Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism A religious, philosophical and literary movement A religious, philosophical and literary movement The movement flourished for approx. ten years The movement flourished for approx. ten years Tied into the notions of American individualism Tied into the notions of American individualism

Transcendentalism Began as a religious concept when a group of Boston ministers decided that the Unitarian Church had become too conservative. Began as a religious concept when a group of Boston ministers decided that the Unitarian Church had become too conservative.

Transcendentalism Writers, such as, Whitman, Poe, and Dickinson, while not directed involved in that movement, did share the ideals of those that were immersed in its ideology Writers, such as, Whitman, Poe, and Dickinson, while not directed involved in that movement, did share the ideals of those that were immersed in its ideology

Transcendentalism The transcendentalist "transcends" or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm The transcendentalist "transcends" or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance Transcendentalism stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance Believed in inherent wisdom of the human soul over church doctrine and law Believed in inherent wisdom of the human soul over church doctrine and law

Transcendentalist Beliefs Miracles are all about us - the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one. "A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels." - Whitman Miracles are all about us - the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one. "A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels." - Whitman

Transcendentalism Promoted the idea of nature as divine and the human soul as inherently wise. Promoted the idea of nature as divine and the human soul as inherently wise.

Transcendentalist Beliefs The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or "float" for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or "float" for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death.

Oversoul Every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of the Oversoul (God) Every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of the Oversoul (God)

Oversoul Oversoul/Life Force/God can be found everywhere Oversoul/Life Force/God can be found everywhere God can be found in both nature and human nature God can be found in both nature and human nature

Life & Death More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life Death is never to be feared, for at death the soul merely passes to the Oversoul Death is never to be feared, for at death the soul merely passes to the Oversoul

Good & Evil Evil is a negative - merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark. Evil is a negative - merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark.

Political Thought Believed in the concept of civil disobedience toward the government regarding issues of the day: slavery, women’s rights, Civil War, growing industrialism and class division Believed in the concept of civil disobedience toward the government regarding issues of the day: slavery, women’s rights, Civil War, growing industrialism and class division

The Individual Emphasis on self-reliance Emphasis on self-reliance Emphasis is placed on a human thinking Emphasis is placed on a human thinking

Authors & Poets Writers include: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau Writers include: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau Poets included: Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Poets included: Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson

Ralph Waldo Emerson Perpetually seeking the God within himself; contemplates his own mind Perpetually seeking the God within himself; contemplates his own mind First book Nature defined Transcendentalist beliefs First book Nature defined Transcendentalist beliefs

Henry David Thoreau Walden is about his 2 years living in the woods alone Walden is about his 2 years living in the woods alone Walden shows how natural simplicity, harmony, and beauty can be models for just social and cultural conditions Walden shows how natural simplicity, harmony, and beauty can be models for just social and cultural conditions

Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience says Civil Disobedience says that an individual doing the right thing forms a majority of one. He wrote that individuals should rebel against immoral government actions by passive resistance.

Emily Dickinson Her poetry broke w/convention; didn’t look right; didn’t rhyme; too bold; too radical Her poetry broke w/convention; didn’t look right; didn’t rhyme; too bold; too radical

Emily Dickinson Concrete imagery, forceful language, unique style Concrete imagery, forceful language, unique style Wrote 1775 poems, published only 7 in her lifetime Wrote 1775 poems, published only 7 in her lifetime

Walt Whitman Rejected conventional themes, forms, subjects Rejected conventional themes, forms, subjects Used long lines to capture the rhythm of natural speech, free verse, everyday vocabulary Used long lines to capture the rhythm of natural speech, free verse, everyday vocabulary Considered “America’s Poet” Considered “America’s Poet”