chapter three, "reading"

chapter three, "reading"

1. POWER OF LITERATURE

   • Thoreau believes that literature is immortal through generations change, the truths they speak remains the same. Therefore, he believes that reading classic English literature, works of which are the “noblest recorded thoughts of man” could unite all those striving for high intellect and broaden their senses. Thoreau believes that literature unites ancient men to modern men and wrote, “the symbol of an ancient man's thought becomes a modern man's speech” and that, “we must laboriously seek the meaning of each word and line, conjecturing a larger sense than common use permits out of what wisdom and valor and generosity we have” (Thoreau 50-52). Literature was not for the weak and feeble minded as he believed. It took a real man to understand the ins and outs of literature.
     • though he was busy all Sumer planting crops, he never stopped learning and teaching himself and keeping himself occupied with literature.
     • is he being sexist when he refers to the mother tongue as immature and easy while he says the father tongue isn't for the feeble minded?

2. GREAT POETS

   • Thoreau's views of the “great poets” in comparison to average readers have an superior and elitist tone because he believes that only great poets can understand the true meaning of literature. He says that, “The works of the great poets have never yet been read by mankind, for only great poets can read them” (Thoreau 52). He further compares all others to four year olds reading immature pieces of literature. Therefore he deemed everyone who does not have his skills incompetent. This makes “great poets” sound elite, or elevated, in comparison to the rest of society.
     • not everyone has the mental capacity to understand the complexities of good poetry.

3. SYMBOLISM

   • STARS
     • Thoreau believes that classic literature is too elevated for the masses and misunderstood for its true meaning. He gives the stars a metaphorical meaning comparing them to classic literature- both being the most divine, eternal, and unreachable inanimate objects. In comparison to the stars, Thoreau states, “The works of the great poets have never yet been read by mankind, for only great poets can read them. They have only been read as the multitude read the stars, at most astrologically, not astronomically” (Thoreau 52).
       • just as the stars are only understood by a select few astronomers, classic literature is only truly understood by the great poets, of which he considers himself as well.
       • the masses are too focused other routine life to learn as he believes.
   • VEILS
     • Thoreau uses the veil in a metaphorical manner to enhance his comparison. There is an understanding that divinity is forever and cannot be created nor destroyed. Thoreau says, “The Oldest Egyptian or Hindu philosopher raised a corner of the veil from the statue of the divinity;... No dust has settled on that robe; no time has elapsed since that divinity was revealed” (Thoreau 50). This is meant to foreshadow that very few people truly understand the meaning of being educated and truly knowledgeable of the literature world. This can enlighten the men because it also represents marriage, another start at life and a clean slate.
       • claims it is a separation of the layer of ignorance that is contained in all of humanity versus how the world can be perceived.

4. EVIDENCE

   • "To be intoxicated by a single glass of wine;I have experienced this pleasure when I have drunk the liquor of the esoteric doctrines." (Thoreau 111)
   • If we will read newspapers, why not ship the gossip of Boston and take the best newspaper in the world at once ? (Thoreau 122)