1.   The transcendentalists originated in New England in the mid-1830’s. This group adopted some of Romanticisms’ ideals and mixed them with antipuritanism, antirationality, and mysticism and aspects of Eastern philosophies. A more optimistic offshoot of Romanticism. The transcendentalists originated in New England in the mid-1830’s. This group adopted some of Romanticisms’ ideals and mixed them with antipuritanism, antirationality, and mysticism and aspects of Eastern philosophies. A more optimistic offshoot of Romanticism. What is Transcendentalism? Key Emphasis: Self-Reliance

2.   Central Belief in unity between nature and God, the presence of God in each individual, and the potential perfectibility of humans. Central Belief in unity between nature and God, the presence of God in each individual, and the potential perfectibility of humans. Transcendentalist

3.   Intuition, rather than reason or imagination, was regarded as the highest human faculty.  The focus was on the individual.  Looking to simplicity in one’s life as a path to spiritual greatness.  Opposed the reigning materialism and widespread conformity of American culture.  Looked to nature as a source of truth and inspiration.  Stressed non-conformity, emphasizing individuality and self-reliance. Principles of Transcendentalism

4.   Transcendentalism rejected the strict Puritan religious attitudes.  Puritan religion was the heritage of New England, where the movement originated.  Unlike the Puritans, the Transcendentalists saw humans and nature as possessing an innate goodness.  Transcendentalism opposes the strict ritualism and dogmatic theology of all established religious institutions. Transcendentalism Vs. Puritian Thoughts

5.   Transcendentalist writers expressed  semi religious feelings toward nature  saw a direct connection between the universe and the individual soul.  Divinity permeated all objects, animate or inanimate.  Human life’s purpose was union with the so-called Oversoul.  Practiced self-examination  Celebrated individualism, and the extolling of the beauties of nature and humankind. Transcendentalist Writers

6.  Dialectic Journals (DJs)  Pull a meaningful quote from the text and respond to it.  Quote can be about anything, or can be an example of something (i.e. rhetorical device or rhetorical appeal)  In your DJs, each response needs to be at least 50 words. QuoteReader Response “Emerson gave me courage to…value my own individual voice and vision, even if doing so resulted in disapproval and being unpopular with the hip ‘in crowd’.” pg. 362 This is a classic example of transcendentalist thought. Because transcendentalists value intuition over publically approved knowledge, and the individual over any social group, Charles Johnson shows that Emerson’s essay encouraged him to follow a transcendentalist path. Sometimes people who choose to follow this path are seen by their peers as weird, or as outcasts, because they believe that their own voice is more important than that of the crowd. However, it could be that these individuals are more enlightened than those around them.