Walden

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from Walden over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Choose one of the recurring themes in Walden: anti-capitalism, self-reliance, the value of simplicity, change/progress, or spiritual renewal. Then choose one of the elements of Thoreau’s nature writing to discuss this theme (personal experiences in nature; the social experience of nature; a philosophy of nature; an ecological perspective of nature; language, knowledge and their relationship to the natural world; philosophy of the human; eco-social philosophy; praxis; or spirituality).

• Which theme carries the strongest message of the book, from your standpoint? (topic sentence)
• How does Thoreau use the selected nature writing element to address the theme? Provide specific examples from the text to support your ideas.  
• Finally, describe in your concluding sentence or sentences how Thoreau’s use of the nature writing element moves Walden beyond just a descriptive account of nature at Walden Pond.

2. Over the course of Walden, Thoreau treats Walden Pond as a metaphor for a) the ever-changing human spirit, and b) the co-mingling of human civilization and the natural world. Choose one of these metaphorical themes to discuss.

• What is a particular passage from Walden in which Thoreau uses Walden Pond for the selected metaphorical theme? (topic sentence)
• Discuss how Thoreau uses close observation of the pond to develop the theme. What details does he provide? What specific connections does he make?
• Finally, describe in your concluding sentences how the metaphorical theme addresses one of the elements of nature writing.

3. Thoreau’s account of his bean field and working in the field addresses all of the themes in Walden: anti-capitalism, self-reliance, the value of simplicity, change/progress, and spiritual renewal. Choose two of these themes to discuss.

• Which two themes will you discuss? (topic sentence)
• Discuss how Thoreau uses his bean field to address the selected themes. 
• Finally, use your concluding sentences to make a connection between Thoreau’s account of his bean field and one of the elements of nature writing. 

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. In both “Higher Laws” and “Baker Farm,” Thoreau’s rhetoric around simplicity becomes lofty and judgmental, positioning others as dull-witted, doomed creatures and contrastively offering himself as the model for “higher” living. Within these two chapters, find examples of Thoreau’s prejudices and write a critique of them. How does Thoreau fail to account for his privileged status? How do you think Thoreau’s prejudiced rhetoric affected the way his readers and audiences responded to his advice? 

2. Throughout the book, Thoreau demonstrates conflicted thoughts and feelings about technology and progress. Find two examples of this conflict and discuss them. How does Thoreau show that he is ambivalent about progress? From your own perspective, what are some advantages and disadvantages of the specific kinds of progress Thoreau discusses?

3. Abstaining from contact with human civilization for much of Walden, Thoreau seeks communion with animals of the woods. He quickly realizes that his “brute neighbors” have a great deal in common with their human counterparts. Find three examples in the book where Thoreau compares animals to humans. Does Thoreau seem to prefer animals over humans? Why? From your own perspective, what particular animal traits would be most beneficial to humans? Why?