Henry David Thoreau

•Best known for Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to the government in moral opposition to an unjust state.

•Born in Concord, MA to John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar in1817•Father, John, was a pencil maker•His maternal grandfather, Asa Dunbar, was known for leading Harvard's 1766 student “Bread and Butter Rebellion”, the first recorded student protest in the United States•Classically educated at Harvard

Operated a school with his brother, John, until John’s death from lockjaw

Thoreau returned home to Concord, where he became friends with Emerson who took a paternal and at times patronizing interest in Thoreau

Of the many prominent authors who lived in Concord, Thoreau was the only town native.

•From 1841-1844, Thoreau joined the Emerson household to serve as the children’s tutor, editorial assistant, and repair man/gardener. •For a few months in 1843, he moved to the home of William Emerson in New York, tutoring the family sons while writing •Thoreau returned to Concord and worked in his family's pencil factory, which he would continue to do for most of his adult life

•Thoreau embarked on a two-year experiment in simple living on July 4, 1845•The house was not in wilderness but at the edge of town, 1.5 miles from his family home• Thoreau refused to pay taxes because of his opposition to the Mexican-American War and slavery, and he spent a night in jail because of this refusal

•Left Walden Pond on September 6, 1847 •2 years, 2 months, 2 days•Over several years, he worked to pay off his debts revised his manuscript• In 1854, he published Walden, or Life in the Woods, the time he had spent at Walden Pond. The book compresses that time into a single calendar year, using the passage of four seasons to symbolize human development. •Walden at first won few admirers, but today it is regarded as a classic that explores natural simplicity, harmony, and beauty as models for just social and cultural conditions.

•He died on May 6, 1862 at the age of 44.•Originally buried in the Dunbar family plot, he and members of his immediate family were eventually moved to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord

Quotes:-Be not simply good; be good for something.

-If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right…Men

will believe what they see. Let them see.

-Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth! (seen as first environmentalist)

-If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. (individuality)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

•Born in BostonBorn in Boston•Son of the a Unitarian minister in a Son of the a Unitarian minister in a famous line of ministersfamous line of ministers•Emerson's father died less than two Emerson's father died less than two weeks before his 8th birthdayweeks before his 8th birthday•At fourteen, Emerson went to At fourteen, Emerson went to Harvard College where waited Harvard College where waited tables at Commons, a dining hall at tables at Commons, a dining hall at Harvard and supplemented Harvard and supplemented complement by teaching during the complement by teaching during the winter vacationwinter vacation

•After graduation, Emerson made After graduation, Emerson made his living as a schoolmasterhis living as a schoolmaster•Went back to Harvard Divinity Went back to Harvard Divinity School, became Unitarian minister School, became Unitarian minister in 1829in 1829•A dispute with church officials led A dispute with church officials led to his resignation in 1832to his resignation in 1832•Formulated and first expressed Formulated and first expressed the philosophy of the philosophy of Transcendentalism in his 1836 Transcendentalism in his 1836 essayessay•His first wife, Ellen Louisa His first wife, Ellen Louisa Tucker, died of tuberculosis at 19Tucker, died of tuberculosis at 19

• In 1835, Emerson bought a house in In 1835, Emerson bought a house in ConcordConcord

• Married his second wife Lydia Jackson Married his second wife Lydia Jackson • Children were Waldo, Ellen, Edith, and Children were Waldo, Ellen, Edith, and

Edward Waldo EmersonEdward Waldo Emerson• Ellen was named for his first wife, at the Ellen was named for his first wife, at the

suggestion of Lydiasuggestion of Lydia

•In 1838 he was invited back to Harvard for In 1838 he was invited back to Harvard for the graduation address the graduation address •His remarks outraged and shocked the His remarks outraged and shocked the whole Protestant community at the time whole Protestant community at the time because he proclaimed that Jesus was a great because he proclaimed that Jesus was a great man, but not God man, but not God •He was denounced as an atheist He was denounced as an atheist •By the mid-1880s his position had become By the mid-1880s his position had become standard Unitarian doctrinestandard Unitarian doctrine•Emerson made a living as a popular lecturer Emerson made a living as a popular lecturer in the country outside of the South because of in the country outside of the South because of his anti-slavery positionhis anti-slavery position

.

•Emerson associated with Nathaniel Hawthorne and Emerson associated with Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau •The land on which Thoreau built his cabin on The land on which Thoreau built his cabin on Walden Pond belonged to Emerson and he provided Walden Pond belonged to Emerson and he provided food and hired Thoreau to perform odd jobs food and hired Thoreau to perform odd jobs •Their close relationship fractured after Emerson gave Their close relationship fractured after Emerson gave Thoreau the poor advice to publish his first bookThoreau the poor advice to publish his first book•Eventually the two would reconcile some of their Eventually the two would reconcile some of their differences, although Thoreau privately accused differences, although Thoreau privately accused Emerson of having drifted from his original Emerson of having drifted from his original philosophyphilosophy•Emerson began to view Thoreau as a misanthrope Emerson began to view Thoreau as a misanthrope Emerson's eulogy to Thoreau is largely credited with Emerson's eulogy to Thoreau is largely credited with the latter's negative reputation during the 19the latter's negative reputation during the 19 thth century. century.

•Emerson is buried in Sleepy Hollow Emerson is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery inCemetery in ConcordConcord

Quotes:Quotes:-A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he -A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. is braver five minutes longer.

-I hate quotations. Tell me what you know. (think -I hate quotations. Tell me what you know. (think for yourself)for yourself)

-The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we -The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons. counted our spoons.