Ralph Waldo Emerson

An American poet, philosopher, and essayist

Early Background• Born May 25, 1803 in Boston, Mass.• Father was a clergyman• Attended Boston Latin School and

Harvard University. Also went to school to become a licensed minister in 1826

• Married in 1829. Wife died in 1831 of tuberculosis.

• Resigns from the clergy

New Direction in Life• In 1832 he travels to Europe. Meets with

other notable literary men.• Returns home in 1833. Begins to lecture

on spiritual existence and ethical living.• Moves to Concord, Mass.• Remarries and starts a family.• He joins with other writers in the area

with similar ideas. Formed American Transcendentalists.

Transcendentalism• A belief that an individual could move

beyond the physical world of the senses to have deeper spiritual experiences through free will and intuition. Believers understood the impact of organized religion by looking into their own soul and being conscious of their own connection to nature.

• Encourages writers to find their own styles and not follow the styles of others before them.

Emerson’s Writings• Essays “Self-Reliance,” “Friendship,”

and “Experience” were his best known works.

• 1840s very productive time of his work.

• Influenced other writers, philosophers, teachers.

• Continued to lecture. Became very well-known. Experienced success.

End of Emerson’s Life• Still worked but didn’t produce much

writing that had as much impact as his earlier work

• Spoke out for causes such as the abolition of slavery

• Was in failing health, but he continued to work, write, and lecture

• Died April 27, 1882