Figurative Language In 'Reading' By Henry David Thoreau

Reading is a skill known by many but not practice by many. In “Reading”, Henry David Thoreau discusses the value in books for societies better understanding. He criticizes society's choices of literature and the inability to escape ignorance. He argues the books men should be reading are those who help invoke change within a person. In his effort to argue his statement Thoreau uses profound diction, and figurative language to make the argument appealing to the human senses. Thoreau uses figurative language to make literature to elevate the importance of literature that can expand one's knowledge . He often uses personification of books in order for the reader to understand that the desire to read must come willingly. He initially …show more content…
Thoreau uses profound language such as “Pygmies and manikins” to show his irritation towards humans choices of reading. This leads him into a new discussion of how the majority are ill-simple minded people. Therefore those who do choose to go and explore themselves have no one to relate to. Thoreau mentions that “Our conversation and thinking are all on a very low level,” extending the concept that society is very small minded, therefore they must start choosing challenging literature. He uses “dulness” to described a person's mind in order to further insult the people who choose to read low level literature. Yet he uses words like”relics” to described a book in order to contrast the ideas. Thoreau believes that books are relics that have survived through time and if people should ignore them they are “sloughing off of all the intellectual faculties.” He uses “faculties” to entertain the idea that books are full with useful context. Throughout the chapter Thoreau continues to contrast the idea of the simple minded people and the magnitude of books in order for the reader to understand the importance of reading not just any book but classic high level