Walden Lesson Plan

Thoreau organizes these four chapters to balance each other: solitude has balance with society; the bean-field has balance with the town. What is the importance of balance for Thoreau? How does Thoreau demonstrate in his writing style the importance of balance? How does the content of the narrative support his concept of balance?

"There is commonly sufficient space about us," Thoreau claims, and with his advocacy of simplicity and moderation, the writer suggests in form and content the beneficial concept of balance. In the first paragraph of "Solitude" (Chapter 5), the writer seeks refuge in nature. When he returns home, he discovers that visitors have come and...