Okay- let's try this again :)
Select a 1-2 sentence quote from Civil Disobedience and discuss/describe/label Thoreau's tone. Do NOT just explicate or interpret the quote. I am asking you to go one step further to identify how the writer feels about his subject. That is to say, how do his words/sentence structure reveal his attitude about the topic at hand?
Again- be sure to include proper citation. Example: (Thoreau 258).
“The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think is right” (Thoreau, 259).
ReplyDeleteThe tone of this sentence is very independent and confident. Thoreau knows in his heart without a doubt that if he feels something is right, then he has the right to do it. The confidence seems to just get greater with each word. Another tone this sentence might have is the tone of unselfishness. Thoreau wants to help the people whenever he feels it is right. So to conclude this sentence shows me the tone of unselfishness and confidence.
I do agree that he is confident, however- it seems he may be a bit selfish. After all, his only duty is to himself? What about his fellow man?
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ReplyDelete"When I meet a government which says to me, 'Your money or your life,' why should I be in haste to give it my money?" (Thoreau 260).
ReplyDeleteThoreau mostly protests the laws his government enforces because he believes they are unjust, which he conveys through this quote by using a challenging tone. The phrase "Your money or your life" sounds angry and blunt in comparison to "Why should I be in haste to give it my money?" which is calm but skeptical in order to convince people to defend their ideas, even when it means disobeying the law. His confidence also shows in his writing as he portrays the government as large and powerful but still questions how they deal with protesters, all while using tone to influence others to think more deeply about who they should be listening to.
Alex- very good, very thoughtful.
Delete“But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government” (Thoreau 258).
ReplyDeleteFrom this quote, it can be inferred that the tone of “Civil Disobedience” is that Thoreau is annoyed with the American government, but not the idea of government and order. The government does great things, like keeping criminals in order. But sometimes the government holds society back, and violates them in absurd ways. Thoreau is upset with these ideas and wants what governments are supposed to be, by the people, and truly for the people. Thoreau wants a government, but a good one, not the one he has.
Angelica- I do agree that generally Thoreau does seem annoyed- however, where do you see that in the quote you provided? Be sure your analysis matches the text you pick.
Delete"Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage"(Thoreau 258). Thoreau speaks volumes through this one sentence. Thoreau's tone in this sentence is one of anger and aggravation. He is angry at how Governments throughout human history have used people tremendously with no conscience. Also, he is aggravated because humans have ignorantly allowed this to happen to them through the years and no on has caught on to different Government's schemes. Thoreau catches on to what has happened to people and voices his opinion in this sentence.
ReplyDeleteClement- this is excellent! Very observant.
Delete" That governemnt is best which governs not at all" (Thoreau 258).
ReplyDeleteThe tone of this sentence is hostility. Thoreau states how a government that has morals and is open to the needs of the people is better. However, the government he knew did not have this. He was against the government and felt that they needed to strive for more. In addition, he feels the people should not be forced to obey someone of a high power. He views the government as something that is not bringing a strong end result. In his eyes the system is unjust.
Natalie- it seems that you need to include a longer quote. You make a lot of insightful comments, but they don't all seem to be supported by that sentence.
DeleteAlso- where is he hostile in that sentence? Support seems to be lacking here.
Matt Sutton
ReplyDelete"It (the american government) is a wooden gun to the people themselves." The tone of this sentence is negativity. Thoreau explains vital information through this single sentence. The sentence is stated almost with some hostility towards the way our government is run. This quote means that although the government should be feared, like a wooden gun it shows no real threat to the people. He feels that the government should not force things onto the people.
Matt- does Thoreau just feel negative, or is it more complicated than that? What does he feel negative about? Clarify your response.
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ReplyDelete"There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly" (Thoreau 261). The tone of this sentence is one of almost self-imposed intellectual superiority. Even just the way that Thoreau has chosen to phrase the idea seems condescending. Through his words, Thoreau is showing that he feels that he knows more than the government, and until they look at things from his perspective there will never be what he earlier referred to as a 'better government".
ReplyDeleteKelly- much more clear than your last response. Is Thoreau condescending, or does he think that the State condescends to the people?
Delete"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (Thoreau 258). Thoreau expresses his anger towards the government through this quote. He has a very negative tone while writing Civil Disobedience. He is upset about how government is ran and he thinks people in government bully citizens. They take money from citizens to pay for things that they don't have a say in.
ReplyDeleteMax- good start. I'm not sure I see anger here though. Where do you see it?
DeleteSahiba Bansal
ReplyDelete"Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?" (Thoreau 258). Thoreau is expressing his wanting for an equal government. He wishes there to be a government that not only says what's right or wrong, but will look at the personal level in some situations.
