Transcendentalism

Bell Work – 3 mins. Grab the sheet of notes on the “daily handouts” table. Sit down and start looking over it (you will be quizzed on it after the PPT).

Target: Students will identify significant qualities of Transcendentalism-era authors/works. STANDARD: Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early- twentieth-century foundational works of American literature

What does “ transcendentalism ” mean? There is an ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical. 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.

Where did it come from? Ralph Waldo Emerson gave German philosopher Immanuel Kant credit for popularizing the term “transcendentalism.” It began as a reform movement in the Unitarian church. 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.

What did Transcendentalists believe? The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensical, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the Oversoul, life-force, prime mover and God (known in Sanskrit as Brahma).

Basic Premise #1 An individual is the spiritual center of the universe, and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual.

Basic Premise #2 The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self- knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."

Basic Premise #3 Transcendentalists accepted the concept of nature as a living mystery, full of signs; nature is symbolic.

Basic Premise #4 The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self- realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: 1.The desire to embrace the whole world— to know and become one with the world. 2.The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence.

Who were the Transcendentalists? Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Margaret Fuller

Ralph Waldo Emerson Unitarian minister Poet and essayist Founded the Transcendental Club Popular lecturer Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity School address Supporter of abolitionism

Henry David Thoreau Schoolteacher, essayist, poet Most famous for Walden and Civil Disobedience Influenced environmental movement Supporter of abolitionism

Margaret Fuller 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

NOW Put your notes away – it’s time for trashketball. 2 teams Rotate questions Right answer = chance to shoot Scorekeeper Winning team = 2 bonus points

Q1 Name a writer associated with transcendentalism (need first and last name).

Q2 Name a second writer associated with transcendentalism (need first and last name).

Q3 Name a third writer associated with transcendentalism (need first and last name).

Q4 To which German philosopher did Ralph Waldo Emerson give credit for popularizing the term “transcendentalism?”

A4 Kant

Q5 True/False? “Transcendentalists believed inr ationalism over intuition.”

A5 False: Intuition over Rationalism

Q6 What is the missing term? The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensical, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the ________, life-force, prime mover and God (known in Sanskrit as Brahma).

A6 What is the missing term? The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensical, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the OVERSOUL, life-force, prime mover and God (known in Sanskrit as Brahma).

Q7 Which rule breaker transcendentalist was banned from Harvard for 40 years following her/his Divinity school address? Thoreau Emerson Fuller

A7 Which rule breaker transcendentalist was banned from Harvard for 40 years following her/his Divinity school address? Thoreau EMERSON Fuller

Q8 Which transcendentalist was most famous for Walden & Civil Disobedience? Thoreau Emerson Fuller

A8 Which transcendentalist was most famous for Walden & Civil Disobedience? Thoreau Emerson Fuller

Q9 Which transcendentalist founded the Transcendental club? Thoreau Emerson Fuller

A9 Which transcendentalist founded the Transcendental club? Thoreau Emerson Fuller

Q10 Which premise was this? The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: 1.The desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world. 2.The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence.

A10 - #4 Which premise was this? The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: 1.The desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world. 2.The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence.

Q11 Which premise was this? The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self- knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself.”

A11 - #2 Which premise was this? The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self- knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself.”

Q12 Fill in the blank: Transcendentalists accepted the concept of nature as a living _______________, full of signs; nature is symbolic.

A12 Fill in the blank: Transcendentalists accepted the concept of nature as a living MYSTERY, full of signs; nature is symbolic.

Q13 Fill in the blank: [Transcendentalism] is not a _____________—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality.

A13 Fill in the blank: [Transcendentalism] is not a RELIGION—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality.

Q14 Fill in the blank: [Transcendentalism] is an ideal spiritual state which “_____________________” the physical and empirical.

A14 Fill in the blank: [Transcendentalism] is an ideal spiritual state which “TRANSCENDS” the physical and empirical.

Q15 Fill in the blank: 1.The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an ______________________ex istence.

A15 Fill in the blank: 1.The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an EGOTISTICAL existence.

Q16 Fill in the blanks: An ________is the spiritual center of the universe, and in an ________can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself.

A16 Fill in the blanks: An “individual” is the spiritual center of the universe, and in an “individual” can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself.

Q17 True or false: Transcendentalism had different meanings for those involved in the movement.

A17 TRUE or false: Transcendentalism had different meanings for those involved in the movement.

Q18 Transcendentalism began in the mid- a.1400’sb. 1500’s c. 1600’sd. 1700’s e. 1800’sf. 1900’s

A18 Transcendentalism began in the mid- a.1400’sb. 1500’s c. 1600’sd. 1700’s e. 1800’sf. 1900’s

Q19 Name this transcendentalist: Editor of The Dial, a transcendetal journal…also worked on the New York Tribune (need first & last name)

A19 Name this transcendentalist: Editor of The Dial, a transcendetal journal…also worked on the New York Tribune (A: Margaret Fuller)

Q20 What was so historic about Margaret Fuller’s position on the New York Tribune?

A20 What was so historic about Margaret Fuller’s position on the New York Tribune? A: She was the first female journalist to work on a major newspaper.

Scorekeeper Write down the winning team’s names.

HOMEWORK: