Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau

What is transcendentalism? A belief in an essential unity of all creation; the innate goodness of humankind; the supremacy of insight over logic; experience is necessary to reveal the deepest truths. skeptical of progress, industrialization, commerce and the accumulation of wealth and land. They wish to simplify life and imitate the economy of nature so that life can be lived and experienced, not spent working it away for material goods.

Influences Reaction against New England Puritanism Reaction against the emerging ideal of American democracy

Core Beliefs Unity of man and creation (All is one) Truth can be understood fully only through experience. Essential nature of human beings is good and if left in a state of nature, human beings would seek the good Society is to blame for the corruption that mankind endures.

Transcendentalism Themes Individualism Nature Self-Reliance

Transcendentalism Themes Anti- materialism Non Conformity Simplicity

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Ralph Waldo Emerson LIFE EVENTS: Born in Boston (1803) where is father was a Unitarian minister His father died when Emerson was 8, leaving the family with financial problems. At age 14, received scholarship to Harvard Divinity School (1825). By 1829, a successful Boston minister & married

Ralph Waldo Emerson LIFE EVENTS cont.: In Concord, founded the TRANSCENDENTAL CLUB—devoted to discussions of literature, philosophy, & religion. At age 33, published “Nature”—a long essay that set forth the major ideas of transcendentalism. “Nature” along w/ other lectures urged Americans to think for themselves and to resist bonds of conformity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Famous Works

Henry David Thoreau ( ) “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” One of his first memories was of staying awake at night "looking through the stars to see if I could see God behind them." One might say he never stopped looking into nature for ultimate Truth.

Henry David Thoreau LIFE EVENTS: Graduated from Harvard, became a school teacher, resigned b/c he was ordered to discipline students by whipping them Home: Concord, Mass. Devoted his time to nature study, reading, writing, and odd jobs

Henry David Thoreau LIFE EVENTS cont.: Very close to his brother, John When John died of tetanus (cut himself shaving), Thoreau was traumatized Thoreau paid tribute to his brother by writing an account of the camping and canoeing trip that he and John had taken a few years before. He needed a quiet place to write, so…

Henry David Thoreau LIFE EVENTS cont.: He persuaded his friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, to allow him to build a cabin on his land at Walden Pond. Thoreau lived at Walden Pond for 2 years, 2 months, and 2 days. He observed and kept journals about what he saw on his trip (nature writing). At age 28 he wrote his masterpiece, Walden, based on his observations there.

Henry David Thoreau INTERESTING LIFE FACTS: He was a dedicated abolitionist & helped slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. He became a popular lecturer known for his whit & philosophical ideas. Thoreau and his friend Emerson, who outlived him by 2 decades, are buried near each other in Concord. When he died at age 44, few people outside Concord had ever heard of him. It was not until the 20 th century that Thoreau became famous around the world as a thinker and environmentalist.

“Civil Disobedience” Thoreau’s essay urging passive, non- violent resistance to governmental policies to which an individual is morally opposed. Influenced individuals such a Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Cesar Chavez

Henry David Thoreau Famous Works

"If the law is of such nature that it requires you to be an agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law." July 1846 Thoreau’s Night in Jail

Quotes by Emerson & Thoreau

Express yourself C A L V I N _________________ Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing on one's own sunshine. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.”

Terms to know! TranscendNonconformity To rise above or go beyond; overpass, exceed. Failure or refusal to conform with establish customs. Oversoul In New England transcendentalism, a spiritual essence or vital force in the universe in which all souls participate and that therefore transcends individual consciousness.

More Terms Self-RelianceFree Thought Belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities. Thought unrestrained by deference to authority, tradition, established belief – especially in matters of religion.

More Terms UtopiaIntuition often Utopia An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects. instinctive knowledge of or belief about something without conscious reasoning

What will we be reading? Emerson ◦Nature ◦Self-Reliance  Thoreau Walden Civil Disobedience

Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau

What is transcendentalism?

Influences

Core Beliefs

Transcendentalism Themes Individualism Nature Self-Reliance

Transcendentalism Themes Anti- materialism Non Conformity Simplicity

Ralph Waldo Emerson LIFE EVENTS:

Ralph Waldo Emerson Famous Works

Henry David Thoreau ( ) “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” One of his first memories was of staying awake at night "looking through the stars to see if I could see God behind them." One might say he never stopped looking into nature for ultimate Truth.

Henry David Thoreau LIFE EVENTS:

“Civil Disobedience” Thoreau’s essay urging passive, non- violent resistance to governmental policies to which an individual is morally opposed. Influenced individuals such a Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Cesar Chavez

Henry David Thoreau Famous Works

Terms to know! TranscendNonconformity Oversoul

More Terms Self-RelianceFree Thought

More Terms UtopiaIntuition

What will we be reading? Emerson Thoreau