, buy what you can afford, and live simply.

• Thoreau asserts that working for large corporations in order to make a sizable living is a necessity.

How does Thoreau prove his point that human beings can live comfortably with only the bare necessities?

• He works in a factory to provide for his family.

• He is an English professor at a university and he makes enough money for his family to live in a two-story home.

• He lives on the streets in Boston to prove that you do not need a home to live comfortably.

• He lived in a cabin in the woods that he built on a budget.

What does Thoreau do with the ax that he borrowed from his neighbor.

• He uses the ax and returns it to the neighbor after it is too dull to be of any use to him.

• He loses the ax in Walden pond while breaking up ice blocks for his freezer.

• He uses the ax and returns it to the neighbor after sharpening the ax thoroughly.

• He borrows the ax and does not return it to his neighbor.

How does Thoreau feel about technological progress?

• He feels that railroads have positively impacted the culture in America.

• Thoreau distrusts technology and feels that it tends to control people rather than serve them.

• Thoreau enjoys tinkering with the inventions of his era.

• Thoreau is indifferent in concerns to technological progress of his time.

Explicate the text: "As for the rest of my readers they will accept such portions as apply to them. I trust that none will stretch the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good service to him whom it fits."

• Do not try on clothes that do not fit you.

• It is important to be gentle with clothing, because tattered clothes show a lack of wealth.

• I expect my readers to conform to my philosophy in its entirety.

• I hope my readers will take only what suits them personally in my work and not distort my philosophy.

What is Thoreau's critique on the state of people and their place in the world?

• He is critiquing the world around him and humanity's over dependence and desire for progress.

• He feels that the wealthy are a model for growth in the U.S.

• He critiques the poor for not working hard enough to move up in the world.

• He critiques the middle class for supporting the poor in their efforts to achieve "comfortable warmth".