Henry David Thoreau's Literary Experience

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In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau emphasizes the need for self-reliance (“Clendenning”). This statement is fitting because Thoreau was one of the most self-reliant men of his time period. He was an individual and enjoyed nature. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) is closely related to the Transcendentalism movement, which lasted a mere ten years in the 1830s and 1840s. Transcendentalism is the belief of self-reliance, individuality, social reform, and relying on reason. Henry David Thoreau’s love of nature, languages, and contemporary English, as well as the growth of Transcendentalism greatly influenced the life of this great American Author.

Henry David Thoreau did not come from a wealthy and distinguished family (Olsen). However his family found a way to afford sending him to Harvard College. Thoreau barely passed the entrance exam into Harvard College (Clendenning). While attending Harvard he studied different languages and English Composition (Olsen). In 1836 he was forced to withdraw from school due to illness (Clendenning). During this time he met Ralph Waldo Emerson who eventually wrote to Harvard on Thoreau’s behalf in order to get financial aid (Olsen). Thoreau was finally able to return to college and graduated August 30, 1837 (Olsen). This fact is important because it tells what school Thoreau attended, the classes he took, and even previews the fact he met Ralph Waldo Emerson who would eventually become the role model for Thoreau’s own work. Transcendentalism was popular in the 1830s and 1840s. It lasted a mere 10 years. Transcendentalism is the Belief that knowledge is not limited to and solely derived from experience and observation (Clendenning). The solution to human problems lies in the free development if individual...

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...n with Emerson got him started with the Transcendentalism movement, which came natural to him because of his love for nature. Author’s personal experiences reflect greatly in their own work.

Works Cited

Bankston, Carl L., III. "Civil Disobedience." Literary Reference Center. EBSCO, Nov. 2010. Web. 8 May 2014.

Clendenning, John. “Thoreau, Henry David.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2014. Web 7 May 2014.

Clendenning, John. “Transcendentalism.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2014. Web 8 May 2014.

Kinsella, Kate. Prentice Hall Literature. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.

Olsen, Steven P. Henry David Thoreau. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2006

Transcendentalism, American Literary And Philosophical Movement. “Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition(2013):1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 12 May 2014.

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