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Henry David Thoreau: What I Have to Do…
45 min
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- Why was Henry David Thoreau sent to prison?
- Why did Thoreau think it was important to do stand up against something he believed to be wrong?
- How are Henry David Thoreau’s actions consistent with the principle of integrity?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
- Students will analyze the views and actions of Henry David Thoreau throughout his life.
- Students will understand how acting with integrity can affect their purpose and integrity.
- Students will apply this knowledge to the pursuit of integrity in their own lives.