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Post by Mr. Thomas on Nov 6, 2013 12:35:51 GMT -5
To help us escape our "lives of quiet desperation."
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Post by eointunney on Nov 6, 2013 20:10:30 GMT -5
Eoin Tunney
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 November 2013
D. I really enjoyed Henry Thoreau’s connections with life at this time. One of the lines I liked the most was in page 221, which states, “Our life is like a German Confederacy, made up of petty states with its boundary forever fluctuating, so that even a German cannot tell you how it is bounded at any moment.” I really enjoyed this line because Thoreau is telling us that our lives are constantly changing, which is extremely true. This would be especially true during our teenage years as we graduate middle school, go to high school, and then go to college.
`E. This story by Henry Thoreau really reminded me of the story we read by Thomas Jefferson. The reason why it reminded me of Jefferson’s story was because it started off with a story from the author’s life. Both stories were pretty random. But then out of nowhere both authors went into writing about how they think and live their lives. I felt Thoreau’s story related a lot more to a normal person’s life, and Jefferson’s story talked more about how we should live our lives, even though he didn’t even follow his own rules.
C. One thing that I was very confused about was in Henry Thoreau’s biography where it says he got fired from being a school teacher for refusing to whip one of his students. I found this absolutely ridiculous because if a teacher did actually whip or even lay a hand on a student, that teacher would automatically be fired and most likely be in the news for doing something so awful. It honestly is amazing how times have changed.
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Post by bourdonm15 on Nov 6, 2013 20:17:52 GMT -5
Matthew Bourdon
Mr. Thomas
English 11
11/6/13
F. Just through reading the beginning I already can say I like Henry David Thoreau as an author. He automatically without even jumping to the story is concerned about the reader’s understanding of his work. “I will therefore ask those of my readers who feel no particular interest in me to pardon me as I undertake to answer some of these questions in the book.” (Page 217) I really like his consciousness about the reader’s ability to completely understand his body of work. We automatically get the persona of the author rather than the main character of the story first.
E. Thoreau seems to look at building a house to be something that should come easy to any man. “I never in all my walks came across a man engaged in so simple and natural an occupation as building his house.” (Page 219) Building a house is physically definitely a lot of work and consumes a lot of time. I am a little confused if he means that the actual building of the house is easy or if it is easy because the person knows how they want their house to be. I was pretty confused with this line.
B. He talks about why he went to go live in the woods. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to do teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” (Page 220) This is very important and is a reason as to why he lived in the woods. We as readers may think to ourselves “Why would he want to live in the middle of the woods, the middle of nowhere?” Well he was a romanticist and they believed in the celebration of nature and in peace. He shows his Romanticist views here.
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Post by matthewchan on Nov 6, 2013 20:52:03 GMT -5
Matthew Chan
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 November 2013
C. I thought Thoreau’s biography was pretty interesting. However, one thing I was confused in his biography was the reason he was fired as a teacher. He was fired because he wasn’t willing to whip a student. This reminds me about the nuns who taught at schools back then with their rulers in their hand walking around the classroom. Was it legal back then? A little thing like this can lead to someone being fired?
B. Something I found very unique in the reading was when he was talking about why he lived in the woods. He said on p.220, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to do with teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” This really shows us who Henry Thoreau was as a person. He really wanted to focus on life and wanted to be away from all the distractions and focus only on the good things. Another thing to keep in mind that he was a Romanticist. Romanticists believed in celebrating nature and peace.
D. I also enjoyed what Eoin said about a quote on p.221. Our lives are always changing and fluctuating. At the end of the day, we do not know what will happen to us tomorrow. We will experience many changes in our lives that may be good or bad. We must still go through it and endure it because that’s the way of living life.
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Post by danokeefe15 on Nov 6, 2013 21:06:42 GMT -5
Danny O’Keefe
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 November 2013
C. What I found confusing about the reading was how he tried to describe certain things. I felt like he made it more difficult to understand when it could have been written in a simpler way, but decided to use different words and order it differently.
D. ”Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand.” The reason why I like this quote so much is because it’s true, if we live a much simpler life and stay away from everything we won’t have as many worries and problems. Our life would be so much easier and enjoyable, then someone that is constantly stressed out and overworked.
E. I wasn’t to much of a fan of this story I found it extremely boring. I felt like he put too much detail about the house and what he did with it, it made me less interested in it. But I did sometimes find some of the things that he wrote about in the 2nd section of the story and some other parts to be very interesting, true, and even relatable.
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Post by georgebaroudos on Nov 6, 2013 21:12:31 GMT -5
George Baroudos
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 November 2013
A – Climate plays a pivotal role in the shaping of this house. When it gets cold a better roof is implemented and the chimney is built. I remember after Sandy had devastated my house I was left without power or heat. It was midday and I was sitting on my couch freezing. I’m not really sure why I made this connection, but I know that rebuilding a house is difficult, but starting from scratch is even more difficult. I have a lot of respect for him because he is able to start from scratch and the outcome must feel so good!
