I think Thoreau does this because he wants the audience to get the main point that he is trying to get across. I do not know exactly the significance of the question, but thats what i think.
Personally, I think that Thoreau is simply following a standard of transcendentalism. He is changing his mind on opinions just as how Emerson says that what we know today may change tomorrow.
I agree with Ben. Since he is all alone his thoughts are his only company. So when he went to write it down all his thoughts came rushing in. -Michael Kline
It seems to be just a flow of consciousness. He starts thinking about one thing, and writes it down, which leads to another, and then another. It's hard for a pen to keep up with the thoughts of one with nothing to do but think. ~Carley Chastain
I agree with Carley and Michael in that Thoreau's time alone in the woods sparked many ideas that all seem to run together. However, considering that he had the opportunity to organize and seperate his thoughts, I think Thoreau purposefully speaks in a stream of ideas to cause the reader to be more attentive and really think about what he has to say, and therefore rethink his/her own lifestyle.
I like Meredith's comment, and I definately agree with her. Thoreau clearly has his firm beliefs about lifestyle, and he talks in circles to make the reader really think and possibly even persuade him/her. Also, talking in circles allows him to go back and once again repeat what he is trying to prove. This really makes it stand out in the reader's mind, which is exactly what he was trying to do.
I agree with most of the comments said, he has so many thoughts that they all come to him at once, but with him writing in circles he not only is stating things more than once, he is making you reader deeper into it to be able to understand this. Also, as he writes his opinions most likely start to change.
I think the reason he keeps moving from one idea to another is because he is thinking in the moment, he just says what comes to mind. He writes like he just writing in his journal and isn't telling this to anyone else.
I believe that Thoreau jumps from idea to idea to make the reader develop their opinion on the topic. He does not want the reader to believe what he says just because he says it. Thoreau wants them to take into account all of the different possiblities to the topic and then develop their own belief on the matter.
I think the reason Thoreau writes from one idea to another is because he wants the reader to pay attention to what he is saying so that he/she will understand the point he is trying to make. I also think, like many others, that he simply wrote down what he was thinking and repeats himself so the reader will understand the concept.
Our first class discussion on transcendentalism covered the fact that no matter what your current opinion is always accurate. I think Thoreau uses the circle technique as a way of proving this theory. No matter what he says on one page, the most up to date opinion is correct. On the other hand, I agree with Kaila in the sense that not only is he possibly trying to establish his own opinions, but he wants the reader to develop their own rather than follow his thought process throughout the entire book.
Maybe Thoreau talks in circles because he has many different view points and ways to express his feelings on each subject. He wants the reader to examine the topic in different ways. Maybe he goes from idea to idea in order to get the reader to stop and think about what he is saying, like how poets use different styles of writing to slow you down like we talked about in our poetry unit last semester.
Maybe Thoreau talks in circles because he wants the reader to examine the situation from many viewpoints as well as develope their own personal ideas about what is going on.
Also, his using of metaphors maybe was a factor to his purpose of "circling". I think Thoreau wanted readers to see his way of thinking and how clever he can be at the same time. -Amanda Areo
I believe that Thoreau seems to sway from idea to idea because that is how people naturally think- from idea to idea. Also, writing in circles gives his readers different perspectives to think about his material from. He may seem random, but his writing has logic and organization.
Thoreau probably sways from idea to idea simply because he is write philisophically. He is not as much intrested in how organized he as much as he just wants to get his ideas out of his head and onto paper. To some people he may seem unorganized but he is just an organized mess.
I think Thoreau's swaying from idea to idea is similar to the natural thought process. It also allows the reader to take a break from the book, and possibly go over in his or her mind on the topics most important to the reader, and revisit the topic later once he or she had fully developed his or her own opinion.
It could be possible that Thoreau is talking in circles because a circle is never ending and cannot be broken. If you don't think the way that Thoreau thinks, you're not thinking in a complete way. He is showing that his thinking is solid, and just keeps coming back on itself.
Personally, I Think Thoreau's purpose for talking in circles and moving quickly from point to point is to get the reader's mind thinking. I also believe that this method is successful. Many times I have found myself questioning what I believe in while reading the book.
I think that Thoreau talks in circles because he writes things down as they come to him. It is basically his journal. When I think, I don't think about the same thing for a period of time and then move on, but like Thoreau I bring up the same topics periodically. This style of writing also helps to refresh the reader on what is happening. --Katie Toth
I think Thoreau does this because he wants the audience to get the main point that he is trying to get across. I do not know exactly the significance of the question, but thats what i think.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo Mazza (nai nai)
I personally think Thoreau sways from idea to idea because he is trying to explain many things for many different audiences.
ReplyDeleteColton Walsh
I agree with both Giancarlo and Colton. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe Thoreau is venting so many ideas that he can't help but jumble them up.
ReplyDelete-Ben Purinton
Personally, I think that Thoreau is simply following a standard of transcendentalism. He is changing his mind on opinions just as how Emerson says that what we know today may change tomorrow.
ReplyDelete-Daniel Lindsey
I agree with Ben. Since he is all alone his thoughts are his only company. So when he went to write it down all his thoughts came rushing in.
