Walden focuses on the concept of self-knowledge. Thoreau finds this knowledge by living alone in the woods. He does not advocate this lifestyle for everyone, but he does encourage all people to find some way to learn more about themselves and the world around them.
The book is made up of many literary styles, but the two main features are description and philosophical ideas. Within the descriptions, Thoreau often uses two literary techniques: metaphor and onomatopoeia. Both of these techniques make us feel closer to the world that Thoreau attempts to create for us by placing us firmly in his sensations.
Some important themes to note while reading Walden are light and dark, the mind and the body, ideas of nature, the meaning of progress, and the importance of detail. Its overriding philosophical tenets are: know yourself, live simply, and seek truth.
Walden focuses on the concept of self-knowledge. Thoreau finds this knowledge by living alone in the woods. He does not......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 424
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |