e with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. (chapter 18, p217)” Such an idea can relate to anyone, no matter their age, class, or race. Thoreau also uses the word “we” to put himself on the same level with his audience. “Truly we are deep thinkers, we are ambitious spirits! (chapter 18, p220)” His clear, articulate ideas relate closely to life and can be understood without complication even 150 years after being written.As a naturalist, Thoreau takes time to describe the beauty around him while at Walden Pond. He uses many similes and metaphors for a natural effect including, “It is a vitreous greenish blue, as I remember it, like those patches of the winter sky seen through cloud vistas in the west before sundown(Chapter 9, p122)” when describing Walden Pond. The essay entitle “The Ponds” is used mostly to illustrate Walden Pond and other ponds surrounding the area. These vivid descriptions allow the reader to clearly visualize the magnificence of the natural world. Though many say a picture is worth a thousand words, words can be worth a thousand pictures. Thoreau takes an artistic approach to his writing with a certain flow to make his novel as beautiful as a painting. Walden fits Thoreau’s statement about the classics being the noblest recorded thoughts of man and the works of art nearest to life itself. He achieves this through his use of relevance, universality, and beauty. Many paintings can not explain the artists exact thoughts, however the written work can give an articulate explanation of how the author felt when he was writing. Thoreau’s exact thoughts on life are captured in his words for people to read centuries later. These readers can be greatly inspired by such a classic, which serves Thoreau’s statement on the classics perfectly. ...
