ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Thoreau was a big fan of Emerson and was amazed by his works – particularly one of his books titled ‘Nature. ‘ Thoreau’s ideals clicked with that Emerson’s and all he wanted to do was to connect with him. A few months later, Emerson started noticing the rather amateur works of Thoreau and a few others and liked them.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 1833, he attended Harvard College where he met the American philosopher and transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson who influenced Thoreau with his ideas. One of his most renowned works, “Walden or Life in the Woods” (1854), was written during his stay in a cabin built on the land owned by Emerson.

Detailed explanation-3: -Thoreau was Emerson’s muse; “Self-Reliance” (1841) was inspired by the younger Concordian (“I admire this perennial threatening attitude, ” he would write soon after “Self-Reliance” was published), and Emerson was constantly jotting down Thoreau’s phrases and cast-off ideas eventually to work them up into a lecture.

Detailed explanation-4: -Henry David Thoreau, writer, surveyor, Transcendentalist and close friend of Emerson. He was a member of the Transcendental Club and contributed to The Dial regularly. Thoreau lived with the Emersons at different times, and built his cabin on Emerson’s land at Walden Pond.