Question

According to this excerpt from Walden, in which subject area did the transcendentalist thinker Thoreau most likely find his inspiration? This small lake was of most value as a neighbor in the intervals of a gentle rain-storm in August, when, both air and water being perfectly still, but the sky overcast, mid-afternoon had all the serenity of evening, and the wood thrush sang around, and was heard from shore to shore. A lake like this is never smoother than at such a time; and the clear portion of the air above it being, shallow and darkened by clouds, the water, full of light and reflections, becomes a lower heaven itself so much the more important. From a hill-top near by, where the wood had been recently cut off, there was a pleasing vista southward across the pond, through a wide indentation in the hills which form the shore there, where their opposite sides sloping toward each other suggested a stream flowing out in that direction through a wooded valley, but stream there was none. That way I looked between and over the near green hills to some distant and higher ones in the horizon, tinged with blue.

Answer 1

Answer:

Thoreau’s writing style is reflective and includes vivid descriptions based on his keen observations of nature. He uses detailed imagery as well as metaphors, such as when he compares the calm lake to heaven, to describe the setting of Walden. The use of imagery and metaphors helps to highlight nature’s beauty, deepen the meaning of the text, and emphasize how important nature is to humanity.-from plato

Explanation:

suggested answer

Answer 2

First of all, you want something that is true all year around, not just in August. 
Second you need something that is a bit mystic or unusual.

Keeping those 2 points in mind, I would pick the sentence beginning "From a hill top nearby ..." The end of the sentence says that it looked like there should have been a stream, but there was none. Pretty interesting (not spooky). All of the sentences could be used, and all have their suggestions of the mystic and very much in keeping with your question. However good as the first sentence is, I would still choose the one I quoted.