Background: In our literature class we will be reading about Henry David Thoreau’s experience on Walden’s Pond. He went there to
test the writer Emerson’s beliefs about self-reliance. Living in self-isolation for over a year changed his viewpoint and mindset about: the importance of self-reliance; the power of simple living; and how human progress is just an illusion. Thoreau chose to live alone, rarely seeing anyone, for over a year. Think about your time in quarantine. This was the first time in about 100 years that we as a society had been asked to “Stay at Home”. Essential Questions - Think about these questions prior to moving onto the task below as these questions can also be addressed within your response.
- Is there a difference between Self-imposed isolation (Thoreau) and imposed isolation (you)?
- Does CO VID 19 isolation simplify any aspects of your life?
The Task:
1) Consider the following:
● What kind of positive events/feelings/experiences came out of your social isolation?
● Did these help you to reflect on the simpler things in life?
● Did you have to rely more on yourself and not the outside world?
● Or, did you fall more into technology because of this?
● What positives can you take away from this experience?
● Do you have a new outlook on society and what is important?
2) In a paragraph (5-8 sentences) reflect on your own experience in the past year and compare your experience to Thoreau’s experience in Walden. Find at least two quotes from “Walden” (Journeys in Literature pg. 98-106) to show how Thoreau’s isolation experiment compares to your experience.
Read every day, look up words you don't know the meaning of, learn roots, keep a journal with the new words, use new words after you've learned the meaning for them.
Individual Rights and Community Responsibilities Today, citizenship requires that people be knowledgeable about public issues and possess the capacity to work toward solution by acting together. History records voluntary actions by private citizens working together to right injustices, change directions and pursue benefits for the common good.
If something's tainted, it's ruined or spoiled. If you leave milk on the counter overnight, it could be tainted. But a charity that uses its funds to buy board members tropical vacations could also be considered tainted. The adjective tainted describes a person or thing that's been touched by rot or corruption.
