American Literature :: essays papers

American Literature American literary productions during the first half of the nineteenth century took many forms and ideas that still stamp our ever so changing society today. Henry David Thoreau was among the notable writers during this time, and his bear on of American literature will not soon be forgotten. His perseverance, esteem for nature, and humanitarian beliefs helped to mold the ideas and values of early American history. He was natural in match, Massachusetts on July 12 in 1817. His parents, both abolitionists of slavery, were fast one and Cynthia Thoreau. During his childhood years his parents, along with Henrys older siblings bath Jr. and Helen, often took the family on long walks though the valleys and hills of Concord. The seeds of Henrys love for nature were planted during this time. As a young school day boy, at the Concord public school and later at the Concord Academy, many of his peers sought after him as loner who took everything too serious. In 1 833 Henrys parents had saved enough money to send him morose to college at Harvard University. Even though he barely passed the entrance exam, he would later become one of the top students in his graduating class. In 1836 financial and health problems forced Thoreau to postpone his studies at Harvard and seek a job. He taught school for a semester in Canton, Massachusetts and returned to Harvard in the Spring of 1837. He took a full load of classes that Spring and Summer semesters and graduated in August of 1837. After graduating Thoreau had no idea what he wanted to do with his education. After debating over many different careers he finally cogitate that teaching would be his calling. He landed a position at Center School in 1837 in Concord, however he resigned devil weeks later after many teachers and students complained of his teaching methods and strictness in the classroom. oer the next year he worked many small jobs around Concord, and as well as became friends with Ralp h Waldo Emerson. The elder Emerson influenced Thoreau in his belief in Transcendentalism. Thoreau was indelibly marked by his mentors philosophy (Sanborn 122). In 1838 Henry and his brother conjuring trick started their own public school in Concord. John taught English and math, age Henry taught science and foreign languages. The brothers had completely different teaching methods and often times came at odds with each other.