SOPHS-Contemporary Thoreaus--EXTRA CREDIT-POST BY MARCH 21
Perhaps you have read pp. 264-265 in your literature text, the section entitled Contemporary Thoreaus. Annie Dillard and Edward Abbey are great examples of modern Thoreau disciples.Your EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT (worth 3-5 points) is to provide another example. I'd enjoy reading about someone who is NOT famous, maybe a favorite aunt or uncle, a friend's father or mother, or perhaps a friend of your own. Tell me what makes that person like Thoreau, either in his or her lifestyle or life philosophy. If you can't provide a personal example, then do some research and write about a historical figure. If you'd like, tell me about a character in a book or movie that is "So-Thoreau."
Minimum length of 25 blog lines or 200 words for any credit.
One of my favorites is Jeremiah Johnson, a character portrayed by Robert Redford in a 1972 film. If you're a lover of the Western wilderness and don't mind movies that move at a slower pace, then give this movie a try.
posted by JTF @ 11:15 AM
18 comments
18 Comments:
I would have to say the most Thoreau-like person I have ever met would have to be my good friend Nicole. She graduated last year and now attends Penn State and she reminds me of a writer during the 1900 time period. She shares many similar Transcendentalist views as Thoreau. For example she is very open minded and always willing to listen to the opinions of other people. She has a wide view and a deep insight on religion but she doesn’t force her beliefs onto others. She is also very connected to nature on a personal level. She always worries about being environmentally friendly and she even had a job at an Earth friendly organic boutique. She strongly opposes animal testing and she believes people should rely less on man made technology and be more self reliant. I could see her living in the time period of Thoreau and being a strong supporter of his work. If she were to exist in that era I believe her lifestyle would be exactly like the one portrayed in Thoreau’s Walden. She’s very interesting and in-depth and that is why she is the first person that I think of when studying Thoreau.
When I think of Thoreau and his views and lifestyes, I think of my mom. My mom is a vey kind-hearted person. She worked with autistic children as a teacher for over twenty years. She then went on to work at Lutheran Community Services in Wilmington which helps out people with food, housing repairs, loans and also helps them quit smoking. She does not always like to be in groups, but is very leniant and goes with whatever comes at her. She much rather prefers to be alone sitting outside on our deck and reading a book. She loves to take walks and looking at nature. One of her favorite places in longwood gardens. She is also extremely involved at church. She cooks for emmanuel dinning room, is a communion assistant, a reader, an usher, and this upcoming Sunday will be her first time as an assistant minister. My mom is also concerned about animals. My mom does not eat red meat or buy fur coats. When she was younger, she had a job at Ashland Nature Center. I think my mom is an all-over good person and always tries to do her best and put others before herself. She is very intouch with her religion and with nature which is why she reminds me of Thoreau.
The first person that I think of when I think of someone in my life that is similar to Thoreau is my cousin Michelle. What makes her “So-Thoreau” to me is how much she appreciates nature and life. Although she isn’t a vegetarian she still does her part like Thoreau did. She doesn’t microwave anything and only eats organic food which is something that I think Thoreau would do if he happened to be around today. Not only that but she also finds time to go out of her busy life and connect with nature at least once a month which also reminds me of Thoreau. During the summer I’m constantly invited to outdoor adventures with her to appreciate the beauty of the world. Another key thing that reminds of Thoreau when I think of my cousin is that she is an English teacher and writes poetry. I don’t have any of her poems but I do remember reading them and they are very similar to Thoreau’s work, not in a plagiaristic way but that her poems tend to be written in the same style as Thoreau’s now that I think about it. My cousin is not exactly like Thoreau but I think that certain parts of her personality can be compared to him.
The first person that I think of when I think of someone in my life that is similar to Thoreau is my cousin Michelle. What makes her “So-Thoreau” to me is how much she appreciates nature and life. Although she isn’t a vegetarian she still does her part like Thoreau did. She doesn’t microwave anything and only eats organic food which is something that I think Thoreau would do if he happened to be around today. Not only that but she also finds time to go out of her busy life and connect with nature at least once a month which also reminds me of Thoreau. During the summer I’m constantly invited to outdoor adventures with her to appreciate the beauty of the world. Another key thing that reminds of Thoreau when I think of my cousin is that she is an English teacher and writes poetry. I don’t have any of her poems but I do remember reading them and they are very similar to Thoreau’s work, not in a plagiaristic way but that her poems tend to be written in the same style as Thoreau’s now that I think about it. My cousin is not exactly like Thoreau but I think that certain parts of her personality can be compared to him.
