An autumn journey : time, place, and pattern in Henry David Thoreau's later work

Abstract

This thesis situates a discussion of Thoreau's later natural history essays in the context of the author's other writings. Beginning with an examination of the writings of Thoreau's friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, this paper examines Thoreau's relation to and departure from Emerson's understanding of time, place, and pattern in nature. Through a close reading of Thoreau's journal entries and natural history essays, this thesis follows Thoreau's development as a naturalist and examines the relationship between his natural history writings and the American transcendentalist movement.