Ralph W. Emerson ---The Great Man and His Works

Chronology  1803 Born in Boston  1811 His father died  1812 Entered Boston Public Latin School  Studied in Harvard University  1825 Studied Theology

Chronology 2  1826 Began to preach  1829 Ordained as junior pastor of 1829 Boston’s Second hurch  1829 Married with Ellen Tucker  1835 Remarried with Lydia Jackson  1836 Published his 1st book “Nature”  1882 He died

Main Idea of “ Each and All ”  Composition was more important than beauty of individual forms to Effect

Nature  It was published anonymously in  Was later recognized as a major document in American Transcendentalism.  Emphasized individualism and rejected traditional authority.  Believed that people should try to live a simple life in harmony with nature and with others.

Nature  The death of Emerson’s first wife soured his faith and resigned from the church and emerged as the leader of the Transcendental movement.  Transcendentalism stressed a life style of a personal nature over rational or dogmatic, which favored trusting one’s instincts over the guidance of authority.

Nature 2 1.Introduction 2.Nature 3.Language 4.Discipline 5.Spirit 6.Prospects

The American Scholar Ralph Waldo Emerson

Background  Transcendentalism Emerson, “We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.’’ [p.537-8] Emerson, “We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.’’ [p.537-8]  An oration delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge, on August 31, 1837

Main Structure  By nature  By books  By action  Duties

Beliefs (1)  Intellectual and philosophical independence of America from Europe  “…new lights, new events and more days have thrown on his character, his duties and his hopes.’’ [525]  “…new lights, new events and more days have thrown on his character, his duties and his hopes.’’ [525]  Man Thinking  Not “…a mere think, or, still worse, the parrot of other men’s thinking.’’ [526]  Not “…a mere think, or, still worse, the parrot of other men’s thinking.’’ [526]

Beliefs (2)  Understanding nature  “The scholar must needs stand wistful and admiring before this great spectacle. He must settle its value in mind.’’ [526]  “The scholar must needs stand wistful and admiring before this great spectacle. He must settle its value in mind.’’ [526]  “Classification begins…it finds how to join two things, and see in them one nature…discovering roots running under ground.” [527]  “Classification begins…it finds how to join two things, and see in them one nature…discovering roots running under ground.” [527]

Beliefs (3)  Being a divine man  “Books are written on it by thinkers, not by Man Thinking…” [528]  “But genius always looks forward…To create, - to create, - is the proof of a divine presence.” [528]

Beliefs (4)  Self-Reliance/self-trust  the ideal of individualism  “In self-trust, all the virtues are comprehended. Free should the scholar be, -- free and brave.” [533]

Beliefs (5) Self-Reliance Self-Reliance  “He is one who raises himself from private considerations, and breathes and lives on public and illustrious thoughts. He is the world’s eyes. He is the world’s heart.” [533]

Works Cited Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" [1837] Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" [1837] Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" anscholar.htmEmerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" anscholar.htm anscholar.htm anscholar.htm American Transcendentalism trans.htmAmerican Transcendentalism trans.htm

To a Waterfowl by William Cullen Bryant

Chronology  1794-Born in Cummington, Massachusetts  The first and shorter version of Thanatopsis  1821-The first published volume, Poems.  1825-He became the coeditor of New York Review, a literary periodical.  1826-an editor for New York Evening Post.  He was editor in chief of the Post and later part owner.

Chronology 2  1850-Letter of a Traveler.  1859-Letter of a Traveler, Series II.  1869-Letter from the East.  Translation work of Homer Iliad and Odyssey.  1878-Died. He fell down after giving a speech at the unveiling of a statue of the Italian patriot Joseph Mozzini in Central Park.

To a Waterfowl  Setting  Metaphor  Symbolism  What is the poet view?  The connection between waterfowl and poet

End

References  “Search View- Bryant, William Cullen” William_Cullen_Bryant.html  “Strangers to Us All- Lawyers and Poetry” /bryant.html /bryant.html /bryant.html  “To a Waterfowl by William Cullen Bryant” t/waterfowl.html To a WaterfowlWilliam Cullen Bryant t/waterfowl.htmlTo a WaterfowlWilliam Cullen Bryant t/waterfowl.html