Dance to the Dance to the Beat of a Beat of a

DIFFERENT DIFFERENT DRUM!DRUM!Transcendentalism Transcendentalism

(and a bit on Romanticism)(and a bit on Romanticism)

First, the First, the Romantic Romantic MovementMovement

"Romanticism valued imagination "Romanticism valued imagination and emotion over rationality" and emotion over rationality"

What is What is Romanticism?Romanticism?

An artistic and intellectual movementAn artistic and intellectual movement Ideas originated in late 18th century Western Ideas originated in late 18th century Western

EuropeEurope Stressed strong emotion (trepidation, awe and Stressed strong emotion (trepidation, awe and

horror) as human experiencehorror) as human experience Individual imagination as a critical authority, which Individual imagination as a critical authority, which

permitted freedom within or even from classical permitted freedom within or even from classical notions of form in artnotions of form in art

Overturning of previous social conventions, Overturning of previous social conventions, particularly the position of the aristocracy—anyone particularly the position of the aristocracy—anyone can see the beauty of life and write about itcan see the beauty of life and write about it

Notice: Romance and romanticism are two totally different Notice: Romance and romanticism are two totally different conceptsconcepts

What? Why? How?What? Why? How? Reason and revolution…ok…now, tell me Reason and revolution…ok…now, tell me

a story! People want more fictiona story! People want more fiction All kinds of immigrants coming to the US All kinds of immigrants coming to the US

have different backgrounds and cultural have different backgrounds and cultural stories…remember the creation mythsstories…remember the creation myths

Less need for persuasive, more time for Less need for persuasive, more time for leisure and enjoyable texts, time to explore leisure and enjoyable texts, time to explore ideas and storiesideas and stories

The idea that America has a culture and The idea that America has a culture and its own stories to tellits own stories to tell

The RomanticsThe Romantics are the are the spring board for the spring board for the

TranscendentalistsTranscendentalistsTranscendentalism—the first truly Transcendentalism—the first truly

American Literary Movement!American Literary Movement!

Romantics

Imaginative/Romantics

Dark Romantics

Transcendentalists

Say What?Say What?

Trans-cen-den-tal-ismTrans-cen-den-tal-ism

How did TranscendentalismHow did Transcendentalism

1840-1855, literature in America experienced a 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance—rebirth called the New England Renaissance—later renamedlater renamed

Americans begin exploring their own ideas of BIG Americans begin exploring their own ideas of BIG concepts: nature, religion, government, etc.concepts: nature, religion, government, etc.

Through poetry, short stories, novels, and other Through poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a works, writers during this period established a clear American voiceclear American voice

No longer did they see their work as less No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authorsinfluential than that of European authors

What is What is TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

?? To Transcend:To Transcend:– To pass beyond the limitsTo pass beyond the limits– To be greater than, as in intensity or power To be greater than, as in intensity or power – To surpass To surpass – To exist above and independent of (material experience To exist above and independent of (material experience

or the universe)or the universe)

Transcendentalism based on concepts that Transcendentalism based on concepts that humans could go BEYOND our confines (mostly of humans could go BEYOND our confines (mostly of civilization) and become more than ourselves, civilization) and become more than ourselves, become something greater…WOW!become something greater…WOW!– The ultimate goal is to reach the UNIVERSAL TRUTH!The ultimate goal is to reach the UNIVERSAL TRUTH!

What is universal What is universal Truth?Truth? This refers to an idea that in determining the This refers to an idea that in determining the

ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must other important matters, one must transcendtranscend, or , or go beyond, everyday human experience in the go beyond, everyday human experience in the physical world. physical world.

The writers focused on intuition, self-reliance, The writers focused on intuition, self-reliance, individualism, and a love of nature as ways to individualism, and a love of nature as ways to behold the universal truthbehold the universal truth

To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuitiontruths of life through intuition

Based on individual’s impressions rather than Based on individual’s impressions rather than logic; emotional, not rational experienceslogic; emotional, not rational experiences

What Do What Do Transcendentalists Transcendentalists

believe ?believe ? Transcendentalists were also idealistsTranscendentalists were also idealists Idealism: a theory everything that exists only exists Idealism: a theory everything that exists only exists

once your mind perceives it; therefore, reality is once your mind perceives it; therefore, reality is created in your mindcreated in your mind

– Do you believe in human perfectibility? Do you strive to be Do you believe in human perfectibility? Do you strive to be the best you can be?the best you can be?

• Transcendentalists also believed in human Transcendentalists also believed in human perfectibility and worked hard to achieve this perfectibility and worked hard to achieve this goal goal

• (bonus: who else have we read that fits into this (bonus: who else have we read that fits into this category?)category?)

How do they How do they perceive the perceive the

world?world? Everything in the world, including humans, is Everything in the world, including humans, is a reflection of the Divine Soula reflection of the Divine Soul

The physical facts of the natural world are a The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal worlddoorway to the spiritual or ideal world

Individualism must outweigh external Individualism must outweigh external authority and blind conformity to custom and authority and blind conformity to custom and traditiontradition

Spontaneous feelings and intuition are Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationalityrationality

Who came up with Who came up with this idea?this idea?

