Transcendentalism

Complete the Transcendentalism Preview

Handout

What does “transcendentalism” mean?

• Belief in a higher kind of knowledge than can be achieved by human reason

• A loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform, and the general state of American culture.

• Transcendentalism had different meanings for each person involved in the movement.

“From 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance. Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works,

writers during this period established a clear American voice. No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authors. Transcendentalism was a

part of this “flowering” of American literature. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were important

voices in this philosophical movement that sought to have individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level. To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not

material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition. Emerson was the philosopher and

teacher. Thoreau was the student and the practitioner.”-Web of American Transcendentalism.

Basic Premise #1

OVERSOUL• Man, universe and

nature are intertwined.

• All three share the same soul.

• A universal spirit to which all things return after death

• Proposed by Emerson

Basic Premise #2

OPTIMISTIC• All is good• Evil is an illusion

Basic Premise #3

INDIVIDUALISM

• Non-conformity• Free thought• Self-reliance• Be true to one’s own inner

perception or intuition• Unlimited potential of each

individual (confidence)

Basic Premise #4

NATURE IS TRUTH.

• It can be a guide to higher understanding.

• Symbolizes God or the inner life of human beings

Who were the Transcendentalists?

• Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Henry David Thoreau

• Amos Bronson Alcott

• Margaret Fuller

• Ellery Channing

Where did it come from?

•Ralph Waldo Emerson gave German philosopher Immanuel Kant credit for popularizing the term “transcendentalism.” (1700s)•It began as a reform movement in the Unitarian church (encourages people to find their own spirituality)•It is not a religion—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality.•It centered around Boston and Concord, MA. in the mid-1800’s.•Emerson first expressed his philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay Nature.

Who was Immanuel Kant?

• Russian philosopher influential in Germany

• Believed everything is acquired through experience but reason plays a major role

Development in the US

• Emerson and the Transcendentalists led the search for truth– In nature– Through self-reliance

• Transcendentalism began with a few and grew

• This philosophy lasted for several years in New England

• Ended as the Civil War began

Roots of Transcendentalism• Puritanism

– Belief in God as a powerful force– Belief that each individual can experience God first-hand

• Romanticism– Placed central importance on emotions and the individual– Emphasized intuition and inner perception of truth that

differs from reason– Emphasized nature’s beauty, strangeness, and mystery– Emphasized individual expression and artistic freedom

Ralph Waldo Emerson• 1803-1882• Unitarian minister- resigned

after 3 years• Poet and essayist• Founded the Transcendental

Club• Popular lecturer• Banned from Harvard for 40

years following his Divinity School address

• Supporter of abolitionism• Wrote Nature and

Self-Reliance

Henry David Thoreau

• 1817-1862• Schoolteacher, essayist,

poet• Most famous for Walden

and Civil Disobedience• Influenced environmental

movement• Supporter of abolitionism

Amos Bronson Alcott

• 1799-1888• Teacher and writer• Founder of Temple

School and Fruitlands• Introduced art, music,

P.E., nature study, and field trips; banished corporal punishment

• Father of novelist Louisa May Alcott

Margaret Fuller

• 1810-1850• Journalist, critic,

women’s rights activist• First editor of The Dial, a

transcendental journal• First female journalist

to work on a major newspaper—The New York Tribune

• Taught at Alcott’s Temple School

Ellery Channing

• 1818-1901• Poet and especially

close friend of Thoreau

• Published the first biography of Thoreau in 1873—Thoreau, The Poet-Naturalist

Review

• Non-Conformity

• Self-Reliance

• Free Thought

• Confidence

• Importance of Nature

Read Emerson Biography p. 388

Nature- p. 390

Answer Questions

Read Self Reliance p. 393Answer Questions

Resources

• American Transcendental Web: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html

• American Transcendentalism: http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm

• PAL: Chapter Four http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html

Complete the Simplify, Simplify, Simplify handout

Pathway around WALDEN POND in

Concord, MA

Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond

Who was Henry David Thoreau?

• Read p. 404

• Read Walden p. 407

• Michael Scott: Survivor Man

• What did Michael Scott hope to achieve by going out to the wilderness?

• How does this compare to Thoreau’s choice to live on Walden Pond and his motivation?

Walden

• “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them…” (Thoreau 412).

• “Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises?

What is civil disobedience?

• The deliberate and public refusal to obey laws that violate one’s personal principles

• Thoreau believed the government was an impediment to the productivity and achievements of the American people– Do you agree?– How can you have your voices heard in

government?

Read Thoreau’sexcerpt from Civil

Disobediencep. 416

• Ron Swanson on WHY GOVERNMENT MATTERS

• How does the following clip compare to Thoreau’s claims about government?

After Reading

• What is Thoreau’s claim, warrant and impact?

• What motto does Thoreau accept?

• How would he like to see that motto implemented?

• How does Thoreau define the best possible kind of government?

Reflect on PROTEST lesson

• Where have we seen examples of protest in the past quarter?

• Do you believe Thoreau’s “protest” is valid and impactful?