In this book, some parts have been relatively ignored. The chapter “Heating the House,” set at the dawn of winter, was treated this way. It could be that the reason for this lack of attention on this chapter is its transitory nature, as its main purpose seems to be to act as a link between autumn and winter. As any writer will attest, such a transition in storytelling is indispensable. This transition not only affects the narrative, but also Thoreau's philosophy regarding the essentials of life. Since Walden is often called an experiment by both critics and its author, “House-Warming” is particularly worthy of attention as it shows us Thoreau not only performing experiments, but also represents a turning point in the experiment that is Walden. “House-Warming” thus exists both to demonstrate a philosophical adaptation on Thoreau's part and a narrative transition, and to prevent the broadening of his interest in scientific observation and experimentation over the course of the final chapters. Before we dive into “House-Warming,” a very brief note should be made on the use of language regarding Walden and this particular chapter. Other critics have noted of Walden that although “most of his pages were written during his stay at the pond (1845-7), they were not ready for publication until seven years later, and ultimately included a distillation of his diaries… ... middle of paper ...... the line between convenience and necessity is blurred. Winter has another effect on Thoreau besides forcing him home. Thoreau is famous for his propensity for field observation and extemporaneous experimentation, and "House-Warming" gives Thoreau the opportunity to immerse himself in this behavior (Ray 101). As Walden Pond freezes and invites complex observations, the spirit of the amateur scientist awakens in Thoreau and continues this behavior later in the book. Walden is unusual, highly complicated, and dense, and any attempt to “understand the entire book is a hopeless task” (Heitman 15). “House warming,” as is now clear, is a crucial thread that helps weave all of Walden together. Perhaps, in attempting to appreciate the location of this single thread, readers can step back and reach a fuller understanding of the complex and intricate tapestry that is Walden..

Topic > In this book, some parts have been relatively ignored. The chapter “Heating the House,” set at the dawn of winter, was treated this way. It could be that the reason for this lack of attention on this chapter is its transitory nature, as its main purpose seems to be to act as a link between autumn and winter. As any writer will attest, such a transition in storytelling is indispensable. This transition not only affects the narrative, but also Thoreau's philosophy regarding the essentials of life. Since Walden is often called an experiment by both critics and its author, “House-Warming” is particularly worthy of attention as it shows us Thoreau not only performing experiments, but also represents a turning point in the experiment that is Walden. “House-Warming” thus exists both to demonstrate a philosophical adaptation on Thoreau's part and a narrative transition, and to prevent the broadening of his interest in scientific observation and experimentation over the course of the final chapters. Before we dive into “House-Warming,” a very brief note should be made on the use of language regarding Walden and this particular chapter. Other critics have noted of Walden that although “most of his pages were written during his stay at the pond (1845-7), they were not ready for publication until seven years later, and ultimately included a distillation of his diaries… ... middle of paper ...... the line between convenience and necessity is blurred. Winter has another effect on Thoreau besides forcing him home. Thoreau is famous for his propensity for field observation and extemporaneous experimentation, and "House-Warming" gives Thoreau the opportunity to immerse himself in this behavior (Ray 101). As Walden Pond freezes and invites complex observations, the spirit of the amateur scientist awakens in Thoreau and continues this behavior later in the book. Walden is unusual, highly complicated, and dense, and any attempt to “understand the entire book is a hopeless task” (Heitman 15). “House warming,” as is now clear, is a crucial thread that helps weave all of Walden together. Perhaps, in attempting to appreciate the location of this single thread, readers can step back and reach a fuller understanding of the complex and intricate tapestry that is Walden..