Question

thoreau alludes to shakespeare in the final line of the text when he writes: \i do not know that this higher knowledge amounts to anything more definite than a novel and grand surprise on a sudden revelation of the insufficiency of all that we called knowledge before,—a discovery that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy.\ how does thoreaus allusion to shakespeare develop his central idea? he reminds his well - educated readers that even shakespeare argued that human knowledge and civilization was limited. he brings in an element of fear by alluding to a play with a ghost in it.

Explanation:

Thoreau uses Shakespeare's well - known idea about the limits of human knowledge. By alluding to Shakespeare, he connects his thought to a well - respected literary source, emphasizing that even great minds like Shakespeare recognized the limitations of what we know. This supports his central idea about the insufficiency of previous knowledge. The allusion is not about fear related to a ghost in a play but about the concept of limited knowledge.

Answer:

He reminds his well - educated readers that even Shakespeare argued that human knowledge and civilization was limited.