Civil Disobedience
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes American People vs. The American Government Justice vs. Law State Submission as a Pretense for Patriotism Civil Disobedience
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Henry David Thoreau The American Government The American People The Prisoner
Terms
All Terms Civil Disobedience
Symbols
All Symbols God
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Ethos Genre Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Paradox Pathos Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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Civil Disobedience

by

Henry David Thoreau

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • American People vs. The American Government Theme Icon
    American People vs. The American Government
  • Justice vs. Law Theme Icon
    Justice vs. Law
  • State Submission as a Pretense for Patriotism Theme Icon
    State Submission as a Pretense for Patriotism
  • Civil Disobedience  Theme Icon
    Civil Disobedience
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Henry David Thoreau
  • The American Government
  • The American People
  • The Prisoner
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Civil Disobedience
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • God Symbol Icon
    God
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Ethos
  • Genre
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Paradox
  • Pathos
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Civil Disobedience

Civil Disobedience Symbols

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God

God

Thoreau uses God as a symbol in two ways. First, he uses God as a symbol of morality and justice—things that he believes the American government lacks. He questions how government supporters can claim that…

read analysis of God

God Symbol Icon
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Civil Disobedience
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Civil Disobedience
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God
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God

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