WHO EVER SAID ENGLISH CLASS WASN’T ANY FUN? Please take Cornell style notes on all of the following slides.

Transcendentalism “There are always two parties: the establishment and the movement”

Transcendentalism  A philosophical movement that began around 1840  It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance  “a philosophy which professes the essential unity of all creation and the innate goodness of man” (Britannica Macromedia).

Philosophy 101: The Three Big Beliefs of the Transcendentalists  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.

Second Belief  By thinking about objects in nature, people can go beyond the world and discover union with the Over-Soul that unites us all.  “I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all”  “…the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me, I am part or parcel of God”

Say Whaaa?  What is the “Over-Soul”? The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives you have lived all the things you have learned. The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives you have lived all the things you have learned. The over-soul is the collected knowledge of all lessons learned and wisdom. The over-soul is the collected knowledge of all lessons learned and wisdom. It is believed that all people are born to learn, to experience, and connect with one another and nature. It is believed that all people are born to learn, to experience, and connect with one another and nature.

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Over-Soul Continued…  The belief is that all people must strive to change and become more than they are now.  With each lesson comes more understanding of our purpose for being (on the earth).  It is also believed that with meditation you can gain insight into your own personal path.

Third Belief  Follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however divergent or different from the social norm they may be.  Since all people are inherently good, the individual’s instinctive response to any given situation will be the right thing to do.

Characteristics of Transcendentalism  Non-conformity  Self-reliance  Free thought/ individualism  Importance of Nature

Non-Conformity  Failure or refusal to conform to the majority  Non-conformity and Transcendentalism Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary independence as well. Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary independence as well. These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything England had to offer These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything England had to offer Began as a protest against popular culture Began as a protest against popular culture

Self Reliance  Depending on only oneself for all needs  Self reliance and transcendentalism Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers. Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers.

Free Thought Free thought and Transcendentalism Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day) Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day) The spiritual hunger was seen in the educated people of New England specifically Boston The spiritual hunger was seen in the educated people of New England specifically Boston Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just- rational perspective. Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just- rational perspective. God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of insight, the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a gift?God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of insight, the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a gift?

Ralph Waldo Emerson  "We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds...A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men."

Importance of Nature  Experiencing nature was of critical importance because the natural world was the face of God.  Becoming physically closer to nature, contemplating it, understanding it—these were the actions that brought man closer to his maker.

The A List  Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson  Writer/Naturalist Henry David Thoreau  Feminist writer Margaret Fuller  Educator Bronson Alcott

 From , literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance.  Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a clear American voice.  No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authors.  Transcendentalism was a part of this “flowering” or peak of American literature.  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were important voices in this philosophical movement that sought to have individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level.  To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition.  Emerson was the philosopher and teacher. Thoreau was the student and the practitioner.

Your Assignment  First – Ask your substitute for the assignment guidelines handout.  Second – Follow the guidelines to complete your assignment.  Third - Answer the questions on the following slide in no less than a two page response.  Fourth – Turn in whatever you have completed at the end of the period.

Address each of the following questions:  How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do you reflect the moods of nature? (ex. If it is raining outside what is your mood? If it is 70 degrees and sunny, what is your mood?) Why do you think that is?  What is the role of nature in your life?  What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How do you define it?  Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature? If so, what is that connection? If not, why are these not connected?  What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, has a parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without having talked with or seen you? What do we mean when we say “I just know it”?  Do you believe in intuition? Why or why not?  How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think independently of others or do you follow the crowd? Provide specific examples and scenarios.