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