Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Intro

[In 1839, two years after he had graduated from college,

Thoreau and his brother made a river voyage in a boat they had built with their own hands. That voyage aws the basis for Thoreaus's first book, which he published at his own expsnse in 1849. Of the 1000 copies published, about 215 were sold, 75 given away and the rest stored in Thoreau's chamber. It took him several years to repay the debt he had incurred in his first book venture.]

Concord River

"I had often stood on the banks of the Concord, watching the lapse of the current,

an emblem of all progress, following the same law withing the system, with time, and all that is made; the weeds at the bottom gently bending down the stream, shaken by the watery wind, still planted where their seends had sunk, but ere long to die and go down likewise; the shining pebbles, not yet anxious to better their condition, the chips and weeds, and the occasional logs and stems of trees, that floated past, fulfilling their fate, were objects of singlular interest to me, and at last I resolved to launch myself on its bosom, and float wither it would bear me."

Saturday

Saturday begins with the launch of their boat that they made by hand. Thoreau describes the plant and animal life he sees and by nightfall, the brothers have ledt civilization.

"We seemed to be embarked on the placid current of our dreams, floating from past to future as silently as one awakes the fresh morning or evening thoughts."

Sunday

On Sunday Thoreau contemplates nature and meditation and poetry.

"What would we not give for some great poem to be read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery..."

Monday

Thoreau expresses transcendence and oneness with the universe.

"When the first light dawned on the earth, and the birds awoke, and the brave river was heard rippling confidently seaward and the nimble early rising wind rustled the oak leaves about our tent, all men, having rinforced their bodies and their souls eith sleep, and cast aside doubt and fear, were invited to unattempted adventures.

Tuesday

Thoreau remembers climbing Mt. Greylock.

"If a person lost would conclude that after all he is not lost, he is not beside himself, but standing in his own old shoes on the very same spot where he is, and that for the time being he will live there, but the places that have known him, they are lost--how much anxiety and danger would vanish. I am not alone if I stand by myself. Who knows where in space this globe is rolling? Yet we will not give ourselves up for lost, let it go where it will."

WEdnesday

Thoreau writes about friendship.

"As I love nature, as I love singing birds, and gleaming stubble, and flowing rivers, and morning and evening and summer and winter, I love thee, my friend."

Thursday

Thoreau hikes.

"Nature is God's art, which man's art can never match."

Friday

Thoreau and his brother row upstream towards home.

Thoreau thinks about death and immortality.

"Silence is the ultimate refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses

and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chargin, as welcome

after disappointment; that background which the painter may not

daub, be he master or bungler..."

A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi