1. Lesson Two Ralph Waldo Emerson “The Mind On Fire”

2. Major Life Events Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1803. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother. Attended Harvard College & Harvard Divinity School Became a pastor. Eventually began his career as a lecturer and toured Europe meeting people like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

3. Claim to Fame Pioneered the Transcendentalist Movement of the mid-19 th century. Transcendentalism- a philosophy praising intuition and spirituality over experience.

4. Main Texts “Nature” “The Divinity School Address” “The American Scholar” “Self Reliance” “Circles” “The Poet”

5. Major Influences Emerson had a major influence on: Henry David Thoreau Walt Whitman Anne Dillard And many more!

6. The Divinity School Address Delivered at Harvard’s Divinity School in 1838. Gave a speech denouncing the role of Jesus. Attendees of the graduation were appalled and in an uproar. The officials at Harvard were so upset over the catastrophic event that they didn’t ask Emerson back to speak at Harvard for thirty years!

7. SO… Why does this matter? THIS is an example of controversy in it’s early American roots. Would this still be controversial today? Why? Why not? In your journals, write a brief explanation as to which side you agree with.