Name: _____________________________ Thoreau’s ...



Day 1: Write a synonym or definition for each of the following vocabulary words:

pertinent ___________________ encumbrance __________________

temporal ___________________ impervious ____________________

superficial __________________ superfluous ____________________

ethereal ___________________ incessantly ____________________

Part II: Words in context

1.) This he assured me was the only encumbrance. ____________________

2.) I began to occupy my house on the 4th of July, as soon as it was boarded and roofed, for the boards were carefully featheredged and lapped, so that it was perfectly impervious ___________________________________ to rain.

3.) It would be worth the while to build still more deliberately than I did . . . perchance never raising any superstructure until we found a better reason for it than our temporal ________________________________ necessities even.

4.) The nation itself, with all its so-called internal improvements, which, by the way are all external and superficial, __________________________________ is just an unwieldy and overgrown establishment.

5.) Having once got hold they never let go, but struggled and wrestled and rolled on the chips incessantly. ______________________________________

6.) Shall we with pains erect a heaven of blue glass over ourselves, though when it is done we shall be sure to gaze still at the true ethereal ___________________________ heaven far above, as if the former were not?

not earthly, spiritual sterile, unproductive

not profound, shallow burden, hindrance

without stopping temporary

resistant; incapable of being penetrated

Day 2: Fill in the Blank:

On the line provided, write the Vocabulary word that best completes each sentence.

pertinent encumbrance impervious

temporal superfluous

1. The hut was so well constructed that it was _________________________ to rain and stayed dry even in fierce rainstorms.

2. As much as possible, Thoreau disdains the __________________________, or worldly, aspects of civilization and concentrates on simplicity.

3. Thoreau took only what he needed with him to the woods, leaving _________________________, needless items behind.

4. Unnecessary objects would just be a(n) _________________________, a burden to him.

5. Thoreau’s point about living simply is especially _________________________ today, when we question how to conduct a meaningful life.

Part II: Analogies

6. solid : rock :: ____________________: heaven

7. frequently : often :: ____________________ : continuously

8. essential : necessary :: ____________________ : relevant

9. hostile : aggressive :: ____________________ : shallow

10. bold : meek :: ____________________ : eternal

11. praise : compliment :: ____________________ : obstacle

12. absorbent : sponge :: ____________________ : fortress

Day 3: Write a synonym or definition for each of the following vocabulary words:

penitent ____________________ Insurrection _____________________

effectual ____________________ impetuous _____________________ expedient ___________________ tumultuous _____________________

posterity ____________________ eradication _____________________

Words in Context:

1.) Government is at best but an expedient; _____________________ but most governments are usually [ . . . ] inexpedient.

2.) The character inherent_____________________ in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.

3.) “I should like to have them order me out to help put down an insurrection _____________________ of the slaves or to march to Mexico – see if I would go”

4.) It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication _____________________ of [ . . .] wrong; [. . . ] but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it.

5.) The soldier is applauded who refuses to sustain the unjust government which makes the war; is applauded by those whose own act and authority he disregards and sets at nought; as if the state were penitent _____________________ to that degree

sorry for wrong doing convenience; means to an end

inborn; built in misdirected; corrupted

rebellion; revolt utter destruction, obliteration

Day 4: Fill in the Blank:

1.) This election undoubtedly lends itself to _____________________ . Indeed, we may find ourselves talking about it to our children and grandchildren years from now.

2.) Time can only tell if this next president can be as ___________________ as he claims.

3.) The _____________________ series of events of recent years are not unlike those that occurred when Thoreau spent a night in jail – the Mexican-American War, race, and the economy were all hot topics.

4.) Unlike Walden, “Resistance to Civil Government” was ____________________ to the current events of the time.

5.) What Thoreau really wanted was not so much a violent anarchist insurrection as the _____________________ of wrongdoing by the government, such as slavery and the war.

Sentences! Use at least five of your vocabulary words in meaningful sentences

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