Question

What do the descriptions of Emerson’s gravestone compared to Thoreau’s gravestone suggest about how each man was viewed by the public at the time of his death?

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Emerson's gravestone is a large monument characterized by a large and imposing stone on which his name, date of birth, date of death and the phrase "The passive master lent his hand to the vast soul that over him planed. " All the delicacy and grandeur that Emerson's gravestone presents shows how he was a beloved writer by society and how his death was felt and accepted with regret.

Thoreau's gravestone, on the other hand, presents itself very differently, it is not imposing and large like Emerson's, but it is presented in a reduced size and with a stone where only the word "Henry" is written and just it. This shows that Thoreau was not so well liked by the population and his death did not cause so much commotion and regret, probably due to the positions he had on politics and society.