Ralph Waldo Emerson and Romanticism

What is Romanticism?

Literary movement during the 19th century (1800 – 1860)

Values feeling and intuition over reason

Imagination able to discover truths that rational mind could not

Core Beliefs of Romanticism Affirmation of

feeling/intuition over reason

Faith in imagination, inner experience, and youthful innocence rather than educated sophistication

Belief in unspoiled natural world, as opposed to artificial civilization

Individual freedom and the worth of the individual

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Teacher and Priest School teacher in

Boston. 1823 graduated

from seminary school & became a priest to follow in footsteps of father.

Introduction to Romantic Thought

1831- first trip to England - meets poets Coleridge and Wordsworth– introduce him to Romantic notions of nature and philosophy.

1835- writes Nature, where he describes how humans find God within nature:

“In the woods is perpetual youth… In the woods we return to reason and faith.”

“Nature” pp 240-242

As we read, find five quotes that stand out to you. Lightly mark these quotes with pencil, and after we finish reading, you will write the quotations in your notes.

We will discuss the quotations as a group, and work through what points Emerson is making regarding nature and the individual.

Personification: A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.

Examples:

“But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile” (241).

“The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and I to them” (242).

“Self-Reliance” pp 245-247

We will read the excerpt of the essay as a group, and then you will answer a series of questions on the essay, which we will later discuss.

Romantic Writers We Will Study

Henry David Thoreau “Resistance to Civil

Government” aka “Civil Disobedience” pp 269-274

Edgar Allan Poe “The Pit and the

Pendulum” pp 345-355

Ralph Waldo Emerson “Nature” pp 240-

242 “Self-Reliance” pp

245-247