Library     Excerpt from “Civil Disobedience”     Paired Texts

Paired Texts > Excerpt from “Civil Disobedience”

by Henry David Thoreau

1849

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

12th Grade Essay 1120L
Excerpt from Walden: “Economy”
  • Henry David Thoreau
  • 1854

In this excerpt from Walden, Thoreau questions the value of integrating technology into society.

Pair “Excerpt from ‘Civil Disobedience’” with “Excerpt from Walden: ‘Economy’” and have students compare the themes in each text. What does Thoreau’s argument in Walden have in common with “Excerpt from ‘Civil Disobedience’”? What is Thoreau’s idea of a life well-spent?

11th Grade Speech 1170L
Testimony Before the Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment
  • Gloria Steinem
  • 1970

Gloria Steinem (1934-present) is an American feminist, journalist, author, and social-political activist. She gained national recognition as a leader of the “Second Wave” feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. On May 6th, 1970, Gloria Steinem stood before the Senate and delivered this speech, advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and seeking to dispel myths about women.

Pair “Excerpt from ‘Civil Disobedience’” with “Testimony Before the Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment” and have students compare the perspectives on creating social change in each text. How is Gloria Steinem’s approach to activism similar or different from Thoreau’s conception of activism? Ask students to discussion which version they consider more effective.