Meaningful Lives

Read: Thoreau and Mairs. Write:
• Why did Thoreau go to the woods?
• What three passages leap out from Thoreau’s work and smack you in the face?
• What does Thoreau mean by “Simplify, simplify”? Is his critique mainly negative or is it positive?
• Thoreau’s work is about values. What are some of the other values besides simplicity that are affirmed by Thoreau, and some of those repudiated?
• What might be the necessities or essences of life for Mairs?
• What does Mairs fear?
• Give me your thoughts on Mairs, on how her essay affected you and what impressed you. What can we learn from her?