Ch 13 Walden Notes

Ch 13 Walden Notes

1. When the winter is gradually coming, Thoreau insulates his house with sand, mortar, and plaster. He gathers some nuts and fruits. He then criticizes how society calls confinement hospitality. He said when someone goes to another’s house, the host makes sure they are the largest distance from them, and they call that hospitality. He says it’s more like social confinement. He would rather be close to his guests and that is why he loves his house to be small and everything is in one room; no secrets from anyone.

   • The struggle of preparing his house for the winter shows his connection with nature. He even calls fire his friend. He thinks about having a big house, but then concludes that it is ironic how having your guests far from you is considered hospitable if there is barely any interaction.

2. Since winter is here, the pond is freezing up and a layer of ice forms above the surface. Thoraeu studies the ice, its opacity, and the bubbles that form between the ice. He also records the date the pond freezes over completely. He then goes on to talk about collecting firewood to keep warm. He mentions how society really cannot live without wood, and even during the times of King Nebuchadnezzar, they used really high quality wood. Normally he would leave the fire going in his house, but his linen caught on fire once. He extinguished it before major damage was done, but he was upset because he liked looking into the fire. He says you can always see a face in it.

   • Readers can infer that nature has become a friend to Thoreau. He appreciates it, studies it, and even personifies it to be a companion to him (the fire). Thoreau also shares a need for firewood and relates himself to society in this chapter.