Sahiba- You do interpret the quote, but you don't address tone. Be sure that your response stays on prompt.
Delete"I saw that the State was half-witted, that it was timid as a long woman with her silver spoons, and that it did not know its friends from its foes, and I lost all my remaining respect for it, and pitied it."(Thoreau, 259).
ReplyDeleteThoreau assumes a rather pessimistic perspective in "Civil Disobedience", exploiting the government for it's impurities in this quote. While Thoreau was in jail, he realized how foolish man was, and that the government, also run by man, was ignorant and near-sighted. He calls the State half-witted, establishing his superior stance over this immature institution that he previously compared to a child's behavior. The idea that the State also did not know the difference of it's friends and foes was a large factor for Thoreau's contempt for it. When the State forces citizens to pay a tax and jails them for noncooperation, it is only suppressing the power of the people, ultimately hurting itself. This is in accordance to how the basis of the Empire lies within the individual. Thoreau implies that the very ignorance that propels the government will be the source of it's downfall. Realizing this, he writes,"...and I lost all my remaining respect for it, and pitied it."
Joe- excellent work!!
DeleteBe careful to cite correctly. It should be.... pitied it"
(Thoreau 259).
The period goes AFTER the citation and there is NO comma.
"It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves" (Thoreau 258)
ReplyDeleteThoreau seems to think of "it" negatively. This quote seems to portray the government as an enemy or threat but they really are not. A wooden gun is still considered a weapon even though it can not hurt you, just like the government is displayed as a threat but they really mean no harm. The quote seems like it is said with enmity on how the government is run and Thoreau seems to agree with the point of the quote.
Matt- Your response is a bit confusing...Thoreau agrees with his own quote?
DeleteWhat does he think of negatively? How would you describe his attitude? Answer is a bit unclear.
"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (Thoreau 258).
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Thoreau expresses hope towards the American Government system. He steps back, and looks as himself as a citizen in the society. He doesn't want to be known as a "no-government man," who is one that believes in no government and the right of citizen rule. Instead, he displays his thoughts towards improving the quality of the lacking government rather than just getting rid of one overall. In this quote, Thoreau does not seem to be putting across a tone of anger or concern like he does in other parts of "Civil Disobedience." Instead, he gives the reader a feeling of satisfaction and calmness--because there are ideas out there that may improve the American Government once and for all.
Jenna- good work. I would say that he is a bit concerned, but I see what you mean by calmness.
DeleteWhen I meet a government which says to me "Your money or your life," why should I be in haste to give it my money?" (260 Thoreau) When Thoreau says this he shows his distaste towards government and their approach towards collecting taxes. He also teaches that you can use civil disobedience to oppose laws you don't like. Thoreau's tone in the quote is being stubborn, because he does not like giving his money over to the government, and feels that standing his ground will make a point.
ReplyDeleteDenis- good start, but where do you see his distaste? Explain this a bit more thoroughly.
Delete"But to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (Thoreau 258). Thoreau explains in "Civil Disobedience," that he does not think that there should be no government, however,the government had to change for the better. Thoreau's tone sounds very commanding in this essay, because he feels angry about how the government is run. Thoreau does not believe he should have to pay taxes to support a war that he doesn't believe in. He felt so strongly about this that he even went to jail because he refused to pay the taxes. The American government hasn't changed since Thoreau wrote this essay, considering the American people still sometimes have to pay taxes on wars they don't support.
ReplyDeleteGenna- nice work. What do you mean by, he sounds "commanding"?
Delete"I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest" (Thoreau 260)."
ReplyDeleteBy reading this quote, readers can sense how Thoreau challenges the government by refusing to obey the laws and commands of the government in order to stay true to his view of what is right and wrong. Thus, Thoreau's tone indicates himself to be a determined non-conformist; specifically stating that he would follow his conscience and not fall into the pressure of the government. Also, this quote Thoreau shows confidence in his tone because Thoreau believes that it is the presence of the people that powers the government to function; hence, he felt that his decision of civil disobedience will override the government's unethical rule.
Very good work!
Delete"...commanded me to pay a certain sum toward the support of a clergyman whose preaching my father attended, but never I myself.'Pay,' it said, 'or be locked up in jail.' I declined to pay"(Thoreau 259). Thoreau explains in this quote that he has no reason to pay for something that he has never been acquainted with nor something that he does not want to pay for. He feels as though paying the government his money, in "Civil Disobedience", for things such as the war (or in this case the clergyman), is not something that he should be forced to partake in. His tone toward this is that he is unafraid of the consequences of his actions if he feels that he is doing the right thing. Thoreau feels empowered and self conscious of his decisions. He also feels angry that others are blind in the fact that they pay these fees, even though some may not want their money going to things they do not support.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work. I like how you name/label Thoreau's emotions.
