《瓦尔登湖》中的隐士情怀

安徽 周艳霞

《瓦尔登湖》一书为梭罗隐居瓦尔登湖畔时所写。 《瓦尔登湖》向我们展示了瓦尔登湖畔美不胜收的风景，记录了作家隐居生活的点滴。

体裁6 分钟书评★★★建议用时文章词数344难度

1By the author Henry David Thoreau， Walden was published in 1854. It is an account of the experiences of Thoreau over two years，two months， and two days. It is set in Massachusetts in a woodland that Ralph Waldo， his mentor， owned and also where Thoreau built his cabin.

2The book is largely structured around the seasonal changes that Thoreau observed during his two years at Walden Pond. It takes a huge focus on the season changes， and they structure his days there， which were filled with things most of us would never take the time or the opportunity to do， like farming and observing different plants and animals that inhabited the area.

3Nonetheless， Walden is a difficult book to read for three reasons. First， it was written by a gifted writer who uses surgically precise language， long and complex paragraphs and sentences， and vivid， detailed， and insightful descriptions. Second， its logic is based on a different understanding of life， quite contrary to what most people would call common sense. And third， quite often any words would fail to express many of Thoreau's insights into truth. Thoreau must use non-literal （非字面意义的） language to express his ideas， and the readers must read beyond the lines.

4Relatively neglected during Thoreau's lifetime， Walden achieved tremendous popularity in the 20th century. Thoreau's description of the physical act of living day by day at Walden Pond gave the book authority，while his command of a clear，straightforward，but elegant style helped raise it to the level of a literary classic. Quotes from Walden like “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”，“If a man does not keep pace with his companions，perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer”and so on are often repeated.

5If you wish to live a boring and conventional life， Thoreau is not for you. If you wish to experience life， then you will find that Thoreauvian insight can free up your time，energy， and possibilities. Maybe， you could also be a hermit like Thoreau when you finish the book.

Reading Check

Ⅰ. Complete the following table with only one word for each blank

The hermit thoughts in Walden Brief introduction Theme Evaluation &5.Impacts 10.❖ Author: Henry David Thoreau❖ Publication: It was published in 1854.❖ Content: Walden narrates Thoreau's 1.at Walden Pond.❖ 2.: Walden is set in a woodland that Thoreau's mentor owned and also where Thoreau built his cabin.❖ Walden mainly focuses on the 3.changes that Thoreau observed during his two years at Walden Pond.❖ Walden includes things normal people would always 4.to do.❖ Walden is difficult to read.√ Walden is written in a 6.language.√ The logic of Walden is based on a 7.understanding of life.√ The author must use non-literal language to express his ideas.❖ Thoreau's description of the physical act of daily living at Walden Pond gave the book 8..❖ Thoreau's command of a clear， straightforward， but elegant style helped raise the book to the level of a literary classic.❖ Some quotes from Walden are still 9.nowadays.Thoreauvian insight may make it possible to experience life instead of living a worldly life.

Ⅱ. Critical thinking

As a civilian in a more social society today， what do you think of Thoreau's life as a hermit? Which kind of life do you prefer， a hermit life or a more social life? Why?

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Language Study

近日，疯狂英语杂志社正在举行主题为“My favorite book”的征文比赛。 请给杂志社写一篇短文，介绍你最喜欢的一本书。 内容要点：

1. 书的名字；

2. 喜欢的原因；

3. 书的简介。

注意：

1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

My favorite book