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Henry David Thoreau: His Life, Times, and Literature” Abstract Henry David Thoreau and His Lifetime

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Henry David Thoreau: His Life, Times, and Literature” Abstract Henry David Thoreau and His Lifetime UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” ABSTRACT HENRY DAVID THOREAU AND HIS LIFETIME This thesis concerns a study of Henry David Thoreau’s life and works. It has been divided into five chapters. The first chapter is about his biography, his friends and how his philosophy was incorporated in action. Thoreau belonged to the Transcendental Movement, where he established a relationship with other great thinkers. His philosophy, “small is beautiful,” is one of the principles which he applied in his life. The second chapter refers to Walden and “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.” These works try to show us some of his theories about nature and its connection with men. Walden is considered one of his masterpieces due to its message to protect the surrounding world. “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers” was dedicated to his adventures during a canoe-trip with his brother, John. AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 1 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” The third chapter deals with an essay called “Civil Disobedience,” where Thoreau expressed his dislikes against obeying government’s laws and paying taxes. The second point in this chapter is “Life Without Principle,” where living a life without complications, spending our time on useful and constructive things, and enjoying our world, were the reasons which motivated Thoreau to write it. The fourth chapter has information about his influences from the nineteenth century to the presents. The impact that he has produced on our society is considerable, although at the very beginning he was not a well-known writer. The last chapter is the conclusion. It is the end of a deep analysis of Thoreau’s life and writings. AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 2 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” KEY WORDS TRANSCENDENTALISM, WALDEN, GOVERNMENT, NATURE, LIFE, PEOPLE, THOREAU, BELIEFS AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 3 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” INDEX ABSTRACT............................................................................. 1 DEDICATORY ........................................................................ 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENT ......................................................... 10 INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 11 CHAPTER Nº 1 ..................................................................... 17 THOREAU AS A PERSON .................................................. 17 1.1. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY ..................................................... 18 1.2. HIS ACQUAINTANCES, FRIENDS, AND INFLUENCES ....................................................................... 37 1.3. HOW HIS PHILOSOPHY WAS INCORPORATED IN ACTION ................................................................................. 62 CHAPTER Nº 2 ..................................................................... 74 THOREAU AS AN ARTIST ................................................. 74 2.1. WALDEN ....................................................................... 75 2.1.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................... 75 2.1.1. ECONOMY ................................................................. 80 2.1.2. WHERE I LIVED, AND WHAT I LIVED FOR ........... 87 2.1.3. READING ................................................................... 91 2.1.4. SOUNDS ..................................................................... 93 2.1.5. SOLITUDE .................................................................. 97 2.1.6. VISITORS ................................................................. 100 2.1.7. THE BEAN FIELD .................................................... 107 2.1.8. THE VILLAGE .......................................................... 113 2.1.9. THE PONDS ............................................................. 119 2.1.10. BAKER FARM ....................................................... 129 AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 4 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” 2.1.11. HIGHER LAWS ...................................................... 135 2.1.12. BRUTE NEIGHBORS ............................................ 140 2.1.13. HOUSE WARMING ............................................... 150 2.1.14. FORMER INHABITANTS; AND WINTER VISITORS ............................................................................ 156 2.1.15. WINTER ANIMALS ................................................ 165 2.1.16. THE POND IN WINTER ......................................... 171 2.1.17. SPRING .................................................................. 179 2.1.18. CONCLUSION ....................................................... 186 2.2. A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMACK RIVERS ............................................................................... 193 2.2.1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 194 2.2.2. THE CONCORD RIVER .......................................... 197 2.2.3. SATURDAY .............................................................. 201 2.2.4. SUNDAY ................................................................... 208 2.2.5. MONDAY .................................................................. 222 2.2.6. TUESDAY ................................................................. 230 2.2.7. WEDNESDAY .......................................................... 270 2.2.8. THURSDAY .............................................................. 292 CHAPTER Nº 3 ................................................................... 337 THOREAU AS A THINKER ............................................... 337 3.1 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ................................................ 338 3.2 LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE ....................................... 352 CHAPTER Nº 4 ................................................................... 373 THOREAU’S HERITAGE ................................................... 373 4.1 HIS INFLUENCE DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY ........................................................................... 374 AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 5 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” 4.2 HIS INFLUENCE DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ........................................................................... 381 4.3 HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS POSITION TODAY 388 CHAPTER Nº 5 ................................................................... 399 CONCLUSION .................................................................... 399 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................ 404 AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 6 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” Tesis previa a la obtención del Título de Licenciada en Ciencias de la Educación, Especialidad de Lengua y Literatura Inglesa DIRECTOR: DR. ION OCEAN YOUMAN AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. CUENCA – ECUADOR 2010 AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 7 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” DEDICATORY Humility and devotion are some of my parents’ characteristics. They and my siblings have been my help and inspiration. This thesis is dedicated to them because they are always with me in good and difficult moments. The unconditional support and love, have been the most important things that Jose and Elvira have given to me to live happily every day. They are my guides and my best friends. And in a special way, I also want to dedicate this work to people who were with me during the course of this thesis. They are my dear brother, Jose, and my boyfriend, Roman. ROCIO AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 8 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES, AND LITERATURE” Effort and perseverance have been my parents’ advice. These have served me to overcome the obstacles in my life. All the time they have been the ones who guided my path and helped me to achieve my goals. I want to dedicate this work to them as gratitude for their big endeavor. But I cannot forget my loved husband, Geovanny, who was with me each moment that I needed him. He was my support. He gave me strength to continue. MAYRA AUTORAS: ROCÍO CUENCA O. MAYRA LAZO T. 9 UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN ESCUELA DE LENGUA Y LITERATURA INGLESA “HENRY DAVID THOREAU: HIS LIFE, TIMES,
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