Transcendental Concepts Transcendentalists were idealists who believed in: Individualism over authority Individualism over authority Non-Conformity Non-Conformity Intuition over rationalism Intuition over rationalism Human Perfectibility Human Perfectibility Going beyond everyday human experience Going beyond everyday human experience

Transcendentalists and God The Divine Spirit (God) is reflected in nature and accessible to humans through intuition. The Divine Spirit (God) is reflected in nature and accessible to humans through intuition. Humans can be a part of the Divine Soul/Spirit. Humans can be a part of the Divine Soul/Spirit. God is good and does not punish humans through death, disease etc. God is good and does not punish humans through death, disease etc. Humans who are not directly connected to God are capable of evil. Humans who are not directly connected to God are capable of evil.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Background Name 3 principles that Emerson helped instill in America’s identity: Name 3 principles that Emerson helped instill in America’s identity: –Individuality –Independence –Appreciation for wonders of nature Emerson was trained in what profession? Emerson was trained in what profession? –minister

Background After leaving this profession, what did Emerson do? After leaving this profession, what did Emerson do? –Became a writer and lecturer What did Emerson consider himself? What did Emerson consider himself? –A poet

from Nature Explain the Transcendental idea in the line “I am a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me. I am part or particle of God.” Explain the Transcendental idea in the line “I am a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me. I am part or particle of God.” –Everyone is connected to the Divine Spirit or Universal Being (God) and nature is a reflection of God. –Nature is a doorway to a mystical world that reveals important truths about life.

from Nature “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit” means that “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit” means that –There is an aspect of nature that reflects every human mood and experience.

from Self-Reliance Explain the following quotes and tell whether you agree with them or not: Explain the following quotes and tell whether you agree with them or not: –“Imitation is suicide” –“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” –“Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” –Be yourself and do not conform to what others say or do.

from Self-Reliance To prove his statement, “to be great is to be misunderstood,” Emerson provides what evidence? To prove his statement, “to be great is to be misunderstood,” Emerson provides what evidence? –Emerson gave examples of Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton.

Henry David Thoreau

Background  Who was a good friend and fellow philosopher of Thoreau? Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson  What was one of his earliest acts of non- conformity? wearing a green coat at Harvard wearing a green coat at Harvard  What was Thoreau’s major writing piece? Walden: more appreciated after his lifetime Walden: more appreciated after his lifetime

From “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”  What allusions does Thoreau make? Greek mythology Greek mythology  What reasons does Thoreau give for going to the woods? He wants to live deliberately and life more fully He wants to live deliberately and life more fully

From “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”  What suggestions does Thoreau make for living with simplicity? “… let your affairs be as two or three …” “… let your affairs be as two or three …” “… keep your accounts on your thumbnail …” “… keep your accounts on your thumbnail …” “… instead of three meals, … eat but one” “… instead of three meals, … eat but one” “… instead of a hundred dishes, five …” “… instead of a hundred dishes, five …”

From “Conclusion”  In the final excerpt, what reason does Thoreau give for leaving the woods? Because he felt like he had more lives to live Because he felt like he had more lives to live  What does Thoreau say he learned by his experiment? “That if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” “That if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Memorable Quotes  “Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest.”  “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”

Memorable Quotes  “It is remarkable how easily and insensible we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves.”  “I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hour.

“Letter From a Birmingham Jail” Birmingham JailBirmingham Jail Be able to identify examples of these terms in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”  Allusion  Definition  Detail/Concrete Example  Rebuttal  Concession  Rhetorical Question