Transcendentalism Topics Emerson, Thoreau, “Nature”, “Walden”, etc…

Nature by R.W.E. Our textbook has a short excerpt from Emerson’s longer work (Nature is a 96 page book that was one of his early writings). Read the excerpt (pages 364 – 365) and respond to the following topics on the back of your Emerson quote response sheet.

Nature by R.W.E. Find a specific passage or sentiment from the essay that you either agree or disagree with. Explain and give examples to back up your views. Getting back to the overall transcendental philosophy, respond to the following topic: Do you think that teenagers are encouraged to think for themselves? Do parents/bosses/schools/authority in general allow kids to be "free-thinkers"? Should kids be encouraged to do this? What are the positives and negatives? Explain and use examples to back up your points.

walden by H.D.T. Walden is Henry David Thoreau is considered his most lasting work. He wrote it in 1854 after he attempted to truly live the transcendental philosophy by dropping out of society and living by himself in nature (in a large forest preserve area called ‘Walden Pond’) for over two years. Read the excerpt from pages 374 – 379 and then answer the questions on the following slide.

walden by H.D.T. What’s your reaction to H.D.T.’s journal of his time in Walden Pond? Could you do something like this, even for a short time (like a week)? What do you think he gained by his experiences? Explain. One of Thoreau's themes is the necessity of simplifying your life, stripping it down to the ‘essentials’. What are some things (other than food, clothes, shelter, etc…) that you feel you absolutely could not live without? Explain why this is the case. On the other hand, what are some things that you could live without? How would giving up these things change your life? What might Henry David Thoreau think of our lives Naperville in 2018? What specific things might trouble him? Explain and give examples.