Transcendentalism

•Started in 1830s and 1840s (19th century) •It was a protest against the current state of culture, society, and the intellectualism associated with Harvard •Roots in Unitarian Church

Emerson started the Transcendentalism movement – first American literary movement It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance

Beliefs of Transcendentalism Direct connection or “communication” between the universe and the individual soul. Nature is the gospel of the new faith. In other words, nature is worshiped and all answers can be found within it.

Go through Nature and Self-Reliance and underline 3 lines/sentences that show “connection between the universe and soul” and/or where Emerson describes how he worships nature or lessons to be found in nature.

As a table everyone needs to share one line/sentence they underlined and explain the connection to the notes and why they choose it. I will give you 3 minutes to discuss.

The “Oversoul” What is the “Over-Soul”? The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives people have lived, all the things everyone has learned and all of the workings of nature In order to connect with the oversoul one had to listen to their intuition and follow it to translate the symbols of nature into spiritual facts. In other words, you're reading the signs of nature to understand how the world works.

Oversoul & Transcendentalism Transcendentalists believed that the oversoul encapsulated the universe Connected man with nature and everything else in the world Believed they could unlock all of the answers to the world by communicating with the oversoul

Do you see this idea of “oversoul” in Emerson’s writing Do you see this idea of “oversoul” in Emerson’s writing? If so, where is it prevalent? If not, then why? Discuss as a table. I will give you 3 minutes.

Intuition & Transcendentalism Transcendentalist believed that you had to follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however divergent or different from the social norm they may be. They also believed that since all people are inherently good, the individual’s instinctive response to any given situation will be the right thing to do.

On page 45-46 Emerson writes “Speak what you think now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradicts everything you said today. “Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.” Is it so bad then to be misunderstood?...To be great is to be misunderstood.” Discuss as a class.

Characteristics of Transcendentalism Non-conformity Self-reliance Importance of Nature

Failure or refusal to conform to the majority Non-Conformity Failure or refusal to conform to the majority Non-conformity and Transcendentalism Transcendentalists realized that it was time to seek literary independence. These people wanted to create literature unique to America. Began as a protest against popular culture

Depending on only oneself for all needs Self-Reliance Depending on only oneself for all needs Self reliance and transcendentalism Before this time, no one had thought of looking into oneself to find answers. It’s better to listen to your own intuition than to follow someone else’s beliefs.

The Transcendentalism “Group” Ralph Waldo Emerson Writer Philosopher Henry David Thoreau Writer/Naturalist Margaret Fuller Feminism/Free Thought Bronson Alcott Educator

Are YOU a Transcendentalist? Let’s find out!!