Journal 11

Journal 11 - Selections from Walden   

Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.

“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)

He talks about him spending time in the forest and his experiences. The technology has lead to a disconnect of people having face to face conversations. People think they are becoming more connected, but have 500 facebook friends doesn’t mean you have that many in real life. Techonology leads to not all good things because some people use it in more than moderation.

Quote: “We do not ride on the railroad, the railroad rides on us”

“Sounds” (234)

This talks about the sounds of nature. The narrator is watching nature from morning  to night time. He does not think that it is a waste of time because he is admiring the changes of the world around him. He is living in the present time, not thinking about the past or the future. He realizes how beautiful nature is and how important it is to the entire world as a whole. Nature’s sounds can be soothing and relaxing to those who actually take the time to listen.

Quote: “I had this advantage, at least, in my mode of life, over those who were obliged to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theatre, that my life itself was become my amusement and ceased to be a novel.”

“Brute Neighbors” (235)

This passage uses the symbolism of ants to show how people interact. People fight over stupid, miniscule things that lead to the death of people. The brutality of war is immense, and the author thinks that it is humerous to watch the red and black ants fight over a pile of wood. He realizes how similar it is to humans fighting over land, and uses the passage to relate human war to their war.

            Quote: “And the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those whom it comcerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill”

“The Pond in Winter” (237)

A pond in winter freezes over, with the beautiful life underneath it. Nature has beauty, and it is always going to be there. The pond looks like it is calm and at rest, but there is life teeming underneath of it. There is new beauty added to it because it is newly frozen.

Quote: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head”

“Spring” (238)

Every thing flourishes during the spring time. The sounds and smells begin to overwhelm all the senses. Spring gives people more energy and makes them feel renewed because of all of its beauty. Spring is the best time of year because of all the great life that it brings about.

Quote: “The coming in of sring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”