Beginning of Essay
The relatively obscure release of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s first book, Nature, in 1836, gave few clues to the celebrity and influence which would later be enjoyed by its author. The piece was originally published anonymously but did mark the beginning of Emerso ....

Middle of Essay
.... shortly after his death, a monthly periodical published an article constructed from Thoreau’s journals, entitled simply “Walking.” Though very different in general subject matter, both pieces contain very similar philosophies, applicable to many areas of life and society. The application of these philosophies from one work to the other, show not a taste of plagiarism, but rather act as a testament to the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the thoughts and ideas of Henry David Thoreau. One recurring theme of this era of American literature was the idea of establishing independence for the United States from the historical ties t ....