Henry David Thoreau

1. Henry David Thoreau Transcendentalist, poet, activist, essayist, naturalist, philosopher Ms. Whitaker

2. Early Life Born 1817 in Concord, MA Father was a pencil manufacturer Entered Harvard in 1833 Taught school for two weeks (wouldn’t whip a student) Friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson Turned down sailing across Europe to take an inward voyage: Walden Pond

3. While at Walden… Two years, two months, and two days, he spent at Walden and built a cabin; Writes book and pays tribute to brother Rediscovers grandeur of a simple life led close to nature “Vital facts of life” found in one’s backyard Looks to nature rather than stylist of the past for a model To imitate nature is to speak of fundamental truths

4. Thoreau Post Walden… In protest of the Mexican War, Thoreau refused to pay poll tax and, as a result, spent a night in jail “Resistance to Civil Government” has large impact on human history; impacts decisions of future passive resistance leaders (Gandhi and King, Jr.) Made pencils, gardened, took odd jobs, was a carpenter 1860, Thoreau’s cold became tuberculosis, and he died