Delete"I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest" (Thoreau 260)." When I first read this quote, I got the impression of he does not let others phase his opinion nor does he do anything that he does not feel like he should. The tone in this story and this quote specifically is that he goes with what he feels and does not do something because the government feel it is right. He is a very determined person does not fall under the wrath of the government.
ReplyDeleteSydney- What do you mean "he does not let others phase his opinion"? Do you mean HE is unphased by other people? Odd usage.
DeleteAlso, you say he is a determined person- is the tone here determined?
"I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest" (Thoreau 260)."
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of this quote was to inform the reader that Thoreau wasn't what we call today a "follower." He didn't really care about what the government thought, he would do his own thing and not obey the governments laws. He believed in himself and knew what he stood for. Thoreau's tone portrays confidence because he explains how he stands up for what he believes him and doesn't really care for the governments laws. It also shows leadership because instead of following the crowd and letting the government "force him to become like themselves" (Thoreau 260) Thoreau continues to support his rationale like a leader and will support it no matter what it takes.
Nice work- I agree that he has a confident tone.
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ReplyDeleteJillian Yagoda
ReplyDelete"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (Thoreau 258). In this quote, Thoreau explains that he wishes for a government that is better run, but not to have no government at all. He realizes the important of having a government, but he does not enjoy the way the current one is being run. I think the tone of this quote is not angry, or outraged like the rest of "Civil Disobedience", but it is calm and collected. It makes the reader feel satisfied that Thoreau knows what he wants, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get just that. Thoreau is determined to change the American Government for the better. He is so determined to do so, that he went to jail for a night for not paying a tax on a war that he did not support.
Jillian- good, I agree that Thoreau is determined.
DeleteJoshua Wilson
ReplyDelete"I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest" (Thoreau 260). in this quote Thoreau means that he will do what he wants, how he wants, when he wants and hed like to see someone try and stop him. his tone has a great fire in it. hes outraged that he even has to say that, like it should be so obvious. he feels mad about it.
Josh- be sure to proofread for correct spelling/capitalization.
DeleteI'm unclear about what you mean at some points- what is so obvious? What is the "it" he is mad about?
Dylan Cellini
ReplyDelete"I saw that the State was half-witted, that it was timid as a lone woman with her silver spoons, and that it did not know its friends from its foes, and I lost all my remaining respect for it, and pitied it"(Thoreau 259).I feel that Thoreau's tone in this quote is very aggressive and angry. He uses words like half-witted to show how much he doesn't like the state. He also said "all my remaining" to show how he was not fond of the state in the first place.
Dylan- Is he really angry and aggressive? Or is he more sarcastic and pitying? (Aggressive seems to imply that he feels/act violently).
DeleteI do like how you focus in on specific words!
"The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to--for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better than I, and in many things even those who neither know nor can do so well--is still an impure one" (Thoreau ).
ReplyDeleteThis quote describes the pessimistic tone of the writing. He's saying that even though he acknowledges that the government is smarter than he is and he wants it to govern him, the system is still unjust. This describes the pessimism because he likes the government, however he is very pessimistic about the likely outcome.
Brendan- please be sure to include your last name. Also- page numbers are needed!
DeleteI wouldn't say the quote describes the pessimistic tone, but rather the quote SHOWS the pessimistic tone of his writing. . .
Also, he doesn't really seem to like the government. You seem a bit confused.
"I heartily accept the motto, 'that government is best which governs least'; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically." Thoreau's tone is one of discontentment and thirst for change. He is saying that he wants a government that lets the people do as makes them happy, not one that controls them. His tone shows that he impatiently awaits a change.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- please be sure to include a citation with your responses.
DeleteExcellent description of his tone!!
“But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government” (Thoreau 258). In this quote Thoreau’s tone is that he aggravated and yet questioning the actions taken by the government and feels that their intentions slow the economic maneuver. For instance, he describes how trade would take forever and is slowed down by the government. Overall, he suggests with tranquility that he does not believe in anarchy but instead wishes for a reliable government that would improve and make life easier.
ReplyDeleteAamir- your response is right on. Nice work!
Delete"But to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (Thoreau 258).
ReplyDeleteWhat Thoreau is trying to explain with this quote are his feelings towards the American government. He believes that the government in its present state isn't as effective as it should be. Thoreau doesn't think that the government should be removed from power, they just need to fix the problems that they're having.
Jess- You explain the quote well but don't seem to address the tone. How does he feel? Angry, sad, hopeful?
ReplyDelete