American literature during the first half of the nineteenth century
             took many forms and ideas that still effect our ever so changing
             society today. Henry David Thoreau was among the notable writers
             during this time, and his impact of American literature will not soon
             be forgotten. His perseverance, love for nature, and humanitarian
             beliefs helped to mold the ideas and values of early American history.
             He was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12 in 1817. His
             parents, both abolitionists of slavery, were John and Cynthia
             Thoreau. During his childhood years his parents, along with Henry's
             older siblings John Jr. and Helen, often took the family on long walks
             though the valleys and hills of Concord. The seeds of Henry's love
             for nature were planted during this time.
             As a young school boy, at the Concord public school and later at the
             Concord Academy, many of his peers sought after him as loner who took
             everything too serious. In 1833 Henry's parents had saved enough money to
             send him off to college at Harvard University. Even though he barely passed
             the entrance exam, he would later become one of the top students in his
             graduating class. In 1836 financial and health problems forced Thoreau to
             postpone his studies at Harvard and seek a job. He taught school for a
             semester in Canton, Massachusetts and returned to Harvard in the Spring of
             1837. He took a full load of classes that Spring and Summer semesters and
             graduated in August of 1837. After graduating Thoreau had no idea what he
             wanted to do with his education. After debating over many different careers
             he finally concluded that teaching would be his calling. He landed a position
             at Center School in 1837 in Concord, however he resigned two weeks later
             after many teachers and students complained of his teaching methods and strictness in the classroom. Over the
             next year he worked many small jobs arou...