Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

““Nature”Nature”

““Self-Reliance”Self-Reliance”

Tenets of TranscendentalismTenets of Transcendentalism

Human senses are limited. Human senses are limited. They convey knowledge of the physical They convey knowledge of the physical

world, but deeper truths can be grasped world, but deeper truths can be grasped only through intuition.only through intuition.

The observation of nature illuminates the The observation of nature illuminates the nature of human beings.nature of human beings.

Tenets of TranscendentalismTenets of Transcendentalism

God, nature, and humanity are united in a God, nature, and humanity are united in a shared universal soul, or Over-Soul.shared universal soul, or Over-Soul.

About the SelectionAbout the Selection

In this excerpt, Emerson expresses his In this excerpt, Emerson expresses his belief that the meaning of existence can belief that the meaning of existence can be found while exploring the natural world.be found while exploring the natural world.

He describes how, through his exploration He describes how, through his exploration of nature, he has discovered that he is of nature, he has discovered that he is spiritually connected with the universe, spiritually connected with the universe, with God, and with every living thing.with God, and with every living thing.

AnalysisAnalysis

What does Emerson mean when he talks What does Emerson mean when he talks of a “transparent eyeball”?of a “transparent eyeball”?

““I become a transparent eyeball” is a I become a transparent eyeball” is a jarring image.jarring image.

Emerson means that he sees everything.Emerson means that he sees everything.The metaphor suggests the poet is like a The metaphor suggests the poet is like a

single, huge eye.single, huge eye.

AnalysisAnalysis

According to Emerson, what is the According to Emerson, what is the relationship between Emerson and relationship between Emerson and nature?nature?

Emerson feels spiritually a part of nature Emerson feels spiritually a part of nature and every living thing, as well as God.and every living thing, as well as God.

Emerson says that nature allows us to Emerson says that nature allows us to become transparent eyeballs, seeing all, become transparent eyeballs, seeing all, but remaining detached from the business but remaining detached from the business of the world.of the world.

Critical ReadingCritical Reading

What emotions does Emerson experience What emotions does Emerson experience when in the woods?when in the woods?

He experiences complete and total delight.He experiences complete and total delight.

Challenging the TextChallenging the Text

According to Emerson, from where does According to Emerson, from where does the power to produce “this delight” come the power to produce “this delight” come from?from?

The power comes from human beings, not The power comes from human beings, not nature, or from a combination of both.nature, or from a combination of both.

AnalysisAnalysis

““Mean egotism” vanishes in the woods.Mean egotism” vanishes in the woods. ““Mean egotism” could be defined as petty Mean egotism” could be defined as petty

narcissism.narcissism.Nature replaces “mean egotism” with Nature replaces “mean egotism” with

divinity and delight.divinity and delight.

AnalysisAnalysis

Emerson becomes a “transparent eyeball” Emerson becomes a “transparent eyeball” when he sheds “mean egotism” amidst when he sheds “mean egotism” amidst nature.nature.

Through this shedding process, he Through this shedding process, he becomes connected to nature and God.becomes connected to nature and God.

Emerson, like everyone and everything, is Emerson, like everyone and everything, is connected to the Universal Being.connected to the Universal Being.

AnalysisAnalysis

The power to produce delight comes from The power to produce delight comes from a harmony between man and nature.a harmony between man and nature.

Human beings and nature are forever Human beings and nature are forever intertwined, but not necessarily is that intertwined, but not necessarily is that relationship serene.relationship serene.

AnalysisAnalysis

Our experience with nature is never the Our experience with nature is never the same way twice. same way twice.

Sometimes nature is less welcoming. Sometimes nature is less welcoming. It depends, in part, on nature’s mood and, It depends, in part, on nature’s mood and,

in part, on the emotions we bring to the in part, on the emotions we bring to the woods.woods.

Nature reflects our emotions and our Nature reflects our emotions and our mood.mood.

AnalysisAnalysis

Nature teaches us how we are connected Nature teaches us how we are connected to everyone and everything around us.to everyone and everything around us.

Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

Speaker – Ralph Waldo EmersonSpeaker – Ralph Waldo EmersonAudience – HumanityAudience – HumanityPurpose – To informPurpose – To informPosition – Only through nature can man Position – Only through nature can man

truly understand his place in the universe, truly understand his place in the universe, and only through nature can we and only through nature can we experience true delight.experience true delight.

Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

Visual imageryVisual imageryPhilosophical tone Philosophical tone Elevated dictionElevated dictionFigurative languageFigurative languageAlternating syntax (long and Alternating syntax (long and

short sentences)short sentences)

““Self-Reliance”Self-Reliance”

Emerson exhorts readers to avoid blindly Emerson exhorts readers to avoid blindly conforming to the ideas and behavior conforming to the ideas and behavior dictated by society or peers. dictated by society or peers.

Instead, he urges people to think and act Instead, he urges people to think and act independently.independently.

““Trust thyself”Trust thyself”

What does the passage beginning “Trust What does the passage beginning “Trust thyself” tell you about Emerson’s belief in thyself” tell you about Emerson’s belief in the importance of the individual?the importance of the individual?

He believes the individual’s importance is He believes the individual’s importance is from God and that people must therefore from God and that people must therefore honor it and trust in it.honor it and trust in it.

InterpretationInterpretation

What does Emerson believe about being What does Emerson believe about being true to oneself?true to oneself?

Emerson believes it produces the best Emerson believes it produces the best work and the most spiritual peace.work and the most spiritual peace.

He believes that unless one is true to He believes that unless one is true to oneself, one will never find inspiration.oneself, one will never find inspiration.

According to Emerson:According to Emerson:

What is society’s main purpose?What is society’s main purpose?To conspire against the individualTo conspire against the individualEmerson thinks that people should not Emerson thinks that people should not

care how others perceive them.care how others perceive them.

According to Emerson:According to Emerson:

What do Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, What do Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton have in common?have in common?

They were all misunderstood.They were all misunderstood.Emerson points out that some of the Emerson points out that some of the

greatest people who ever lived were greatest people who ever lived were misunderstood.misunderstood.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

““Trust thyself: every heart Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron vibrates to that iron string.”string.”

““A foolish consistency is A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little the hobgoblin of little minds.”minds.”

““Speak what you think Speak what you think now in hard words and now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard tomorrow thinks in hard words again.”words again.”

According to Emerson:According to Emerson:

What role does the “divine” have in What role does the “divine” have in determining each person’s circumstances?determining each person’s circumstances?

The divine is God’s idea of what each of The divine is God’s idea of what each of us might be if we had the courage to live us might be if we had the courage to live up to our full potentialup to our full potential

The reason we live is to seek out God’s The reason we live is to seek out God’s purpose for us and to pursue it without purpose for us and to pursue it without fear of society’s pressures and opinions.fear of society’s pressures and opinions.

Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

Speaker – Ralph Waldo EmersonSpeaker – Ralph Waldo EmersonAudience – People who fear Audience – People who fear

nonconformitynonconformityPurpose – to persuadePurpose – to persuadePosition – People should think for Position – People should think for

themselves and not be concerned that themselves and not be concerned that their thoughts may be different from others their thoughts may be different from others in society.in society.

Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

Visual Imagery Visual Imagery Auditory ImageryAuditory ImageryFigurative languageFigurative languageElevated dictionElevated dictionAphorismsAphorismsRhetorical QuestionsRhetorical QuestionsAlternating syntax (long with semicolons; Alternating syntax (long with semicolons;

short, concise)short, concise)