Nature and the City | Analysis

This study guide will help you analyze the text “Nature and the City” by Eric Hoffer. The text is found in Wider Contexts, p. 211. We will show you examples of elements in the text that will be relevant for your analysis. In these notes, we will focus on structure, sender, receiver, theme and message, characteristics of the text, and help you put the text in perspective.

Presentation of the text

Title: “Nature and the City”
Author: Eric Hoffer
Date of Publication: 1968
Genre: Essay

Eric Hoffer (1898-1983) was an American philosopher whose works focused on moral and social issues. Hoffer was an unusual philosopher because he was rarely involved in the academia and chose to live all of his life as a working-class man. Today he is mostly known for two books, The True Believer and The Ordeal of Change.

Topic of the text

“Nature and the City” discusses the relationship between man and nature, focusing on American society. There are two main views on the relationship between man and nature. One view supports the idea that man should live in communion with nature. The other argues that man is in a constant fight with nature. Hoffer’s essay supports the latter view. The philosopher argues that humankind has thrived on Earth precisely because of our ability to tame nature by building cities.

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of non-fiction? See our general guide to non-fiction analysis.