need to understan Thoreau

proshenekuda · 11-16-2008, 12:39 AM

I'm working on my literature test. Can anyone help me to understand one of his expression?

That is an excerpt from Thoreau work "Life without principle"

Most men would feel insulted, if it were proposed to employ them in throwing stones over a wall, and then in throwing them back, merely that they might earn their wages. But many are no more worthily employed now. For instance: just after sunrise, one summer morning, I noticed one of my neighbors walking beside his team, which was slowly drawing a heavy hewn stone swung under the axle, surrounded by an atmosphere of industry,--his day's work begun,--his brow commenced to sweat,--a reproach to all sluggards and idlers,--pausing abreast the shoulders of his oxen, and half turning round with a flourish of his merciful whip, while they gained their length on him.

What did he mean by "they gained their length on him" ?

Thanks

chasestalling · 11-16-2008, 09:26 AM

i would infer that the oxen had moved ahead of the man, but not by much.

Jamesian · 11-17-2008, 03:26 AM

^Would it not be the reverse? He pauses when he is abreast their shoulders (i.e. front legs), and, urging them forward, waits til he is abreast the back legs before moving on.

At any rate, it just means he is hastening his team forward on the seemingly-important errand of moving the stone. The stone, if you read slightly further, winds up adorning someone's front yard or something, and so Thoreau sees the task of moving it as actually quite trivial.

pagebypage · 02-07-2009, 10:30 AM

I do believe Thoreau is referring back to the sluggards and idlers and is doing a bit of wordplay with length. In one respect he is inverting the a more common phrase "at length gaining" implying the sense that as the day passes those the driver scorn as lazy easily gain and pass him on their way. In a more poetic sense, as these same persons approach and pass, their lengths (shadows) gain and fall on the driver.

11-16-2008, 12:39 AM	#1
proshenekuda Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	need to understan Thoreau I'm working on my literature test. Can anyone help me to understand one of his expression? That is an excerpt from Thoreau work "Life without principle" Most men would feel insulted, if it were proposed to employ them in throwing stones over a wall, and then in throwing them back, merely that they might earn their wages. But many are no more worthily employed now. For instance: just after sunrise, one summer morning, I noticed one of my neighbors walking beside his team, which was slowly drawing a heavy hewn stone swung under the axle, surrounded by an atmosphere of industry,--his day's work begun,--his brow commenced to sweat,--a reproach to all sluggards and idlers,--pausing abreast the shoulders of his oxen, and half turning round with a flourish of his merciful whip, while they gained their length on him. What did he mean by "they gained their length on him" ? Thanks

11-16-2008, 09:26 AM	#2
chasestalling mind your back Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: close to home but not too close Posts: 397	i would infer that the oxen had moved ahead of the man, but not by much. __________________ If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. --Shakespeare

11-17-2008, 03:26 AM	#3
Jamesian is my namesian. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: At your side always. Posts: 2,162 Blog Entries: 4	^Would it not be the reverse? He pauses when he is abreast their shoulders (i.e. front legs), and, urging them forward, waits til he is abreast the back legs before moving on. At any rate, it just means he is hastening his team forward on the seemingly-important errand of moving the stone. The stone, if you read slightly further, winds up adorning someone's front yard or something, and so Thoreau sees the task of moving it as actually quite trivial. __________________ The book itself is a curious artifact, not showy in its technology but complex and extremely efficient: a really neat little device, compact, often very pleasant to look at and handle, that can last decades, even centuries. It doesn't have to be plugged in, activated, or performed by a machine; all it needs is light, a human eye, and a human mind. It is not one of a kind, and it is not ephemeral. It lasts. It is reliable. --Ursula K. Le Guin

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02-07-2009, 10:30 AM	#4
pagebypage Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 77	I do believe Thoreau is referring back to the sluggards and idlers and is doing a bit of wordplay with length. In one respect he is inverting the a more common phrase "at length gaining" implying the sense that as the day passes those the driver scorn as lazy easily gain and pass him on their way. In a more poetic sense, as these same persons approach and pass, their lengths (shadows) gain and fall on the driver.