D – “There is some of the same fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's building its own nest.” Ultimately both houses and nests are both made for dwelling, but they do so much more. They raise families and help people grow. The growth experienced cannot be copied anywhere else. By creating the house you live in he is feeling the ultimate comfort and happiness. This project seemed to have ended well because the story goes on. But, the main strike is that he marked his territory. In many aspects this may be an ego booster. He initially marked his territory by creating this cabin. His house is his temple and no one will disrespect it.
I – In many ways we have touched upon retreat as a place of thinking. Retreat is a place of experience as well. In order to find full retreat we have to feel comfortable within our own surroundings. Thoreau abandoned society in hopes of finding retreat, which can be accomplished, but he must feel comfortable. The experience of living in the woods will force any human to adapt. As humans we are all capable of adapting to new situations. If we force ourselves into a certain position, we must deal with it. In order to deal with this state we get comfortable. This causes us to adapt to the new environment. The building of the cabin and the symbolism of the roof allow him to enter comfort, which will enhance retreat.
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Post by johnmarano on Nov 6, 2013 21:27:42 GMT -5
John Marano
Mr. Thomas
English 11
6 November 2013
C. I did question Henry a little bit. In his biography, it said, “even his closest friends had doubts about Thoreau” (213). Why did people doubt and question such an intelligent, kind hearted human being? It seemed that Thoreau also didn’t experience life, although in his story it was so different. In the biography he stayed at his parents house for the remainder of his life. He should be truly learning what it means to live a fully human life. How could he do so if he stayed home with his parents in his adult years?
D. I learned a lot of Henry David Thoreau from his biography. HE EVEN WENT TO HARDARD! CRAZY!! I really enjoyed reading Walden. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (217). This quote is outstanding. It is hear-warming to. This quote answers all of Henry’s questions. He isn’t just mentioning this as a description of where he lived, he us to question the true meaning of life. Thoreau desires to choose his path in life. Our last reading, Nature, can be kind of compared in this reading. Thoreau, on a literal note, explains his interactions with the woods, the beauty and openness of nature.
I. I would like to point out that the analysis of the quote that Danny used. His quote, ”Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand,” is so important. This quote, just as Danny had explained it, is really giving an understanding of how a simple life is an easier life than stress. If one just lived a life with few problems, he/she would be able to experience true life easier. Again going back to the Nature story, if you live a simple life, discovering things will be so easy. Great job Danny.
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Post by 1adams12 on Nov 6, 2013 21:44:02 GMT -5
11/6/13
I. I agree with Danny O'keefe. I was really confused when I was reading it because the author was really confusing since he was using more words to describe words than he needed. I was wondering to myself why on earth he did not try to simplify the stuff that he was trying to explain.
D. When I was reading this literature piece, one of the lines that I liked was "Before I finished my house, wishing to earn ten or twelve dollars by some honey and agreeable method, in order to meet my unusual expenses, I planted about two acres and a half of light and sandy soil near it chiefly with beans, but also a small part with potatoes, corn, peas, and turnips" (page 219). The reason why I liked this line so much is because it kind of resembles me when I think about it. I also personally like to try to make money in any way that is legal and appropriate for the reason why I need to make money. What is also similar to me is that I like to work so I am occupied and not getting into trouble because I don't have time on my hands.
A. Climate plays an important role in the weather, especially now. When the climate is cold, you need to put the heat on and wear long clothes. When the climate is hot, you need to turn the AC on and you need to wear shorts.
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Post by scanley73 on Nov 6, 2013 21:51:33 GMT -5
A. This reading reminded me of The Last American Man. It depicts a man trying to live isolated from the rest of society. He tries to avoid all the bustle of what the world is becoming and lives out alone. However, he does eventually return just like Eustace has to go into the world he tries to avoid in order to live the way he wants. They are still dependent on the world they want to break away from because it is not easy to cut ties with something that has been rooted into our minds and something that is always present.
C. What is his reasoning for writing this? Everything has a reason for writing and I just can’t figure this one out. It’s basically just describing him working. Do we really need to know how he builds stuff? There are some things that have some purpose but this is sort of menial if you ask me.
E. Although I didn’t really understand his reasoning for writing this I enjoyed one line in particular. “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep you accounts on your thumbnail.” I liked this quote because it makes sense to me. Why try to do a hundred different things when you only have time to do three or four. People try to do so much and don’t take the time to enjoy the things that they’re doing because they’re so busy.
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Post by Sgarlato on Nov 6, 2013 22:02:18 GMT -5
Stephen Sgarlato
Mr. Thomas
English 11
11/6/13
A. One thing that I can relate Thoreau’s biography to is nuns back in the day when they used to slap children with their rulers if they did something wrong. He got fired from his job because he didn’t want to slap a kid. It was so common back in the day that it really meant nothing but if you didn’t do it then it was a big problem.