ReplyDelete-Michael Kline
It seems to be just a flow of consciousness. He starts thinking about one thing, and writes it down, which leads to another, and then another. It's hard for a pen to keep up with the thoughts of one with nothing to do but think.
ReplyDelete~Carley Chastain
I agree with Carley and Michael in that Thoreau's time alone in the woods sparked many ideas that all seem to run together. However, considering that he had the opportunity to organize and seperate his thoughts, I think Thoreau purposefully speaks in a stream of ideas to cause the reader to be more attentive and really think about what he has to say, and therefore rethink his/her own lifestyle.
ReplyDelete-Meredith Ayers
I like Meredith's comment, and I definately agree with her. Thoreau clearly has his firm beliefs about lifestyle, and he talks in circles to make the reader really think and possibly even persuade him/her. Also, talking in circles allows him to go back and once again repeat what he is trying to prove. This really makes it stand out in the reader's mind, which is exactly what he was trying to do.
ReplyDelete-Dominique Gannuch
I agree with most of the comments said, he has so many thoughts that they all come to him at once, but with him writing in circles he not only is stating things more than once, he is making you reader deeper into it to be able to understand this. Also, as he writes his opinions most likely start to change.
ReplyDeleteColton Ritchie
I that he explains things as they come to him. Jumping from place to place can be confusing but,it makes the reader look deeper and use their brain.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Wilson
I think the reason he keeps moving from one idea to another is because he is thinking in the moment, he just says what comes to mind. He writes like he just writing in his journal and isn't telling this to anyone else.
ReplyDeleteVictoria Naatz
Good comments, guys. Also think about what writing this way could accomplish for Thoreau. Some of you are thinking along this line already.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Thoreau jumps from idea to idea to make the reader develop their opinion on the topic. He does not want the reader to believe what he says just because he says it. Thoreau wants them to take into account all of the different possiblities to the topic and then develop their own belief on the matter.
ReplyDelete~Kaila Harris
I think the reason Thoreau writes from one idea to another is because he wants the reader to pay attention to what he is saying so that he/she will understand the point he is trying to make. I also think, like many others, that he simply wrote down what he was thinking and repeats himself so the reader will understand the concept.
ReplyDeleteOur first class discussion on transcendentalism covered the fact that no matter what your current opinion is always accurate. I think Thoreau uses the circle technique as a way of proving this theory. No matter what he says on one page, the most up to date opinion is correct. On the other hand, I agree with Kaila in the sense that not only is he possibly trying to establish his own opinions, but he wants the reader to develop their own rather than follow his thought process throughout the entire book.
ReplyDeleteIneke Moore
I also think that Thoreau goes from idea to idea because he wrote down what came to mind, but not too much for it to be disorganized.
ReplyDelete- Amanda Akridge
Maybe Thoreau talks in circles because he has many different view points and ways to express his feelings on each subject. He wants the reader to examine the topic in different ways. Maybe he goes from idea to idea in order to get the reader to stop and think about what he is saying, like how poets use different styles of writing to slow you down like we talked about in our poetry unit last semester.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Thoreau talks in circles because he wants the reader to examine the situation from many viewpoints as well as develope their own personal ideas about what is going on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, his using of metaphors maybe was a factor to his purpose of "circling". I think Thoreau wanted readers to see his way of thinking and how clever he can be at the same time.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Areo
I believe that Thoreau seems to sway from idea to idea because that is how people naturally think- from idea to idea. Also, writing in circles gives his readers different perspectives to think about his material from. He may seem random, but his writing has logic and organization.
ReplyDeleteThoreau probably sways from idea to idea simply because he is write philisophically. He is not as much intrested in how organized he as much as he just wants to get his ideas out of his head and onto paper. To some people he may seem unorganized but he is just an organized mess.
ReplyDeleteI think Thoreau's swaying from idea to idea is similar to the natural thought process. It also allows the reader to take a break from the book, and possibly go over in his or her mind on the topics most important to the reader, and revisit the topic later once he or she had fully developed his or her own opinion.
ReplyDeleteMary Eisenhower
It could be possible that Thoreau is talking in circles because a circle is never ending and cannot be broken. If you don't think the way that Thoreau thinks, you're not thinking in a complete way. He is showing that his thinking is solid, and just keeps coming back on itself.
ReplyDeleteCarley Chastain
Elle- I liked your organized mess theory. That pretty much sums up Thoreau! :)
ReplyDeleteHe probably want the readers fully understand what is his point by talk in circle and his experimence in the forest.
ReplyDeleteElbert Lin
Personally, I Think Thoreau's purpose for talking in circles and moving quickly from point to point is to get the reader's mind thinking. I also believe that this method is successful. Many times I have found myself questioning what I believe in while reading the book.
ReplyDeleteI think that Thoreau talks in circles because he writes things down as they come to him. It is basically his journal. When I think, I don't think about the same thing for a period of time and then move on, but like Thoreau I bring up the same topics periodically. This style of writing also helps to refresh the reader on what is happening.
ReplyDelete--Katie Toth