Chapter 5, Walden Pond Summary and Analysis

Walden Pond is a deep and mostly unspoiled body of water near Concord. Thoreau has always loved it, so one day decides to build a cabin on the shore and see how simply and naturally he can live.

In March of 1845, he picks a spot and begins to cut down white pine trees for the walls. He writes in his journal of the fog and snow melting away and the lovely birdsongs penetrating the morning mist. He explains in detail how he cuts the logs to interlock for walls and how he sits down and eats a simple lunch of bread and butter while enjoying the smell of the pines. Work on the cabin goes on for weeks. He transforms a woodchuck burrow into the start of his cellar, and invites some hard-working friends over to help...