In my life the person I find most to be like Thoreau is my close family friend who I call Aunt Meg. The reason I think she is most like Thoreau is her simplistic way of life that she is so happy with. She has shown me that material possessions are not as important as friends and life experiences. One way she is like Thoreau is through her love of nature. She was the first person to take me on a camping trip and show me that you can still have fun without the technology we are accustomed to. It was a unique experience that I will never forget. My Aunt Meg wants to preserve nature whether it’s the beach, lake or campground. She always recycles and reminds me to do so as well. Another way my Aunt Meg is like Thoreau is in her simplistic lifestyle and how she and her family stay so grounded while living in a very privileged area. Again like Thoreau she finds joy in a simple way of life and never asks for anything more than she has. To me being able to live peacefully with nature and yourself as both my Aunt Meg and Thorough can is the greatest measure of success.
The only person I would really think to be Thoreau like is my very good friend who is basically my sister Summers. She has a heart of gold she cares about everything that could make people happier and to save the world. She does everything for everyone else. She cares about nature, she doesn't take what she has for granted. She recycles so much that she barely has any trash. She does her Google research to make sure that if she wants to buy something it has not been animal tested. She lives off of organic anything jeans, milk, you name it. She goes to camp 95% of the summer just so she can be outside enjoying nature or as she says being surrounded by all that is natural and not artificial like those girls jeans. Everything she does is for someone else she does not show off what she has. She hates the idea that people are so uninvolved with nature. How people don't think about how many grocery bags they use or when they don't even recycle a plastic bottle. She has started a recycling club at her school which promotes awareness about recycling. Summers has made sure that everyone she knows has a recycling can in their possesion or at home. She portrays the attitude of someone I would think that lived during Thoreau's time other than the fact that she doesn't wear the clothes from back then. But when I think of transcendentalism or Thoreau quite a few names pop in my head but hers is there in flashing neon lights.
In my opinion the person who is like Thoreau in my life is my best friend Alex. He is like Thoreau because of his realist and environmental ideals. As a staunch democrat in today's political society, he is highly aware of the threats of global warming. In the community he is involved in many "green" programs, that are designed to save the Earth. Along with his environmental ideals, Alex is involved with his local church. This allows him to be even more involved with community activities. Along with Alex's environmental and religious, he is a great friend that I enjoy being around. This is why I chose my best friend, Alex, to represent a modern version of Thoreau. As Alex would say, “There are more important things in life, than a big TV and a high-tech cell phone. The Earth will be here before and after man kind is extinct, we should spend every day rewarding this great planet the life she has given us.” If Thoreau was still living today, I guarantee that he and Alex would get along greatly. Their similar ideas on nature and life in general are very similar. I am almost positive that they would somewhere, some day cross paths and do something amazing for this Earth. If only it were possible, but it looks like Alex will just have to use Thoreau as an inspiration rather than a friend.
My example of somebody being so-Thoreau is my father. He is one of the most optimistic people in my life. He is also open minded. When I suggested us trying paintball he was open-minded and now is ready to go just about every weekend. He is also somebody who doesn't like new technology. If there is an option between doing something on a computer or on a new technological program and doing something on paper he will do it on paper because he trusts that more than the computer. He always says be wary of technology because there are so many things that can go wrong. A computer could crash for instance or it could just not save your work and it would be lost forever. He always says write things out first and then use the computer so in that sense he is "so-Thoreau". The transcendentalists were also very smart and I regard my father as one of the smartest people I know. He manages our families money in the stock market and he manages to find ways to make money in a weak economy. I think that my father would fit in with most transcendentalists of the time because of his views of the world.