D. The story about the house interested me because it really showed the love he had for it and the amount of detail put into describing the house really spoke because it made me feel how I feel about my home. I feel good when Im at my house like he did.
I. To answer Danny’s kind of question about why he used so many details to describe certain things I would say that he did this to prove how much he really enjoyed or disliked something. Usually when I use much detail I really want to express something.
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Post by Mr. Thomas on Nov 7, 2013 10:46:01 GMT -5
Connor Ryan
Mr. Thomas
English 11
11/7/13
D. A line I really enjoyed is on page 221 and it's says, "some of my pleasantest hours were during the long rainstorms in the spring or fall, which confined me me to the house for the afternoon as well as the forenoon, soothed by their ceaseless roar and pelting". I enjoyed this because it shows that he was happy with what nature gave him. He could be mad that he is losing a day of work but instead he uses it to relax and enjoy himself. He enjoys the simple things like hearing the rain which I also agree with. When it only takes little things to make you happy then I feel like that is the best way to live.
C. One thing that confused and amazed me was in the biography of Henry David Thoreau when he got fired from being a teacher. It is amazing that someone can be fired for not whipping one of his student. It amazes me how in that age it was acceptable to treat young kids that way. Now if a teacher whips a student it would be one of the biggest stories on the news and the teacher would lose their job.
I. I agree with George's response to question a that climate plays an important role in shaping his house part of the story. I also remember after the hurricane being left with no heat or power. I remember we would think of ways to keep us warm and we would have to change what we did. I would be wearing a winter jacket sitting on my couch because it was so cold.
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Post by michaelannunziata on Nov 7, 2013 12:18:04 GMT -5
Michael Annunziata
Mr. Thomas
English 11
11,6,13
C. One thing that I was very confused about during the reading was why he said things the way he did. He could have made this reading so much more clear and decisive but instead he chose the opposite direction. He could have describe some things a whole lot better then he did and I feel like it would have made this reading one hundred times better then it is. I would have enjoyed this reading a lot better if it was more clear to understand. That is what I was confused about during this reading.
A. I feel like weather plays such a big role in not only where to put a house but also how to build it. What materials do you need. Do you want a lot of windows, do you need air condition, do you need a heater? There are so many different pieces to a house and I feel like climate plays such a big role on where to build it, what to build it with and what extra things you may need to make it as best as possible.
D. one thing that I really like about this reading was the way he described the house and hoe much detail he put into when describing this house. I liked this because he was clearly proud of the house and I like that about him because I feel that every person should be proud of something.
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Post by johnrice on Nov 7, 2013 19:56:50 GMT -5
John Rice
Mr. Thomas
English 11
Discussion Board
D. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life”. Well, I can really disagree with this. In class we spoke about this and I brought up that Thoreau is kind of insane. I really was interested in the way Thoreau goes about living his life. Honestly he lives his entire life turning everyone away. He just wanted to be the true definition of a transcedentalist who lived solely off of nature, and they never wanted to be directed in life. Thoreau was defiant, as hinted in this quote, he says I wished to live deliberately. He wanted to live the way he wanted to live and that’s all.
A letter. I don’t have the sheet in front of me so I going to do this post concerning the letter with the questions. I was wondering did Thoreau feel like he had to live this way of life because he didn’t like structure. Did he not actually want to go as insane as he did? I feel like Thoreau thought of himself as a transcendentalist, and he surrounded himself with other people (when he was around people) who had similar beliefs so throughout his adult life (because God knows his childhood didn’t positively impact his adulthood) so he just went along being an extreme transcendentalist.
I want to agree with what Michael Adams and George said. Climate plays a big role and it also could be an analogy to life. Michael said when its cold you turn the heat of and wear pants, when its hot you turn the AC on and wear shorts. One must adjust to the things thrown at him in life. When you are living alone in the wilderness that is exactly what one must do.
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Post by matthewsegarra on Nov 12, 2013 20:17:16 GMT -5
Matthew Segarra
Mr. Thomas
English 11
10 November 2013
C. I was confused about his way of describing things. I thought his descriptions were very complex and could have been simpler. It would have made everyone’s lives easier. I felt he was being very bombastic.
D. This is one quote I liked, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand.” I agree with this quote because there is no need to make your life extremely complicated. You could live a simple life and still enjoy life’s pleasures, quality not quantity. Less affairs=less stress. It also means more time to yourself and more time to correctly work on these affairs.
E. I thought this story was very boring and I did not like it. I felt like he overwrote and there were too many descriptive details. It left me disinterested and I did not want to read the story anymore. It was very dry. It started to pick up later in the story, but it was still not very appealing.
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