The surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels. How worn and
dusty, then, must be the highways of the world, how deep the ruts of tradition and conformity! I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not wish to go below now. Which best describes the purpose of the imagery in the excerpt?
It illustrates Thoreau's goal to continue exploring the world around him in a unique and fulfilling way.
Explanation:
The excerpt we are studying here was taken from Thoreau's "Walden", a book in which he narrates his experience of living, simply and solitary, in a cabin in the woods for some time. This excerpt, as a matter of fact, belongs to the books conclusion. From it, we can gather that Thoreau has the purpose of exploring the world, finding fulfillment in doing so. To express that, he uses imagery - a literary device in which authors appeal to the five senses, providing vivid descriptions. He compares the experience of exploring the world in a philosophical way to the experience of exploring it physically. We can visualize the boat, Thoreau traveling on the deck instead of in a cabin, truly seeing, taking in what the world has to show.