Ralph Waldo Emerson was the philosopher and teacherRalph Waldo Emerson was the philosopher and teacher Henry David Thoreau was the student and the Henry David Thoreau was the student and the

practitionerpractitioner

These are the These are the big dogsbig dogs of of

TranscendentalisTranscendentalismm

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson Explore ideas of Explore ideas of

– the individual's unity with nature, the individual's unity with nature, the divineness of the individual,the divineness of the individual, the need to live in the present, the need to live in the present, and the role of the poet in societyand the role of the poet in society

““Although he wrote no fiction and less poetry Although he wrote no fiction and less poetry than many other poets, Ralph Waldo than many other poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson is perhaps the most important Emerson is perhaps the most important figure in the history of American literature.”figure in the history of American literature.”

Emerson, cont.Emerson, cont. In the 1830s, he became the leader of In the 1830s, he became the leader of

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism ““Emerson's insistence that humans live in the Emerson's insistence that humans live in the

present and trust their own impulses helped present and trust their own impulses helped American writers forge their own identities at a American writers forge their own identities at a time when European influence was still high and time when European influence was still high and American confidence perhaps was still low.” American confidence perhaps was still low.”

After hearing Emerson deliver a speech, fellow After hearing Emerson deliver a speech, fellow writer Oliver Wendell Holmes called the speech writer Oliver Wendell Holmes called the speech "our intellectual Declaration of Independence.“"our intellectual Declaration of Independence.“

Emerson's chief contribution was his enormous Emerson's chief contribution was his enormous influence on other writers and thinkers.influence on other writers and thinkers.

My Goodness! He’s My Goodness! He’s Brilliant!Brilliant!

(Yes, he is. He entered Harvard at 14!)(Yes, he is. He entered Harvard at 14!) Emerson had a hard life full of death of Emerson had a hard life full of death of

loved onesloved ones– The tragedies helped him come up with some The tragedies helped him come up with some

amazing ideasamazing ideas Do you think of the glass half empty or half Do you think of the glass half empty or half

full?full?– Emerson saw the glass as half full. His Emerson saw the glass as half full. His

optimism led him to believe that we can find optimism led him to believe that we can find God directly in nature.God directly in nature.

One of the COOLEST people EVER!One of the COOLEST people EVER!

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau(1817-1862)(1817-1862)

Not your average guy…Not your average guy… Took what Emerson spoke and wrote about and Took what Emerson spoke and wrote about and

put it into practiceput it into practice– famous experiment in living close to naturefamous experiment in living close to nature– famous night in jail to protest an inhuman institution and famous night in jail to protest an inhuman institution and

an unjust waran unjust war– wrote essays and memoirs about his experiences wrote essays and memoirs about his experiences

exploring his own universal truths, to achieve his own exploring his own universal truths, to achieve his own idea of perfectionidea of perfection

Thoreau, cont.Thoreau, cont.

Didn’t see eye to eye with the “typical” Didn’t see eye to eye with the “typical” AmericanAmerican– "The greater part of what my neighbors call "The greater part of what my neighbors call

good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?"  behaved so well?" 

And in his free time…And in his free time…

1.1. A philosopher and creative artist: A philosopher and creative artist: “Thoreau dedicated “Thoreau dedicated his life, skills, and classical learning to the Emersonian his life, skills, and classical learning to the Emersonian call for the creation of an original American literature and call for the creation of an original American literature and philosophy”philosophy”

2.2. A scientific originator: A scientific originator: became wildlife expert and became wildlife expert and botanistbotanist

3.3. An antislavery activist: An antislavery activist: In the 1850s he was a risk-taker In the 1850s he was a risk-taker on the underground railroad, and an outspoken defender on the underground railroad, and an outspoken defender even of extremism to defeat proslavery forces in a even of extremism to defeat proslavery forces in a divided America. divided America.

Ideas to consider as we Ideas to consider as we begin…begin…

Is there a God? Is there a God? Where is he/she?Where is he/she?Why does she/she allow things to happen? Why does she/she allow things to happen? Will we ever meet this person?Will we ever meet this person?

What is beyond the earth? What is beyond the earth? Are there aliens? Are there aliens? Does the universe really go on forever? Does the universe really go on forever? What is What is foreverforever…do I know…can I comprehend? …do I know…can I comprehend?

How well do I know me? How well do I know me? Do I understand how my mind and body function? Do I understand how my mind and body function? How is my body so intricately related? How is my body so intricately related? How did we get here? How did we get here? What can I do to make myself a better personWhat can I do to make myself a better person

TranscendentalismTranscendentalismBackground QuizBackground Quiz

1.1. Identify one reason why transcendentalism started.Identify one reason why transcendentalism started.2.2. Identify the two main people associated with this literary movement.Identify the two main people associated with this literary movement.3.3. They believed we are each a reflection of what?They believed we are each a reflection of what?

______________________.______________________.4.4. The ultimate goal of this movement was for individuals to find what?The ultimate goal of this movement was for individuals to find what?

____________________________5.5. Why is this movement important to American literary history? Why is this movement important to American literary history?

_____________._____________.What are the two main principals that transcendentalist believe in?What are the two main principals that transcendentalist believe in?

6. _______________6. _______________7. _______7. _______

True or False:True or False:8. The transcendentalists valued reason above all.8. The transcendentalists valued reason above all.9. This movement focused on self-reliance, individuality and 9. This movement focused on self-reliance, individuality and

nonconformity.nonconformity.10. Part of this movement was based on the concept that Americans 10. Part of this movement was based on the concept that Americans

should embrace European influences.should embrace European influences.