Day 1

Walden Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    What is the purpose of the image of the slave, which recurs throughout this chapter?

    Thoreau evokes the image of the slave as a rhetorical device, referring to the "enslavement" that men subject themselves to in deference to consumerism. Students should consider Thoreau's position on slavery and how it may inform his use of this rhetorical device.

  2. 2

    What are the guiding principles for Thoreau when considering a life of economy?

    Simplicity and practicality are crucial for Thoreau's concept of economy. What guides him is a desire to model the process of releasing oneself from the modern values of consumerism. He values self-sufficiency and...

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