Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (Pg. 390-396)

“Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau (pg. 390-396)

1. Define transcendentalism. 2. To what does Thoreau compare a government? Why? (lines 7–10) 3. What problems can government face? (lines 11–13) 4. How does Thoreau believe most people feel about the war? (lines 14–16) 5. Reread lines 21–37. What position does Thoreau take in the conflict between majority rule and individual conscience? 6. What does Thoreau mean by an “undue respect for law”? 7. How does Thoreau think that soldiers feel about going to war? 8. How does Thoreau’s view relate to his transcendentalist ideals? 9. Which way of serving the state does Thoreau approve of? Which ways does he condemn? Decide whether you agree with his assessment of soldiers and others who serve. 10. In lines 91–106, in what way is Thoreau’s nonconformity made more difficult because it must involve his neighbor, the tax gatherer? 11. What is Thoreau’s position on the value of being jailed for disobeying a law? 12. What does Thoreau mean by saying that the jailing of “one honest man” would bring “the abolition of slavery in America”? 13. Do you agree with Thoreau’s statement that “Reform keeps many scores of newspapers in its service, but not one man” (lines 112–113)? Why or why not? 14. For how long has Thoreau not paid his poll tax, and how long did he stay in jail? (lines 144–145) 15. During that imprisonment, whom did he think was more free: himself, or the townspeople outside the jail? (lines 151–153) 16. How did he feel about being confined? (lines 147–151) 17. Although Thoreau demonstrated his nonconformity by not paying his poll tax for six years, why does the night in jail make him feel as if he has been the only one to pay the tax? 18. Why do you think Thoreau includes this personal anecdote about his night in jail? Consider why he feels free as he stands in his cell, contemplating his own imprisonment. 19. What part of Thoreau did the locked doors of the jail confine? (lines 161–162) 20. To whom does Thoreau compare the State? (lines 163–165) 21. By the end of his stay, what is Thoreau’s opinion of the State? Why? (lines 165–166) 22. What message does Thoreau convey through his example of the acorn and the chestnut? 23. Describe Thoreau’s views of human society. What advice does Thoreau offer people? 24. What would society be like if everyone followed Thoreau’s advice? Give examples.

“Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau (pg. 390-396)

1. Define transcendentalism. 2. To what does Thoreau compare a government? Why? (lines 7–10) 3. What problems can government face? (lines 11–13) 4. How does Thoreau believe most people feel about the war? (lines 14–16) 5. Reread lines 21–37. What position does Thoreau take in the conflict between majority rule and individual conscience? 6. What does Thoreau mean by an “undue respect for law”? 7. How does Thoreau think that soldiers feel about going to war? 8. How does Thoreau’s view relate to his transcendentalist ideals? 9. Which way of serving the state does Thoreau approve of? Which ways does he condemn? Decide whether you agree with his assessment of soldiers and others who serve. 10. In lines 91–106, in what way is Thoreau’s nonconformity made more difficult because it must involve his neighbor, the tax gatherer? 11. What is Thoreau’s position on the value of being jailed for disobeying a law? 12. What does Thoreau mean by saying that the jailing of “one honest man” would bring “the abolition of slavery in America”? 13. Do you agree with Thoreau’s statement that “Reform keeps many scores of newspapers in its service, but not one man” (lines 112–113)? Why or why not? 14. For how long has Thoreau not paid his poll tax, and how long did he stay in jail? (lines 144–145) 15. During that imprisonment, whom did he think was more free: himself, or the townspeople outside the jail? (lines 151–153) 16. How did he feel about being confined? (lines 147–151) 17. Although Thoreau demonstrated his nonconformity by not paying his poll tax for six years, why does the night in jail make him feel as if he has been the only one to pay the tax? 18. Why do you think Thoreau includes this personal anecdote about his night in jail? Consider why he feels free as he stands in his cell, contemplating his own imprisonment. 19. What part of Thoreau did the locked doors of the jail confine? (lines 161–162) 20. To whom does Thoreau compare the State? (lines 163–165) 21. By the end of his stay, what is Thoreau’s opinion of the State? Why? (lines 165–166) 22. What message does Thoreau convey through his example of the acorn and the chestnut? 23. Describe Thoreau’s views of human society. What advice does Thoreau offer people? 24. What would society be like if everyone followed Thoreau’s advice? Give examples.