Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau
The work is a collection of essays that explore the relationship between nature and human experience. It examines the idea that wildness is essential to the human spirit and that it can be found in the natural world. The essays discuss the importance of preserving wilderness areas and the need for humans to reconnect with nature.
By Henry David Thoreau · First published 1863 · Genre: Nature Writing, Essay, Philosophy · 9 chapters · 10,932 words
First lines
It is remarkable how closely the history of the Apple-tree is connected with that of man. The geologist tells us that the order of the _Rosacee_, which includes the Apple, also the true Grasses, and the _Labiate_, or Mints, were introduced only a short time previous to the appearance of man on the globe.
It appears that apples made a part of the food of that unknown primitive people whose traces have lately been found at the bottom of the Swiss lakes, supposed to be older than the foundation of Rome, so old that they had no metallic implements. An entire black and shrivelled Crab-Apple has been recovered from their stores.
What this Textopian page supports
Wild Apples is listed on Textopian as an essay by Henry David Thoreau, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Henry David Thoreau
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Essay, Philosophy, History, Botany
- Length: 10,932 words
- Structure: 9 chapters, 133 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Wild Apples?
- How does this essay by Henry David Thoreau fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Nature Writing first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Nature Writing — The text extensively explores the natural history and characteristics of apple trees, emphasizing their connection to the environment and human culture.
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective essay, offering personal insights and observations on the subject of wild apples.
- Philosophy — The narrative delves into philosophical musings on nature, civilization, and the human condition, using the apple as a symbol.
- History — The text provides historical context and references to the apple's significance in various cultures and eras.
Tags
Nature Writing · Autobiography · Memoir · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Essay Collection · Wildlife Observation · Botany · Orchard Management · Self-Sufficiency · Simple Living · Environmentalism
Contents
- The History of the Apple-Tree
- The Wild Apple
- The Crab
- How the Wild Apple Grows
- The Fruit, and its Flavor
- Their Beauty
- The Naming of Them
- The Last Gleaning
- The "Frozen-Thawed" Apple