1. 研究目的与意义（文献综述）

Henry David Thoreau was a famous essayist, philosopher, naturalist, and transcendentalist in 19^th century. His literary works present his close observation of nature, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, symbolic meanings, and historical lore. He paid much attention on the contrast between nature and human society. He was also deeply interested in the idea of survival in the face of hostile elements, historical change, and natural decay. Besides, he advocated abandoning waste that we actually don’t need and illusion that may lead us into degeneration in order to discover the essence of life. As one of the outstanding representatives of transcendentalists, Thoreau presents his complicated attitude towards the society in his famous book-Walden,or life in the woods which records his two-year life beside Walden. This book like a dairy includes Thoreau’s love to nature and criticism to modern development. It emphasizes the importance of solitude, contemplation, and closeness to nature in transcending the "desperate" existence.The book combines autobiography with a social critique of contemporary Western consumerist and materialist and its distance from and destruction of nature. As he shouted in his work “Simplicity! Simplicity!Simplicity”,we can see that simplicity is his lifestyle. He points that most of modern people has been trapped by family,work and sorts of material needs, though he realized their significance and importance, as a result, they lose their spirit and are full of waste, and that life can’t be “real life”, as he said. Therefore, Walden is created to call for spiritual awakening, to remind us that man is a part of nature, and to reveal the political corruption.

With the change of modern life, Walden has attracted more and more attention. The study of this work has been increasing. For example, Zeng Nijuan and Xu Xuemei has introduced the rhetorical device in their article. They mainly analyzed the use of metaphor, personification, paradox and pun to present the rhetorical charm of Walden. Besides, some research emphasizes the themes of the book. Zhou Xuesong explores the “doubleness” in Thoreau’s views of nature and civilization respectively. In terms of his view of nature, he on one hand see nature as the tool for his own spiritual growth, while on the other hand observes nature in detail like an ecologist. In terms of his attitude toward civilization, Thoreau on the one hand criticize slavery and materialism, and on the other hand he identifies himself as a middle-class elite of high education and has imperialist mindset. More scholars stand in the point of ecology of Walden. Furthermore, some studies of the features of Walden’s translation and differences in various translating version have appeared since the influence of this book has increased. These works analyze this famous book in diverse aspect, making great contribution to the understanding of Thoreau’s thoughts, even more, the comprehension of transcendentalism. However, some areas are still untouched. For example, there are few articles introducing the use of analogy in Walden. Therefore, further study is needed, and the research should be dissected deeper and deeper.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

This paper mainly analyzes the rhetorical technique-analogy in Walden. It can be divided into three parts. Firstly, it will introduce Thoreau, his writing style and the main content and topic of Walden. Secondly, the definition of analogy will be given and the types of analogy in the book would be discussed mainly based on chapter 2 (where I lived and what I lived for) and chapter 3 (Brute Neighbors) from three aspects: analogy between human and animals, analogy between human and plants, analogy between life and the cabin. In the last part, it would be a summary of the whole paper, the significance of the research, and the insufficiency would be listed.

During the process of writing this thesis, I need to do researches, look up information and consult the professional so that this study can go further and be more impeccable.

3. 研究计划与安排

before 26th, december settlement of the title

before 25th, february submission of the outline

before 25th, april submission of the first draft

4. 参考文献（12篇以上）

[1]brown,james patrick. anarchy and individualism in american literature:from walden pond to the rise of the new left[d].university of minnesota.bamerican studies,2013.

[2]hohn,donovan.everybody hates henry[j]. new republic, 2015(6):20-24.

[3]鲁玉霞. on the rhetorical charm in walden. 海外英语, 2012(8):183-184.