Ralph Waldo Emerson

“American Confucius”

-- Abraham Lincoln

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Directory: 1, An introduction of Emerson 2, Emerson’s life story 3, Emerson’s major works 4, The evaluation of Emerson 5, Emerson’s words 6, Summary

The Introduction of Emerson

Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-82), American poet and essayist. Through his essays, poems, and lectures, the established he himself as a leading spokesman of transcendentalism and as a major figure in American literature.

Emerson’s Life Story1.Born in Boston, son of a Unitarian

minister and a descendant of a long line of distinguished New England clergymen.

2.Educated at Boston Latin School and at Harvard.

3. Abandoned Unitarianism and went to Europe searching for truth.

4. Founded a Transcendentalists' Club and published a journal.

5.Traveled and gave lectures; quite influential.

Emerson’s Major Works Nature 《论自然》 The American Scholar

《美国学者》 Self-Reliance 《论自

助》 The Over-Soul 《论超

灵》 Compensation 《论补

偿》 Love 《论爱》

Works

Nature, the Bible of Transcendentalism

In 1836 he published anonymously his essay Nature, based on his early lectures.

Works

“Self-Reliance” was first published in his 1841 collection, Essays: First Series.

Theme of Self-Reliance: Be yourself. Trust your own inner voice.

Works

The American Scholar (1837): In this essay, Emerson calls for a distinctive American style, dealing with American subjects. Thus, regarded as “America’s Declaration of Intellectual Independence”

Transcendental Thought

In 1831 makes his first trip to England where he meets poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth who introduce him to Romantic notions of nature and philosophy.

God is located in the

soul of each individual.

The Evaluation of Emerson

He was the first American to call for an independent culture in both Nature and The American Scholar. (America’s Declaration of Intellectual Independence).

As a great prose-poet, Emerson influenced a long line of American poets, including Walt Whitman （惠特曼） , Emily Dickinson （迪金森） , and Robert Frost.

Epigram by Emerson The first wealth is health. 健康是人生第一财富。 A great man is always willing to be little. 伟大的人物总是愿意当小人物的。  Self-trust is the first secret of success. 自信乃成功之第一秘诀。 No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves. 除了你自己以外，没有人能哄骗你离开最后的成功。 Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a fe

w drops on yourself. 幸福是香水 , 你洒在别人身上时 , 自己也会沾上一两滴 .

Summary

R. W. Emerson is a literature master, a great thinker and an excellent orator. In his works he expresses his thoughts and gives good advices to his readers and audience, from which we can learn the characteristics in terms of functionality, invention and imagination.

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The Founder of Tra

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