Civil Disobedience

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the essay over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Thoreau notes that “Action from principle,—the perception and the performance of right,—changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary, and does not consist wholly with any thing which was. It not only divides states and churches, it divides families; aye, it divides the individual, separating the diabolical in him from the divine.”

• Summarize this quote. What is Thoreau’s main argument here? (topic sentence)
• What is one example that Thoreau uses in the text to substantiate this point?
• How can one interpret this quote in relation to the theme of Individualism and the Government?

2. While Thoreau uses many examples of Fighting Injustice With Passive Resistance, his most personal example is his time in prison.

• How is his time in prison an example of passive resistance? (topic sentence)
• Describe his perception of his night in prison.
• How did his time in prison change his perspective on society?

3. Thoreau makes a link between the problems with materialism and taxation.

• In what ways is Anti-Materialism and Self-Reliance essential to protesting a corrupt government? (topic sentence)
• Find an example to substantiate your point.
• How does Anti-Materialism and Self-Reliance fit into the broader concerns of transcendentalist philosophy?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Within two decades of the publication of “Civil Disobedience,” the United States fought a divisive Civil War. Based on the essay’s arguments regarding rebellion, slavery, and war, do you believe that Thoreau would have supported or opposed the Civil War?

2. What does civil disobedience mean? How can one be civil in disobedience? Do you believe civil disobedience is an effective tactic? Why or why not?