Notes on Ralph Waldo EmersonNotes on Ralph Waldo Emerson

Facts about Emerson:Facts about Emerson: Born in Boston, 1803Born in Boston, 1803 In 1832, became a transcendentalist after In 1832, became a transcendentalist after

spending time in Europe with Wordsworth, spending time in Europe with Wordsworth, Coleridge and other writers Coleridge and other writers

Founder of transcendentalism in America Founder of transcendentalism in America

EmersonEmerson

He was a minister that encouraged writers to He was a minister that encouraged writers to move out of the ancestral style of writing and move out of the ancestral style of writing and move into free thinkingmove into free thinking

Transcendentalists: belief that each individual Transcendentalists: belief that each individual could transcend, or move beyond, the physical could transcend, or move beyond, the physical world of the senses into deeper spiritual world of the senses into deeper spiritual experience through free will and intuition. experience through free will and intuition.

EmersonEmerson

In this school of thought, God was not remote and In this school of thought, God was not remote and unknowable; believers understood God and unknowable; believers understood God and themselves by looking into their own souls and by themselves by looking into their own souls and by feeling their own connection to nature.feeling their own connection to nature.

Transcendentalist who still lived in the luxuries of Transcendentalist who still lived in the luxuries of lifelife

1841-44: Published two volumes of essays included 1841-44: Published two volumes of essays included two most famous onestwo most famous ones

He was a major influence on Walt Whitman, Emily He was a major influence on Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Henry David ThoreauDickinson and Henry David Thoreau

TranscendenTranscendentalismtalism

Where do we look for truth?Where do we look for truth?What is the price of progress?What is the price of progress?

Do you chart your own course?Do you chart your own course?Is it patriotic to protest one’s government?Is it patriotic to protest one’s government?

From the Poets to the From the Poets to the TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists

Transcendentalism is a Transcendentalism is a philosophicalphilosophical and and literaryliterary movement that falls within the movement that falls within the boundaries of boundaries of RomanticismRomanticism..

The term The term transcendentalismtranscendentalism is derived from is derived from the word “transcend” or “to rise above.”the word “transcend” or “to rise above.”

The Transcendentalists are essentially The Transcendentalists are essentially Romantics in terms of ideology, but their Romantics in terms of ideology, but their subject matter and genre of writing are subject matter and genre of writing are different.different.

Seven Characteristics of Seven Characteristics of the Transcendentaliststhe Transcendentalists

1.1. Emphasized living a simple life.Emphasized living a simple life.2.2. Stressed a close relationship to nature.Stressed a close relationship to nature.3.3. Celebrated emotions and the imagination.Celebrated emotions and the imagination.4.4. Stressed individualism and self-reliance.Stressed individualism and self-reliance.5.5. Believed intuition (or your gut feelings) can lead to Believed intuition (or your gut feelings) can lead to

knowledge.knowledge.6.6. Believed in the inherent goodness of people; Believed in the inherent goodness of people;

optimistic.optimistic.7.7. Encouraged spiritual well-being over financial well-Encouraged spiritual well-being over financial well-

being.being.

Interests of the Interests of the TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists

Getting back to nature Getting back to nature and simplicity…and simplicity…

They left the industrialized They left the industrialized city for country life.city for country life.

They rejected materialism They rejected materialism for self-production of only for self-production of only the essentials of life.the essentials of life.

They found spiritual truth They found spiritual truth and peace in natural and peace in natural surroundings.surroundings.

Stressing self-reliance and Stressing self-reliance and individualism…individualism…

They took care of They took care of themselves instead of themselves instead of relying on mass-produced relying on mass-produced material goods.material goods.

They believed that all They believed that all humans are intuitively humans are intuitively capable of knowing the truth capable of knowing the truth without the aid of the without the aid of the church or government.church or government.

They protested the They protested the government when they government when they believed it was wrong rather believed it was wrong rather than blending in with the than blending in with the majority.majority.

Genre of the Genre of the TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists

The Transcendentalists primarily composed The Transcendentalists primarily composed essaysessays.. An An essayessay is a short work of nonfiction that offers a is a short work of nonfiction that offers a

writer’s opinion on a particular subject.writer’s opinion on a particular subject. Most Transcendentalists began by recording ideas in Most Transcendentalists began by recording ideas in

a a journaljournal; they then created essays to give these ideas ; they then created essays to give these ideas structurestructure and and refine concepts.refine concepts.

Essays fall into two categories: Essays fall into two categories: informalinformal—adopts a —adopts a more casual tone and may include humor and more casual tone and may include humor and unconventional topics—and unconventional topics—and formalformal—explores topics —explores topics in a serious and organized manner.in a serious and organized manner.

Four Elements of an Four Elements of an EssayEssay

OrganizationOrganization: arrangement of the main ideas and : arrangement of the main ideas and supporting details. Ex. Narrative, cause-and-effect, supporting details. Ex. Narrative, cause-and-effect, and compare-and-contrast.and compare-and-contrast.

Supporting detailsSupporting details: facts, opinions, reasons, sensory : facts, opinions, reasons, sensory details, anecdotes, and examples that support the details, anecdotes, and examples that support the main idea.main idea.

DictionDiction: the way a writer uses and arranges language.: the way a writer uses and arranges language. Tone: the expression of a writer’s attitude toward a Tone: the expression of a writer’s attitude toward a

subject.subject.

The The Transcendentalists Transcendentalists

at Work!at Work!

Henry Goes to Fitchburg

Questions About the Questions About the VideoVideo

What was the big difference between Henry What was the big difference between Henry and his friend?and his friend?

Which bear seemed happiest?Which bear seemed happiest? Do you think the author is biased towards one Do you think the author is biased towards one

particular side?particular side? Which bear are you most similar to? How?Which bear are you most similar to? How? In what ways does this video demonstrate In what ways does this video demonstrate

Transcendental thought?Transcendental thought?

Facts about Thoreau:Facts about Thoreau:

Born 1817 in Concord, MASSBorn 1817 in Concord, MASS Started writing nature poetry in 1840 after Started writing nature poetry in 1840 after

meeting Emersonmeeting Emerson Transcendentalist that actually practiced what Transcendentalist that actually practiced what

he preachedhe preached He worked for Emerson as a caretaker of his He worked for Emerson as a caretaker of his

homehome

Facts about Thoreau:Facts about Thoreau: In 1845, started his 2 year, 2 month, 2 day stay at In 1845, started his 2 year, 2 month, 2 day stay at

Walden Pond (which was on Emerson’s property) Walden Pond (which was on Emerson’s property) Coined the term “Civil Disobedience” after Coined the term “Civil Disobedience” after

spending a night in jail after refusing to pay a poll spending a night in jail after refusing to pay a poll tax that helped support slaverytax that helped support slavery

He was a major influence on Gandhi, Martin He was a major influence on Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.Luther King Jr.

Known as “Father of Environmentalism” and Known as “Father of Environmentalism” and biggest influence on transcendentalism biggest influence on transcendentalism

HomeworkHomework

Read and Annotate “Walden”Read and Annotate “Walden” Discussion Question- “Do you ever get overloaded Discussion Question- “Do you ever get overloaded

with technology, noise? Do you ever need quiet in with technology, noise? Do you ever need quiet in order to unwind and think?” order to unwind and think?”

Complete chart in notesComplete chart in notes