TranscendentalismThe movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, &

Henry David Thoreau

Takes place during the early-mid 1800s. The belief that truths about life & death can

be reached by going outside the world of the senses.

Focus on the relationship between man & nature.

Feelings are priority over reason.

What is the movement?

Rise of cities Class systems War Greed

What caused the movement?

Nature was divine. Nature held the truths. To communicate & be one with nature was

the epitome of “goodness.” Nature was innocence & an escape from the

evils of society.

Characteristics - Nature

Rejection of standard beliefs of society. Inner truth is what matters most. Fulfillment comes from knowing one’s self, not

wealth, gender, or education. Transcendentalism stressed individual choice

and instinct above all other human impulses.

Characteristics - Individualism

The soul is something equally available to all people.

Transcendentalism viewed all aspects of life, including human life, as small and inter-related parts of God, or the Universal Mind.

Characteristics – The Oversoul

Anti-Aristocracy Anti-Slavery Pro-Women’s Rights Quest for Utopia

Characteristics – Moral Enthusiasm

Literature was an important medium used during this movement.

Major authors:◦ Emily Dickinson◦ Edgar Allan Poe◦ Ralph Waldo Emerson◦ Henry David Thoreau

Literary Focus

1803 – 1882 Born in Boston Entered Harvard at age 14 Became a minister in 1829

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1838 – Invited to speak at Harvard’s graduation

His remarks outraged the audience. Said that Jesus was not God, which offended

the Protestant community.

Emerson vs. Harvard

Emerson owned the land which Thoreau built his cabin on (Walden Pond).

Provided food to Thoreau, & hired him to work odd jobs.

Had a falling out when Emerson told Thoreau to publish his first book.

Buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (MA).

Friendship with Thoreau

Born in 1817 (Concord, Mass.) Attended Harvard Various occupations:

◦ Pencil maker◦ Farmer◦ Handyman

Henry David Thoreau

Did not fit in with other young men of his time Spent time wandering the fields surrounding

Concord Began his “Walden Pond experiment” on July 4,

1845 (lasted 26 months)◦ Lived on only bare essentials◦ Arrested for not paying taxes during this experiment

(protesting against Mexican/American War)◦ Wrote Civil Disobedience

The source for all of Henry David Thoreau's books was the journal he kept from 1832 until his death in 1862.

Thoreau, cont.

After Walden Pond, he continued his examination of nature

Died in 1862 (age 45) after contracting a bad cold

Thoreau’s Later Life