Ralph Waldo Emerson from Nature ACOS – 1a; 2a; 3c; 8 AHSGE – R.II.1; R.III.3; R.IV.2

Background: Born in Boston in 1803 Born in Boston in 1803 Family was cultured but poor Family was cultured but poor Father died of tuberculosis when he was eight Father died of tuberculosis when he was eight Mary Moody Emerson, aunt, became father figure Mary Moody Emerson, aunt, became father figure Entered Harvard at fourteen to become a Unitarian minister Entered Harvard at fourteen to become a Unitarian minister Married Mary Tucker in She died 17 months later Married Mary Tucker in She died 17 months later Resigned from ministry in 1832 to tour Europe Resigned from ministry in 1832 to tour Europe Remarried and settled in Concord, Mass. In 1833 Remarried and settled in Concord, Mass. In 1833 Toured US as a lecturer Toured US as a lecturer Expressed the advantage of a young land Expressed the advantage of a young land Exhilarated by nature’s beauty and grandeur Exhilarated by nature’s beauty and grandeur Appealed to intellectuals and the general public Appealed to intellectuals and the general public Son died of scarlet fever in 1842 (emotionally damaged) Son died of scarlet fever in 1842 (emotionally damaged) Suffered from memory loss as he aged Suffered from memory loss as he aged Greatly influenced Walt Whitman Greatly influenced Walt Whitman

Literary Focus: Imagery – Imagery – the use of language to evoke a picture of concrete sensation of a person, thing, place or experience the use of language to evoke a picture of concrete sensation of a person, thing, place or experience imagery uses words that appeals to the senses imagery uses words that appeals to the senses

Vocabulary: Admonishing Admonishing Integrate Integrate Perennial Perennial Blith Blith Occult Occult Sublime Sublime Envoys Envoys Manifold Manifold Indubitably Indubitably Maugre Maugre Cordial Cordial Slough Slough Decorum Decorum Connate Connate Tricked Tricked Chamber Chamber

From Nature: To what senses does Emerson appeal in the first paragraph? How does he feel when he looks at the stars? To what senses does Emerson appeal in the first paragraph? How does he feel when he looks at the stars? According to Emerson, why do people take stars for granted? According to Emerson, why do people take stars for granted? What can the poets eye do when he/she looks at nature? What can the poets eye do when he/she looks at nature? How does Emerson define the “lover of nature?” How does Emerson define the “lover of nature?” What does Emerson think and feel when he stands in the woods? What does Emerson think and feel when he stands in the woods? What is the greatest delight the fields and woods give us? What is the greatest delight the fields and woods give us? What does Emerson say about how our own moods can affect the way we look at nature? What does Emerson say about how our own moods can affect the way we look at nature?

Imagery: What are the images in the following lines: What are the images in the following lines: “Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration.” “Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration.” What affect does this description have on the reader? What affect does this description have on the reader? What image is present in paragraph 4? What affect does it have? What image is present in paragraph 4? What affect does it have?