Excerpt from Walden – Henry David Thoreau
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear, nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it, whether it is of the devil or of God, and have somewhat hastily concluded that it is the chief end of man here to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
You will be reading the above passage and answering both factual and personal questions related to the subject of the importance of life. When it comes to creative writing, we also want to be creative thinkers. When we look at the writing of other creative writers, we want to know-- what's going on in their heads? On the flip side, what's going on in your own mind when you write?
Comprehension Exercise
Why do you think the author wrote this? What's his purpose for being so passionate about life and its importance? In other words, what is the meaning of this passage for the author. (3 - 5 sentences)
2. What do you think the differences between living deliberately (living with the intent to experience all that you can experience, learn all that you can learn, and grow as much as possible in life), and simply going with the motions of life without going into much depth?
3. At the moment, how deeply interested in life are you? How much of it do you want to experience and know? How important is life to you?
He wrote this because he didn't want people going down the same road he did, nor did he want others to have a horrible life. He wanted to bring their spirits up and boost their energy, he was trying to tell people to have a better life. He wanted others happy, and hopefully it made him happy by making a change on life.
And he's trying to protect himself so he doesn't have to be hurt or surprised, knowing that whatever is going to scare him is right there waiting. He shut himself out to not get that scared feeling, but you constantly learn new things. and find ways to block out the bad.
I honestly want to give up, but I want to know my future with my boyfriend. He's put a smile on my face after I'll I've gone through, I want him to come to California to see what we have. our culture, our food. The most I want, is to be with me here and stay by my side. We already have a future planned out, and were slowly waiting on what's to come.
.....Mel
Why do you think the author wrote this? What's his purpose for being so passionate about life and its importance? In other words, what is the meaning of this passage for the author. (3 - 5 sentences) The author was tired of living the life he lived and because he wanted to influence other people to live a better life.
2. What do you think the differences between living deliberately (living with the intent to experience all that you can experience, learn all that you can learn, and grow as much as possible in life), and simply going with the motions of life without going into much depth?
The difference between living with intention and going with the flow of life is that you know what the consequences of our actions are and you don't know the outcome with living on the edge.
3. At the moment, how deeply interested in life are you? How much of it do you want to experience and know? How important is life to you?
We want to experience more places, cultures, and foods. We also want to live with good intentions and goals.
I think the he wrote this because he is trying to figure out an outlook on life based of personal experience.
I think the difference between the two ways of living life is that one you are bubble wrapping your self so that nothing can surprise you you arent taking risks where as living life the opposite way you take chances make mistake sand are constantly learning something.
Currently I dont take much interest in life yes I wanna know what my future is gonna be like but I dont care how far I get into the future. I look at life with the thought in my head you could live today or die tomorrow but either way make it worth it dont be basic be remembered.
1. I think the author might have wrote this because he thinks you don't always have to follow others life. You can always live a life the way "you" want to. In this case, the man wanted to live deliberately and front life for himself.
2. Honestly, this kinda reminds me of schooling. You can either attend school, or higher grade schooling to experience all you can learn. On the other hand, you can just live without going to school, and that's okay.
3. I'm pretty interested in seeing my future, not necessarily life. I'd say that there's lots of life I want to experience in life, like being a father for example. Even though it might not seem like it, neither do I act like it, I feel life is important to me. Life pretty important to everyone actually. Everyone plays their role in life, everyone's important one way or another.
I believe the author wrote this because he wanted to be heard and he wanted to tell his story.
The difference between the two is that one your pushing yourself and reaching your high expectations, and the other your just letting the days pass and just waiting for something to come.
At the moment i am deeply interested in my life and i would like to do good and succeed, i want a lot in life and only i can make it happen which means i have to push through the bad and the darkness.
1. The author wrought it because he wanted others to read about his experiences.
2. Okay so I like to simply go with the motions of life. I don't really over think things, sometimes it's a bad things but other times it's a good thing. Living deliberately and living by the motions are to very different things, when you live deliberately you live to do everything, you want to see and experience everything. When you live by the motions you kind of just go along with life, you have wants but they will be achieved when you have the time for it.
3. Okay this question is a heard one... I want to do a lot in my life I want to be able to experience things. And life is very important to me, I don't want to take it advantage but I also don't want to live without really experiencing things, I mean I only live ones.
1: The author wrought this because of the fact he is trying to prove a point
2: I sometimes just go with the flow cause it is gonna matter at some point so i sometimes go with the flow and sometimes i think of what i wanna do
3: I think if you throw your life away just because it's dark or bad or things aren't so good right now you'll miss on other things you wanna try to do most of the time