Friends... they cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams.

                                                                                               Henry David Thoreau

Experience EDSITEment’s new interactive, Thoreau’s Circle: Who’s Who in Transcendentalism, which introduces students to Henry David Thoreau, his retreat in the woods by Walden Pond and his connections with leading members of the transcendental movement. 

Invite your students to explore Walden Pond getting to know Thoreau and his literary neighbors in Concord, Massachusetts including Louisa May Alcott, of Little Women fame!

Later students may want to follow Thoreau for a stroll “through the powdery snow, warmed by an inward heat....”   These words come from an essay he published in 1843, in the transcendentalist literary magazine the Dial, "A Winter Walk" is available from EDSITEment reviewed Library of America Story of the Week.  By that time, Thoreau had developed “his naturalistic writing in the direction it later took in Walden” according to the EDSITEment-reviewed resource Poetry Foundation’s - biographical entry on Thoreau.

For more background check out these EDSITEment-reviewed resources:

Thoreau Reader Annotated works of Henry David Thoreau and an extensive resource list on his life and works. Teaching Thoreau feature with further resources.

The Writings of Henry David Thoreau funded by NEH which provides, for the first time, accurate texts of Thoreau's complete works: his writings for publication, his Journal, his correspondence, and other uncollected papers. Reflections on Walden, written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Thoreau's move to Walden Pond. Tune into this Brief Video of Walden Pond

American Transcendentalism Web  A collection of critical essays on the principles of the American transcendentalist movement, including its roots & influences and authors & texts.

American Writers A Journey through History. For insight into Emerson and Thoreau and a first-hand look at Walden Pond tune into the C Span video, On the Writing of Emerson and Thoreau.  

The Louisa May Alcott Society ,a scholarly organization devoted to her life and works.  NEH funded PBS documentary, Louisa May Alcott, the Real Woman Who Wrote Little Women, provides a multimedia resource for students.

My aunt's favorite quote which she included on my high school graduation card comes from Thoreau's time at Walden, "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." from the chapter "Economy."

Shelley

EDSITEment