According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, nature is defined as: “The physical world and everything such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc., is not created by people ." Many people in our society today would say that nature is only animals, trees and rocks. There aren't many people who think deeply about what's really out there. There's more to nature than just the "green" scenario most people think of when they ask, "What is nature?" is asked. Nature is used to symbolize many things in literature such as peace, serenity, rebirth, good, calm and purity. Nature can symbolize calm and tranquility because when you walk in the woods you would mostly see trees, flowers, etc. and you will hear the birds chirping or the sound of the wind because it is quiet enough for you to hear rather than in the city it is like that. noise to hear the birds. Nature is strongly symbolized in different types of literary works, but it is used a lot by John Steinbeck and Bill Bryson as a way to describe what they felt during their journey. The purpose of this article is to show how Bill Bryson and Henry David Thoreau used “nature” as a way to symbolize their travels and adventures through the novels “Walden” and “A Walk in the Woods.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay William McGuire Bryson, better known as Bill Bryson, was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1951. He settled in England in 1977 and lived in North Yorkshire for almost two decades. He now lives in Hanover, New Hampshire. He is the son of William and Agnes Mary who was of Irish descent. In 2006, he released "The life and Times of the Thunderbolt kids" which was about his childhood, which included his older brother Michael and his sister, Mary Jane Elizabeth. Bill Bryson dropped out of Drake University after attending school for two years in 1972. The following year, Bryson and a high school friend, Stephen Katz, returned to Europe to begin his adventure or backpacking trip. His trip with Stephen Katz was documented in the novel "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe". Bryson wrote many books about his travels and travels throughout his life. His travel books are "The Lost Continent", "Neither Here nor There", "Notes from a Small Island", "A Walk in the Woods", "I am a Stranger Here" (aka "Notes from a Big Country") and "Bill Bryson in a Sunburned Country" (aka "Down Under"). His books on the English language are "Mother Tongue" and "Made in America." Part of Bryson's life took place in the United States of America. Bill Bryson's book, “A Walk in the Woods,” was inspired by his journey through the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz, during his visit to the United States of America. Later, Bryson and his family, which included four children, returned to Britain and now live in Norfolk. One of the most famous American writers, Henry David Thoreau was on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. Henry David Thoreau lived with 2 older brothers, John and Helen. His younger sister Sophia also lived. Thoreau's father worked in a local pencil factory, while his mother rented parts of the family home to boarders. Thoreau was a very well-rounded child with a bright future. He later attended Harvard College, which is now modern Harvard University. At Harvard University, he studied three different types of languages, which included German, Latin, and Greek. Thoreau graduated late due to his illness which forced him to stop attending classes for a while. Finally, in 1837, he graduated from Harvard College. After graduation,he didn't know how to become himself. With his knowledge and education, most people during his time would have pursued careers in medicine, law, or even the church. Just like some college graduates, Thoreau pursued his career in education. In 1838, he and his brother John opened a school. The school eventually went bankrupt and closed a couple of years later. Due to the school's closure, Thoreau later went to work with his father. Thoreau was introduced to Transcendentalism through Ralph Waldo Emerson, whom he met after college. Transcendentalism is the idea, belief, or movement that was developed during the late 1820s and 1830s. Transcendentalism emphasizes the idea of ​​self-reliance, individualism, non-conformity, embracing simplicity, potential through nature and hard work, finding oneself in the fullness and goodness innate to all humanity. Thoreau met many of the movement's leading figures, including Bronson Alcott and Margaret Fuller. Emerson was Thoreau's mentor and Thoreau later lives with Emerson for some time. Emerson used his influence to encourage Thoreau's literary efforts. Some of Thoreau's early work was published in The Dial, a transcendentalist magazine. Emerson also gave Thoreau access to the lands that would inspire one of his greatest works. In 1845 Thoreau built a small house on Walden Pond. This land was owned by Emerson. Thoreau spent 2 years there to find a simpler lifestyle. He worked as little as possible and sometimes went to work as a surveyor or in the pencil factory. Also, experiment with the “self-sufficiency” theme. He grew crops for food and only went to town if necessary. Even though he has lived a simpler life, he still encounters many problems with the law. He was put in prison for a night because he refused to pay a poll tax. This experience inspired him to write an essay titled "Civil Disobedience." Thoreau was also against slavery. He wrote many works that fought against slavery, such as “Slavery in Massachusetts.” After leaving Walden Pond, Thoreau took care of Emerson's house while he toured England. Still fascinated by nature, Thoreau noted his observations of plants and wildlife in his native Concord and during his travels. Later in life, Thoreau battled tuberculosis, a disease that had caused him great pain and suffering for the rest of his life. During his trip to Minnesota in 1861, his illness worsened and he finally succumbed to the disease. He died May 6, 1862, in Concord, Massachusetts. Bill Bryson uses many images to symbolize how nature can provide so much to man. Many events occur on the Appalachian Trail, such as deaths and injuries. Wildlife is usually involved in these events. “…his scalp hung from claws gracefully silhouetted against a full moon” (Bryson, 6). One might visualize a hawk clinging to a human's scalp at night against the moon. Bryson is trying to say that nature is a beautiful thing that many people miss because they don't actually look at and appreciate what nature can offer them. There are many different scenarios that nature can create and offer to the mind. Simply by walking along a path, Bryson sees the beauty of nature. “There were long shadows…” (Bryson, 80). Bryson was trying to express that he felt like the shadows were right next to him, like there was one right there next to him. Bill Bryson focuses a lot on nature and how it affects humans. Bryson talks about how many hikers don't make it through the first day