Thoreau similarities to Yeats
One of Henry David Thoreau’s main themes in his writings was discussing man and his connection to nature. Through his simple life in the woods, (discussed primarily in Walden) he was able to understand how man could live off of nature, and his experiences were often reflected throughout his highly emblematic poetry. He had gone into the woods to essentially learn from it and discover the true facts of life so he could die with a deep understanding of the often complex world around him. Thoreau, however, was not the only writer to discuss connecting with nature in his poetry. W.B. Yeats, another renowned poet, was able to speak of his personal experiences with nature in which he as well, searched for a personal enlightening truth. In Yeats’ poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, concepts quite similar to that of Thoreau were expressed through his images, metaphors, and basic ideas. Both Thoreau and Yeats are able to convey their experiences with similar images. In Walden, Thoreau talks of building a simple log cabin in which to live, leaving openings in his home to allow nature to pour in. Yeats also discusses . . .
Thoreau searches for the truths of life in nature, where he can “shave close” and fish in the shores of life. Both know how beautiful and serene a life in nature can be, for it is a break from the struggles of life. Yeats conveys reality as pavement, while Thoreau uses a sturdy foundation to represent the complex reality he once left as well. Thoreau makes a comparison between the life of a human to eternity, giving off the impression that life is far too short to waste it. Again, the tranquility of nature seems to be like the pearl in the clam, in which humans must attempt to find the beauty of nature before time has run out completely. A heart is surrounded by numerous blood vessels, bones and barriers, which makes it all that more extraordinary when you can finally get to it and understand it. Both strive for the inner peace received when being one with nature. leaving society to live in a small cabin in the woods, constructed from simple materials such as clay and wattles. His use of vivid colors and calm sounds help the reader yearn for such an experience with nature as well. The peacefulness of nature seems to be very hard to reach in such a busy, industrialized world, which makes it so much more special and beautiful when one can finally get to it and experience it to the fullest. Both are able to express the slow peacefulness that carries over once their lives have been simplified. The next time one finds themselves on a road, with cars zooming by at full speed in all directions, listen closely, and the waves of a nearby shore can be heard.
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