Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was Thoreau's primary reason for going to the woods?
What was Thoreau's primary reason for going to the woods?
- To own a large farm
- To discover essential facts of life (correct)
- To explore various estates
- To escape social obligations
What did Thoreau suggest about buying a farm, quoting Cato?
What did Thoreau suggest about buying a farm, quoting Cato?
- Any farm can be improved easily.
- It should be a spontaneous decision.
- Large estates are preferable.
- It is best considered carefully. (correct)
Which outcome did Thoreau conclude may have been best after losing his claim on Hollowell farm?
Which outcome did Thoreau conclude may have been best after losing his claim on Hollowell farm?
- Farming a larger area
- Living with more social relationships
- Gaining financial independence
- Simplifying his life (correct)
How did Thoreau feel about social relationships represented by the mail system?
How did Thoreau feel about social relationships represented by the mail system?
What does Thoreau imply by stating, 'I am monarch of all I survey'?
What does Thoreau imply by stating, 'I am monarch of all I survey'?
Flashcards
Thoreau's decision to live deliberately
Thoreau's decision to live deliberately
Thoreau's choice to focus on the most important aspects of life and avoid unnecessary details in order to fully experience life.
Walden Pond
Walden Pond
Location of Thoreau's experiment in simple living.
Thoreau's approach to acquiring a farm
Thoreau's approach to acquiring a farm
Initially, Thoreau sought land but was deterred by unexpected circumstances.
Importance of simplifying life
Importance of simplifying life
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Social disconnect in solitude
Social disconnect in solitude
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Study Notes
Walden Pond Selection
- Thoreau chose Walden Pond after considering other potential locations, including large estates.
- He cites Cato's advice to carefully consider farm purchases.
- Thoreau had interest in a Hollowell farm but the owner's wife changed plans, preventing a purchase.
- He realized a simplifying of life, perhaps necessitated by this situation, might be best.
- Thoreau emphasizes the value of living a life free from obligations and commitments.
Thoreau's Intentions
- Thoreau sought a life focused on essential facts, not trivialities.
- He aspired to live deliberately.
- He was motivated to avoid regret or wasted opportunities at the end of his life.
- This led him to a lifestyle away from regular societal interactions, symbolized by a distance from the post office.
- His isolation provided a sense of control and ownership, paralleling a feeling of being "monarch of all [his land]" as expressed metaphorically.
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