and some even abandon afterwardhikers a couple miles because maybe the AT didn't provide them with the "proper technologies"... and maybe they had hiked a mile and a half before giving up. "He said he didn't expect it to be like this." (Bryson, 44 years old). Compare how nature is very simple, while the modern world is very complex and fast-paced. Many people are so busy that they have never thought about the simplicity of nature. In nature there is nothing but trees, animals and rocks. Hikers must go back to basics and live for a moment without worries or stress by embracing nature. For example, Bryson talks about how hikers on the AT retreat from what nature actually offers them, "...that the whole point of the experience is to remove oneself so completely from the comforts of everyday life..." (Bryson, 78). He is trying to say that you have to be one with nature to appreciate and you should not be distracted by your "smart devices" and just enjoy what is in front of you. He describes how on the AT hikers become very calm about themselves and noting could bother them for hours or days because there is no stress and nothing to bother hikers. Bill Bryson talks about how nature provides him with solitude even when he's busy. Nature allows hikers to focus attention on themselves, so sometimes they are not aware of what is happening around them. Hikers simply wonder that the trails are in their way. For example, during Bryson's trip, Katz asks if Bryson had noticed the fallen tree on the trail. Bryson said he had no idea about the fallen trees because he was so calmly distracted by the tranquility of nature that he was unaware of anything around him. Katz was stunned that Bryson didn't remember the fallen tree blocking the trail. Wondering through nature brings us humans back to a calm state of mind. Bill Bryson shows that the human relationship with nature has changed over the years. Nature has become less respected and used by us humans. Nature is very simple and elementary while cities are very busy and complex. It describes how we, as humans, ruin nature. He said that if nature was left alone, it would be fine. Nature can survive well, without us humans interfering. But humans think that when they “change” something in nature, they are helping nature, but in reality humans are actually ruining nature. The seasonal cycle throughout the book is used by Thoreau to symbolize how nature affected him throughout his journey. Furthermore, the beginning and towards the end of spring is the time when the world renews itself. Thoreau links spring to resurrection and renewal and summer to growth. While autumn to maturity and winter to fatality. Thoreau began writing the novel around the spring of March 1845. The story began when Thoreau purchased an ax and began construction of his cabin. He was determined to go to the forest to get in touch with God and for a greater spiritualization of himself. This means that he must become involved with nature and re-identify with the fundamental rhythms of nature and the cycles of the year and days. Thoreau uses two main symbols throughout the book. He uses morning and spring a lot throughout the book. Thoreau uses these two events as a way to symbolize how nature, morning and spring, have an effect on him and the way of life throughout the book. For example, in the second chapter, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” Thoreau gives us many examples of how the morning affects him. In chapter 2, page sixty, Thoreau provides an example of how morning symbolizes birthof a new day. “I got up early and took a bath in the pond; that was a religious exercise and one of the best things I did” (Walden, 60). This quote symbolizes that a new day has been born and there is an adventure waiting out there. “Morning is when I am awake and there is dawn in me” (Walden, 61). This quote symbolizes the early morning, when he wakes up, is reborn again and adventures await him outside his cabin with nature. For Thoreau the morning is a metaphor for the birth of spiritual enlightenment and a way to learn more about yourself and re-identify who or what you are. In the first chapter, “Economics,” Thoreau had described a half-frozen serpent, left by the cold of winter as “torpid” (Walden, 28). That serpent symbolizes the “sleeping” men who remain solid in their “primitive and low condition” (Walden, 28) saying that those men just do what they are told and only do traditional things and now they try something new “Have you ever thought what Are those sleepers under the railway? Everyone is a man” (Walden,62). This quote shows that Thoreau compared men who work hard without thinking to pieces of iron surrounding a railroad. Thoreau who insists that men who work without thinking should be more awakened by the spring, to rise to a “higher and more ethereal life” (Walden, 28). Thoreau begins to build his house; this is part of his physical counterpart to his spiritual awakening. He built his cabin in the woods in the spring, but doesn't move in until the summer, when nature and his spiritual self are in full swing. The day he moved into his cabin was July 4th, Independence Day. This day symbolizes the day he will withdraw and free himself from society and be one with nature. “…and so the seasons continued into summer, as one wanders through the taller grass” (Walden, 212). This quote symbolizes that as the summer goes on, Thoreau increases his spiritual connection with nature and becomes greater as a person. As nature matures towards its summer ripeness, the narrator will grow towards his spiritual fulfillment. During the summer Thoreau is busy with construction work and cultivating the bean fields. These are the examples of his philosophy of self-sufficiency. But by growing beans, Thoreau's aim is to be closer to nature rather than worry about economic issues. Also, to show that nature can do many miracles if you simply try to be independent and provide for yourself instead of waiting for other people to take care of you. Also, to be independent you should be one with nature because “nature” can do many wonders that you cannot see. Thoreau sees winter as a period of time where he reflects on what happens so far throughout the year and the author likes to reflect with himself indoors rather than outdoors during the cold winter time. During the winter period he was given the task of measuring the pond. This symbolizes how he is reflecting and trying to discover more about his spirituality towards nature. Then, as winter comes to an end, spring returns and melts the ice, the seeds, and the awakening of animals and the spiritual world of nature. This is the beginning of a new adventure every time spring begins to take its course through nature. The penultimate chapter, “Spring,” is a mantra for the eternal fertility of nature. For example, these quotes, “…the mother of mankind” (Walden, 205) and “the earth is still in her swaddling clothes, and stretches out her baby fingers on every side” (Walden, 206) show that Thoreau describes nature using..