1. Henry David Thoreau A Transcendentalist Images courtesy: http://www.nanosft.com/walden/october/index.html

2. What is Transcendentalism? Optimistic view of individualism Optimistic view of individualism “…if one advances in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success uncommon in his waking hours.” “…if one advances in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success uncommon in his waking hours.” From Walden From Walden

3. What is Transcendentalism? Based on the following principles: Based on the following principles: A) The individual has meaningful integrity A) The individual has meaningful integrity B) The individual is inherently good B) The individual is inherently good C) The individual is capable of independent thought and action based on intuition C) The individual is capable of independent thought and action based on intuition

4. What is Transcendentalism? Individual has value over society Individual has value over society To “transcend” society one must first be able to look past and beyond it. One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates. To “transcend” society one must first be able to look past and beyond it. One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates.

5. What is Transcendentalism? Centered on the divinity of each individual; but this divinity could be self-discovered only if the person had the independence of mind to do so. Centered on the divinity of each individual; but this divinity could be self-discovered only if the person had the independence of mind to do so. American thought lent itself to this concept of independence. American thought lent itself to this concept of independence.

6. What is Transcendentalism? There is meaning in everything and that meaning was good, all connected by and parts of a divine plan. There is meaning in everything and that meaning was good, all connected by and parts of a divine plan. Insisted if good was allowed, evil dissipated. Insisted if good was allowed, evil dissipated.

7. What influenced this movement? Movement away from The Enlightenment… Rational conclusions about the natural world Rational conclusions about the natural world based on experimentation and logical thinking based on experimentation and logical thinking …and into the Romantic movement Less rational, more intuitive and in touch with the senses Less rational, more intuitive and in touch with the senses Wanted to move beyond logic and use man’s intuition and inspiration to gain further insight into our world Wanted to move beyond logic and use man’s intuition and inspiration to gain further insight into our world

8. Romanticism individual worth individual worth goodness of humanity goodness of humanity glorified pleasures of communion with nature glorified pleasures of communion with nature condemned society for materialism condemned society for materialism urged individual freedom of expression; freedom from constraints of earlier philosophies and theologies (ei: Puritanism) urged individual freedom of expression; freedom from constraints of earlier philosophies and theologies (ei: Puritanism)

9. Important Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson “Self-Reliance” “Self-Reliance” “Nature” “Nature” Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Greatly influenced by Emerson Greatly influenced by Emerson Has been called one of the most famous and important friendships in history. Has been called one of the most famous and important friendships in history.

10. Henry David Thoreau Background Background Born and raised in Concord Born and raised in Concord Harvard Graduate Harvard Graduate Waldon Pond Waldon Pond Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience

11. Henry David Thoreau Themes in his works Themes in his works The Risk The Risk Nature Nature Nonconformity Nonconformity Believing in oneself Believing in oneself Intuition Intuition

12. The Risk While pursuing material goals, we risk missing what is most essential and rewarding in life. While pursuing material goals, we risk missing what is most essential and rewarding in life. “Our life is frittered away by detail” “Our life is frittered away by detail” “Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts” “Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts” From Walden From Walden

13. Nature By contemplating objects in nature, the individual can transcend this world and discover union with God and the Ideal. By contemplating objects in nature, the individual can transcend this world and discover union with God and the Ideal. Must rely on and listen to one’s intuition Must rely on and listen to one’s intuition

14. Nonconformity The satisfaction of living life guided by self discovered moral principles The satisfaction of living life guided by self discovered moral principles Each person should follow the sway of his own beliefs and ideas, however divergent from the social norm they might be. Each person should follow the sway of his own beliefs and ideas, however divergent from the social norm they might be. “Insist on yourself; never imitate.” “Insist on yourself; never imitate.” From Civil Disobedience From Civil Disobedience

15. Believing in oneself On all questions of right and wrong; personal, social and political, conscience must be the sole determination. On all questions of right and wrong; personal, social and political, conscience must be the sole determination. “To believe in your own thought, to believe what is true for you and your private heart is true for all men, --that is genius.”

16. Intuition It provides the highest truths It provides the highest truths One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates The details of life, all the extra stuff, gets in man’s way of his intuition The details of life, all the extra stuff, gets in man’s way of his intuition

17. Walden 1845 – 1847 Thoreau built a small cabin on the shores of Walden Pond outside Concord, where he lived a simple lifestyle studying nature and writing.

18. Henry David Thoreau “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” Thoreau Thoreau

19. Statue of Thoreau and replica of his little house Statue of Thoreau and replica of his little house

20. Inside of Thoreau’s little house Inside of Thoreau’s little house

21. Trail on Walden Pond Trail on Walden Pond

22. Beach on Walden Pond

23. Other Beach on Walden Pond

24. Thoreau “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail.” “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail.” From Walden From Walden

25. Thoreau’s Packing List 1 axe 1 axe 2 knives 2 knives 1 fork 1 fork 3 plates 3 plates 1 cup 1 cup 1 spoon 1 spoon A jug for oil A jug for oil A jug for molasses A jug for molasses 1 lamp 1 lamp

26. Your Packing List If you could only bring five items, what would you bring? If you could only bring five items, what would you bring? If forced to simplify, what are your priorities? If forced to simplify, what are your priorities?

27. Packing List What categories can Thoreau’s items be grouped into? What categories can Thoreau’s items be grouped into?

28. Class Packing List Five items… Five items… What are our priorities?

29. Chris McCandless How does McCandless’ packing list compare with Thoreau’s? Ours? How does McCandless’ packing list compare with Thoreau’s? Ours?

30. Influence on McCandless Write a paragraph explaining three ways McCandless appeared to have been influenced by the ideas of Transcendentalism and Thoreau. Include three concrete details to support your response. Use your notes from the information presented in this PowerPoint. Write a paragraph explaining three ways McCandless appeared to have been influenced by the ideas of Transcendentalism and Thoreau. Include three concrete details to support your response. Use your notes from the information presented in this PowerPoint.