The person who reminds me most of Thoreau is my teacher from grade school Sean. Sean reminds me of Thoreau, because he is a great writing teacher that is fun, inventive, and open-minded. At my school he was always outside during recess playing soccer, basketball, or football with us kids. Sean didn’t mind plyaing with younger kids, because he thought we were all very important. Sean loved to mountain bike and play sports. Sean was a mountain biking ethusist. Sean would mountain bike everywhere. This reminds me of Thoreau, because Sean was really in touch with nature and loved being outdoors just like the Transcendentalists. Even though Sean was a hard core mountain biker he was also a sight seer, Sean had a respect for nature like nobody else I know. Sean was inventive with his passion by giving us kids a chance to mountain bike with him during workshop week. I remember being really impressed with how he taught us to mountain bike. Sean's teaching style was not about forcing us to do well, but of making us want to do well. I think the main reason Sean is such a Thoreau like character is because he loves nature, loves to teach in a non-forceful manner, and loves kids and life.
The one person that I know that is most like Thoreau is my Great Uncle Dan Sayre. My Uncle Dan is a college educated professional, and like Thoreau he does not believe in modern technologies. He earned his degree in engineering and is also a retired military intelligence officer. He lives in a farm house in Ohio that is over one hundred years old and does not have running water. He still has an out house and gets water from the well to use for household needs and bathing. He owns acres of land, where he grows all of his own vegetables. He does not own a t.v. or computer, but is an avid reader. He is a huge gun advocate and believes no restrictions should be put on gun ownership, because it is everyone's right to own a gun. Uncle Dan is pleasant, well groomed, and holds interesting conversations. Whenever i think of my Uncle Dan i think of transcendentalism because he is the perfect example of a transcendentalist. You would never know unless you ask about his strong dislike for modern technologies, just like Thoreau.
When thinking of people who are simliar to Henry Thoreau, the first person to come to my mind would be my grandmother. She is "So-Thoreau" because she is very involved with nature and trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. My grandma is not someone you would see with the latest cell phone or the newest television. Instead, you would find her out in her garden planting flowers and vegetables. She is the leader of a gardening group at Lewes beach. My grandma plants flowers all over the town and enjoys the beauty that Earth has to offer. She is very environmentally friendly, and encourages my family to reuse our grocery bags to prevent from our landfills overflowing. She would much rather be enjoying the outdoors than staying inside watching television. My grandma is also one of the friendliest people I know, as she never pushes her ideas or beliefs on others. My grandma is very open minded. She respects and cares for everyone. My grandma loves to read books and poetry. Whenever I go to visit her, she always is reading something new. My grandma's life is more simplistic than extravagent. She believes that Earth has so much to offer us other than all the new types of technology. I think this is similar to Thoreau's lifestlye, as they both have a love for nature and lead a more simplistic style of living.
When I think of someone I know who is similar to Thoreau is my brother girl friend, Lexi. She is “So-Thoreau” in many ways. She is open minded very optimistic. Also, like Thoreau she is very in to nature and greatly enjoys it. She is very environmentally friendly as well. I believe Thoreau would be the same way. My brother and her both attend college at Virginia Tech. Very often they enjoy nature hikes and camping. Also she isn’t into religion and doesn’t go to church like Thoreau. She also has her own strong opinions about governmental issues and reforms, but she doesn’t force her beliefs upon others. Thoreau was a very intelligent man who attended college at Harvard university. Lexi is one of the smartest and intelligent people I know. Even though she uses modern technology like her lap top for college and her a cell phone, she is very self reliant and doesn’t spend more time on this technology than she needs to. She doesn’t spend time on facebook like many people do. Lexi spends her off time enjoying nature, at drawing art. Like Thoreau, she is very into her work. In many ways she is very like Thoreau and this is why I chose her.
After learning about Thoreau the person I think relates to him most is my mom. My mom is one of the kindest and most giving people I know. Although she has so many different things going on in her life she always finds time to help people. My little brother Lucas has a lot of behavior problems and learning disabilities. This has put a lot of stress on my mom. Many people would have sent him to residential living by now, but she does everything for him and never will stop trying to help him as much as she can. She also is an art teacher at Centreville School, a school for kids with learning disabilities. She loves helping them out and teaching them in different ways. Along with my brother and her job my mom is always there for me whenever I need her. I can go to her at any time and know that she will listen and give me the best advice. Like Thoreau my mom is very optimistic and never ceases looking at the bright side. I look up to my mom and her ability to be so giving to everyone in not the best circumstances.
