Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.

Challenge the textRestate Emerson’s basic opinion about society.

Identify and evaluate the evidence Emerson uses to

support that opinion.

Provide examples from everyday life to support and refute

Emerson’s opinion of society.

Transcendentalism

• An intellectual movement of the 19th century. Transcendentalists were interested in the human spirit and thought that an exploration of nature helped people understand universal truths.

Transcendentalism

• Believed the individual was at the center of the universe, more powerful than any institution whether political or religious (384).

Transcendentalism

• Transcendentalism lasted on 10 years and only produced two major works: Emerson’s Nature, and Thoreau’s Walden.

Nature

• What does this work reveal to you about Transcendentalism?

Transcendentalism

• Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered the “father” of Transcendentalism in many ways.

• Struggled with his faith so much, that he began questioning his own beliefs and establishing his own philosophy

• As he struggled with his own faith, he struggled with the notion that machines might in the future replace people and the concerned him

Transcendentalism

• Henry David Thoreau was Emerson’s protégé and followed in his footsteps by building a rough cottage in the woods at Walden Pond where he went to live alone in harmony with nature. He also expressed important ideas about change in government control with Civil Disobedience. He stressed the importance of the people as individuals being able to govern themselves.

• Abolitionist

ThanatopsisThanatopsis

“Death Vision”• T• P• C• A• S• T• T

ThemeTheme

Cycle of LIFE and DEATH as Cycle of LIFE and DEATH as connected to NATUREconnected to NATURE

The Cycle of LIFE

• The Cycle of life can be divided into 4 stages. In your opinion, what are the 4 stages? What would you use to symbolize each stage? What emotions, ideals, or connotations do people associate with each stage? Why do these stages apply to all cultures and all people?

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

• “The Raven”; “Fall of the House of Usher”; “A Tell Tale Heart”; “The Bells”

• Troubled life: father deserted him, mother died, gambling debts at school, expelled for academic violations at USMA—Westpoint, estranged from stepfather et.

• Accepted as the inventor of the detective story; psychological thrillers are still imitated today

• Remains popular even today

Romantic and PoeRomantic and Poe

• Poe wrote mainly with a Gothic style. Gothic style is characterized by the following elements: – The story is set in bleak or remote places.– The plot involves macabre or violent incidents.– Characters are in psychological and/or physical

torment.– A supernatural or otherworldly element is often

present.

• How does this fall under the “romantic umbrella”?

The BellsThe Bells

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

““The Bells”The Bells”

• TT

• PP

• CC

• AA

• SS

• TT

• TT

Stanza I

Stanza II

Stanza 3

Stanza IVStanza IV

““The Bells”The Bells”

• TT

• PP

• CC

• AA

• SS

• TT

• TT

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

• Alliteration

• Onomatopoeia

• Refrain

Emily DickinsonEmily Dickinson

• Wrote over 1775 poems but only published 7 before her death due to insecurities

• Asked her family to destroy her poems—they didn’t

• Lived as a recluse, isolated from society; she dressed only in white and only her family was allowed to see her.

• Died in the same house she was born in

““Because I could not stop for Because I could not stop for death--”death--”

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• PP

• CC

• AA

• SS

• TT

• TT

Because I could not stop for Because I could not stop for Death—Death—

Emily Dickinson

““Because I could not stop for Because I could not stop for death--”death--”

• TT

• PP

• CC

• AA

• SS

• TT

• TT

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

• AlliterationAlliteration

• PersonificationPersonification

• ThemeTheme

• MoodMood

Lyric PoemLyric Poem

• It expresses the feelings of a single speaker’s journey to death…– Similar to Poe? How?

(Adapted from) How Death is Handled in Various Cultures

Charlotte Kuchinsky  

Death and Cultures

1) Why do all cultures have clear identifiable 1) Why do all cultures have clear identifiable rituals for handling death? rituals for handling death?

2) Compare/Contrast Poe’s and Dickinson’s 2) Compare/Contrast Poe’s and Dickinson’s themes to a death ritual you are familiar themes to a death ritual you are familiar with? with?

3) Explain how these poems are Romantic. 3) Explain how these poems are Romantic.

4) How does nature play a clear and connecting 4) How does nature play a clear and connecting role in all of the Romantic literature we have role in all of the Romantic literature we have seen? seen?

How do you View the Cycle? How do you View the Cycle?

• Using your free write from earlier, compose your own version of these poems. Your poem must include at least 2 of the following…– Alliteration– Onomatopoeia– Personification– Refrain