Renaissance – Rebirth! Mid 19th Century 1828-1865 Transcendentalism Renaissance – Rebirth! Mid 19th Century 1828-1865
Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson “Father of Transcendentalism” Henry David Thoreau Famous for writing Walden
Characteristics Self-reliance – You are responsible for you! Love nature – Stop to appreciate it Live NOW Don’t conform to what society believes you should be. – March to the beat of your own drummer! Be a NONCONFORMIST!
Transcendentalists believe we would transcend… …to a higher spiritual place. …through intuition not reason. …by learning from living in harmony with nature. …as an individual by being a nonconformist. …by living a simple life. …by doing the right and moral thing and working for a better society.
Transcendentalist Quotes for discussion “Fame is proof that people are gullible.” - Emerson
“Men have become tools of their tools.” – Thoreau Quotes for Discussion “Men have become tools of their tools.” – Thoreau
Quotes for Discussion “What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well a half hour.” - Emerson
“We are always getting ready to live, but never living.” - Emerson Quotes for Discussion “We are always getting ready to live, but never living.” - Emerson
Quotes for Discussion “Never lose an opportunity to see something that is beautiful!” – Emerson
“Our faith comes in moments; our voice is habitual.” - Emerson Quotes for Discussion “Our faith comes in moments; our voice is habitual.” - Emerson
Quotes for Discussion “To be awake is to be alive; I have never met a man who was quite awake.” - Thoreau
The “Darker” Vision Against Transcendentalist views: Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJpmflZz4_U