The father of this kid I know I very much like Thoreau. He enjoys simple things in nature like hiking and camping and all that. All his children are homeschooled too, so he likes to keep things simple. I like nature but he really loves just walking miles and miles caring 60 lbs of stuff on his back. I tried doing it several times but I absolutely hated it. He went to New Mexico and hiked around 80 miles in around one and a half weeks and he said he would do it again. I almost think he is crazy but he really loves it and he does it with his kids so guess it is like they say, “whatever floats your boat.” He does everything with his kids. He home schools all three of his kids and is into boy scouts and all the sports they play so he really knows what he cares about and what matters to him. I think that is what makes him like Thoreau, because he has his priorities sorted out just like Thoreau knew exactly what he cared about and what he wanted to do. Like when he went out into the woods for two years, he knew what he was going to have to do so he did it, simplicity.
In one of my favorite books "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen the main character is so Thoreau. Bryan is a teenage boy who is stranded in the wilderness of Canada after his flight in a bush plane goes wrong. As Thoreau experienced complete nature and providing food for you self so does Bryan. He struggles to become one with nature at first but once he learns the ropes he discovers its beauty and inter workings. He describes how all the animal and fish act and how nature is one balanced being. In sequels to the book Bryan goes back to modern life but see the wrong in society similar to what Thoreau wrote of. Bryan isolates him self again, this time on purpose. He discovers that he feels at peace surrounded by the brush, and continues to explore and learn about it. I think the Author of Hatchet was influenced by the story and journals of Thoreau's time at Walden and expand into a great character.
I think my mother is similar to Thoreau in more ways than one. She enjoys being outdoors any chance she gets. She gives great advice, and others in my family have also called her a philosopher. Sometimes she indulges into luxury items, but other times she likes keeping things simple. For example, although we have a washer & dryer, we don't always use them. Especially during hot summer days, my mom and I hang clothes on the line outside. Even though she makes me, I think I would do it even if I wasn't forced. It might take a couple extra minutes, but it saves electricity. I feel like as I get older, I obtain more and more Thoreau-like characteristics from my mom. Another would be being independent. She taught me to always rely on myself and stand on my own two feet. My mom is very spiritual, just like other Transcendentalists. She constantly tells my brother and me we should always believe in ourselves because we can do anything we want to do. Although I don't believe she has ever heard of Thoreau, I'm pretty sure she would like him.
When I think of a modern-day ‘Contemporary Thoreau’, a few different people pop into my mind: my mom, my dad, my aunt, my best friends. The one that stands out more than the others would have to be my older brother Kevin. Throughout his life, he’s never been one of the people to follow the crowd; instead, he’s one of those people who strive to change the path that everyone else is headed and take as many people with him as possible. He’s always open -minded to the thoughts and feelings of those around him, and that really sticks out as a perfect role model to me. He’s also not afraid to do things that other people might find weird or abnormal (you know, like leaving your belongings to go build a cottage in the woods?) because he knows that they’re what’s best for him in the long run. These characteristics remind me of the ideas of the early Transcendentalists; caring about the world around you and what it could teach you, always seeing the good in human nature, and doing what’s best for yourself. He never ceases to surprise me, and I think that’s how the people reading early Transcendentalist’s works felt as well.
When I think who is so Thoreau I think of my grandma, Nana. She loves nature. She knew a lot about birds. She loved birds so much she had this huge book all about birds. She seemed very festinated with them. She liked watching them fly and look at them playing around in the birdbath she had on her front lawn. She also liked the bird’s colors. Not one bird look exactly alike. She also likes flowers. She liked them, but not as much for her love of birds. She would plant flowers and have flowers in the house. She like looking at them, I just wish I knew which one was her favorite. She loved the seasons because the trees changed. She liked the blossoming trees in the spring, the different color leaves during autumn, and she liked the beauty of snow-covered trees. She likes nature so much my dad planted a cherry blossom tree in the front yard in memory of her. We call it Nana’s tree. If she were a writer I know she would write about the beauty of birds and her love for them. She would say that God was good and thank him for making such beautiful things in nature for us to enjoy.
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