1. Transcendentalism http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-walden-pond-lives-of-quiet.html Walden Pond, important Transcendental site Re-creation of Thoreau’s cabin at Walden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Replica_of_Thoreau%27s_cabin_near_Walden_Pond_and_his_statue.jpg Henry David Thoreau http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_david_thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson Margaret Fuller http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Fuller

2. Definition  It’s a philosophy, not a religion (Reuben).  Individuals must rely on intuition more than reason and experience – “transcend” the physical and intellectual world (Applebee).  A loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform, and the general state of American culture (Silva).  Emerged in mid-1800s in New England (mostly Boston and Concord) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ralph_Waldo_Emerson_House_%28Concord,_MA%29.JPG Emerson’s home http://www.humansarenotbroken.com/your-diet-is-not-a-lifestyle/

3. Origins  German philosopher Immanuel Kant popularized the term “transcendentalism” (SparkNotes). Kant claimed that humans understood truth through reflection and introspection, not by studying the universe.  Emerson first expressed his philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay “Nature.” en.wikipedia.org ycwu001.blogspot.com Immanel Kant Rodin’s The Thinker

4. The Oversoul  In Emerson’s essay “The Oversoul,” he asserted that individuals should rely on intuition instead of logic or the five senses.  When humans relied on intuition, they connected with the Oversoul, the great life spirit which connects all people. www.libraries.iub.edu multiculturalismincanada.wordpress.com The Oversoul unifies and connects us

5. Principle #1  An individual is the spiritual center of the universe.  In other words, the individual is of utmost importance, and truth, beauty, and God are understood by first looking within oneself (Reuben). film-at-11.blogspot.com inspireshineheal.com inspirationboost.com Focus on the individual All answers lie within

6. Principle #2  All knowledge begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself” (Reuben). aurorasana.wordpress.com www.poweranimalsunleashed.com izquotes.com

7. Principle #3  Transcendentalists believed nature to be mysterious and symbolic (Reuben). www.fanpop.com www.jumpintoabook.com waywardamericans.wordpress.com

8. Ralph Waldo Emerson  Emerson (1803 – 1882) was born in Boston, MA, the son of a Christian minister.  He attended Harvard College (now University) and later became a Unitarian minister in 1829.  After his wife died in 1831 (2 years after becoming a minister), Emerson resigned from the clergy.  Emerson wrote many notable essays including “Self Reliance,” which encouraged a spirit of individualism and “American Scholar,” which inspired Americans to develop a unique identity apart from Europe. www.aphorism4all.com thegrowingspace.com

9. Henry David Thoreau  Thoreau (1817 – 1862) was a devoted follower of Emerson, and the two were close friends.  Thoreau famously wrote Walden, a book about his two year stay at Walden Pond outside Concord, MA. During that time, he built a hut and tried to live simply.  Most of the Transcendentalists were abolitionists, and Thoreau was especially outspoken. He also wrote an essay entitled “Slavery in Massachusetts.” www.rugusavay.com commons.wikimedia.org Interior of Thoreau’s hut

10. Margaret Fuller  Margaret Fuller (1810 – 1849) had a reputation for being one of the most well-read people in all New England. In fact, it was believed that she was the only woman who had access to the library at Harvard College.  A talented writer, she edited The Dial, a Transcendental magazine. She also wrote the great Women in the Nineteenth Century.  Finally, she often spoke at Brook Farm, a Transcendental commune. izquotes.com americanliteraryblog.blogspot.com Fuller notoriously had an affair with an Italian nobleman, bore a son, and then died one year later

11. Essential Questions  How do people express their personalities?  How do different philosophies influence our society?  How does Transcendentalism influence us today? www.quotecartoon.com quotepixel.com

12. Works Cited "Immanuel Kant." SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC, 2013. Web. 2 Sept. 2013.. "Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography." Biography.com. A+E Television Networks, 2013. Web. 2 Sept. 2013. <http://www.biography.com/people/ralph- waldo-emerson-9287153>. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 4: American Transcendentalism: A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature. Paul P Reuben, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 Aug. 2013.. Silva, Freda. "Transcendentalism2." English 11. GroveSite, 28 Oct. 2008. Web. 27 Aug. 2013..