Thoreau---Resistance to Civil Government

In Thoreau’s opinion, he believes that the government is best which governs not at all. And this kind of government is which the people would like to accept. Government should be an expedient, but usually it is not. It is always used by the people as a tool for politic benefits. Thoreau describes the government as a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves, because it will be broken if people use it to fight with each other. At the same time, Thoreau also discusses about the situation of American government which imposed on themselves for their own advantage, and did nothing for the freedom of the country, the settle in the West, or the education. Thoreau demands a better government, while but he does not advocate to take over of the government. And I think that is why “I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is theslave's government also”.

An American Scholar 5

In the end of the speech, Emerson claimed that the American Literature already became a new literature, which totally different with the British. At the same time, Emerson wanted the schloars not to follow the previous book blindly, which was considered as the mind of the past .We need to walk with our own feet, write with our own hands, and speak out our own thought. Also, Emerson deprecate the bullionism, emphasize the value of humanity. In his opinion, the scholar in that time period should be confident and brave.

An American Scholar 4

I believe Emerson gave his speech to all the scholars in American. It showed the right behavior of what a scholar should be, and how to become a really eligible scholar.

First, Emerson talked about the nature, which was considered to be a boundless and connected thing in his opinion. And the endless research by human made great process of society.

In addition, Emerson mentioned that the book was the best thing to describe the mind of the past. However it has both good and bad use. People could learn a lot from the previous things. Just like what Newton said, I have been further because I am standing on the shoulder of a Giant. So the books that Emerson pointed out were filled with endless treasure. But a coin always has two sides. Although the books have a majority of advantages, it still need to be fixed as probably could not fit present. And the scholars should not be controlled by some views in the book excessively. Also, as we know the book will be studied in college for everyone, and grasp the knowledge of the book, definitely will lead a good result.

Finally in the speech, Emerson indicated that the scholars should be inspired by the really life experience, not just sit there, thinking or reading books. Action is absolutely one of the most important parts of being a successful scholar, without the true life experience, they will never comprehend the essence of scholars.

An American Scholar 3

We talked about the mind in the past in today’s class. According to the work by Emerson, the second major influence on the scholar is the mind of the past. As he mentioned, the nature gave human interest and made them think and find the relationship in different objects. The mind of the past refers to the historical wisdom recorded by the previous people. The whole society developed basically on the mind of people, and definitely the mind of the past, which is absolutely the valuable knowledge, will make people have a longer-rang sight in both science or literature. Thus, reading the book and absorbing the nutrient of the knowledge, just as digesting food in human body, will help us get new ideas and discoveries.

In the third section, Emerson considered that the action is needed by the scholars. Undoubtedly, thinking is one of the most important part of scholar, but without action, it will not be completed.

An American Scholar 2

In today’s class, we discussed about the major influences on the scholars.

In Emerson’s opinion “The first in time and the first in importance of the influences upon the mind is that of nature.” Originally, everything existed individually, without any relation with each other. However, gradually, people’s brains began to link them together, and found the same characters which the objects shared at the same time. While people tried to solve the complex in the nature, the science developed, and they were also getting closer to the essence. As time went, more and more things were connected and human thought were improved by these search of nature.

Another effect on scholars Emerson pointed out is the past mind. And the book’s job is to carry the historical things. And we will talk more about this part in the next day's class.

An American Scholar 1

The second section of the American Scholar talks about the mind of the past is another great influence into the spirit of the Scholar. And no matter what kind of form of the literature art or institutions, the mind is inscribed. And the way for us to get the truth or learn this influence easily is to read books.

As it mentioned in the article, the book is the best type of the influence of the past, and undoubtedly the theory of books is noble. However, actually no book is perfect, as people write their own books at their own generation, and the books of an older period may not fit present. As a result, some people convert the love of some the poems to the poets, just like the "love of the hero corrupts into worship of his statue." Hence, at the same time, we need thinking when we read the books. We cannot be controlled by the books. It is just like Emerson said "I would better never see a book, than to be warped by its attraction clean out of my own orbit, and made a satellite instead of a system." Thus we have to understand why we read, the final goal of reading, and using a right way.

I Believe It Is Because I Am a Poor Indian

Samsom Occom was a great Indian minister and missionary. And he was also a successful teacher for his people after the leaning in the Reverend Eleazer Wheelock’s school. He taught people in different part of American. And in this article, he described his experience to be an Indian minister, and bad treatment at the hands of the religious establishment.


Occom was converted to Christian when he was 16. And he received good education with the help of Mr. Wheelock in a 4-years school. As a cultured man, he left his teacher and went Europe, thinking becoming a school master. However he failed and went back, and got a job in an Indian school, married about 2 years he went there. He had a special method of teaching the children to read books or memorize the alphabets, but he was treated differently especially on the salary compared to other missionaries. Although other missionaries said it was because he could not influence Indians so well, the true reason he thought was “I believe it is because I am a poor Indian”.


For his writing, I noticed that the numerous difficulties of making a live, and the Indians were treated unequally in the society.

"An Indian's Looking Glass for the White Man"

In this article, Appes talked a lot about the problems between the white man and the native Indians. For his writing, the Indians were considered as uncivilized, dangerous, and mean people by the European colonists at that time. For separating the Indians and other people, the whites even made something called reservation, but actually a boundary for the Indians. In this region, the Indians could not be educated and they did not have any notion of property. As the result, they were left there without any protection and treated badly by the white people.


As we know, Appes was one of the first Indian American ministers and a great leader in fighting for Native Americans. It was his valour which made him dare to question the system between the Indians and whites, and become a such a successful and important person remembered by us eventually.

About the test.

I think I got a good grade on my test. I chose the Bradstreet and Rowlandson as my topics. For the Anne Bradstreet, I do not think I have any major problem on the argument as I prepared a lot on this great writer and poet. However, the second the topic, the Mary Rowlandson, my evidence does not fit the argument very well. I need more suitable and persuasive evidence for the change of Rowlandson’s opinion of Indians.