TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882)(1803-1882)

Urged people to think for themselves rather Urged people to think for themselves rather than follow rules that had been handed than follow rules that had been handed down for generations.down for generations.

““Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity

of your own mind.”of your own mind.”

““The end of the human race will be that if will The end of the human race will be that if will eventually die of civilization.”eventually die of civilization.”

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

LIFE EVENTS:LIFE EVENTS: Born in Boston (1803) where is father Born in Boston (1803) where is father

was a Unitarian ministerwas a Unitarian minister His father died when Emerson was 8, His father died when Emerson was 8,

leaving the family with financial problems.leaving the family with financial problems. At age 14, received scholarship to At age 14, received scholarship to

Harvard Divinity School (1825).Harvard Divinity School (1825). By 1829, a successful Boston minister & By 1829, a successful Boston minister &

marriedmarried

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

LIFE EVENTS cont.:LIFE EVENTS cont.:

1831 (2 years later)…Emerson’s life took a new path: 1831 (2 years later)…Emerson’s life took a new path: his wife died & he had been developing his own beliefs his wife died & he had been developing his own beliefs that conflicted with those of the church—he decided to that conflicted with those of the church—he decided to leave the ministry.leave the ministry.

New Belief: Each person contained a spark of divinity New Belief: Each person contained a spark of divinity and that people should search for truths in nature and and that people should search for truths in nature and within themselves.within themselves.

After resigning, he traveled to Europe—Influenced by After resigning, he traveled to Europe—Influenced by English writers (William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor English writers (William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Thomas Carlyle)Coleridge, Thomas Carlyle)

Returned to U.S. in 1883 (Concord, Mass.) & began Returned to U.S. in 1883 (Concord, Mass.) & began lecturing and writinglecturing and writing

Remarried 2 years later.Remarried 2 years later.

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

LIFE EVENTS cont.:LIFE EVENTS cont.: In Concord, founded the TRANSCENDENTAL In Concord, founded the TRANSCENDENTAL

CLUB—devoted to discussions of literature, CLUB—devoted to discussions of literature, philosophy, & religion.philosophy, & religion.

At age 33, published “Nature”—a long essay that At age 33, published “Nature”—a long essay that set forth the major ideas of transcendentalism. set forth the major ideas of transcendentalism. “Nature” along w/ other lectures urged Americans “Nature” along w/ other lectures urged Americans to think for themselves and to resist bonds of to think for themselves and to resist bonds of conformity.conformity.

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson(in a nutshell)(in a nutshell)

American essayist and poetAmerican essayist and poet a leader of the philosophical movement a leader of the philosophical movement

of transcendentalism. of transcendentalism. Influenced by such schools of thought as Influenced by such schools of thought as

English romanticism, Neo-Platonism, and English romanticism, Neo-Platonism, and Hindu philosophy. Hindu philosophy.

Emerson is noted for his skill in Emerson is noted for his skill in presenting his ideas eloquently and in presenting his ideas eloquently and in poetic language. poetic language.

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo EmersonFamous WorksFamous Works

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau(1817-1862)(1817-1862)

““If a man does not keep pace with his If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he companions, perhaps it is because he

hears a different drummer.”hears a different drummer.”

One of his first memories was of staying One of his first memories was of staying awake at night "looking through the stars awake at night "looking through the stars to see if I could see God behind them." to see if I could see God behind them."

One might say he never stopped looking One might say he never stopped looking into nature for ultimate Truth. into nature for ultimate Truth.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

LIFE EVENTS:LIFE EVENTS: Graduated from Harvard, became a Graduated from Harvard, became a

school teacher, resigned b/c he was school teacher, resigned b/c he was ordered to discipline students by ordered to discipline students by whipping themwhipping them

Home: Concord, Mass.Home: Concord, Mass.

Devoted his time to nature study, Devoted his time to nature study, reading, writing, and odd jobsreading, writing, and odd jobs

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

LIFE EVENTS cont.:LIFE EVENTS cont.: Very close to his brother, JohnVery close to his brother, John When John died of tetanus (cut himself When John died of tetanus (cut himself

shaving), Thoreau was traumatizedshaving), Thoreau was traumatized Thoreau paid tribute to his brother by Thoreau paid tribute to his brother by

writing an account of the camping and writing an account of the camping and canoeing trip that he and John had taken canoeing trip that he and John had taken a few years before. a few years before.

He needed a quiet place to write, so…He needed a quiet place to write, so…

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

LIFE EVENTS cont.:LIFE EVENTS cont.: He persuaded his friend, Ralph He persuaded his friend, Ralph

Waldo Emerson, to allow him to Waldo Emerson, to allow him to

build a cabin on his land at Walden Pond.build a cabin on his land at Walden Pond. Thoreau lived at Walden Pond for 2 years, 2 Thoreau lived at Walden Pond for 2 years, 2

months, and 2 days.months, and 2 days. He observed and kept journals about what he He observed and kept journals about what he

saw on his trip (nature writing).saw on his trip (nature writing). At age 28 he wrote his masterpiece, At age 28 he wrote his masterpiece, WaldenWalden, ,

based on his observations there.based on his observations there.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauINTERESTING LIFE FACTS:INTERESTING LIFE FACTS: He was a dedicated abolitionist & helped slaves He was a dedicated abolitionist & helped slaves

escape through the Underground Railroad.escape through the Underground Railroad. He became a popular lecturer known for his whit & He became a popular lecturer known for his whit &

philosophical ideas.philosophical ideas. Thoreau and his friend Emerson, who outlived him Thoreau and his friend Emerson, who outlived him

by 2 decades, are buried near each other in by 2 decades, are buried near each other in Concord.Concord.

When he died at age 44, few people outside When he died at age 44, few people outside Concord had ever heard of him. It was not until the Concord had ever heard of him. It was not until the 2020thth century that Thoreau became famous around century that Thoreau became famous around the world as a thinker and environmentalist.the world as a thinker and environmentalist.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauFamous WorksFamous Works

"If the law is of such nature that it requires you to be an agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law."

July 1846 Thoreau’s Night in Jail

““Civil Disobedience”Civil Disobedience”

Quotes by Emerson & Quotes by Emerson & ThoreauThoreau

Express yourself......

C A L V I N

                                                                                                                                                                                              

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Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing on one's own sunshine. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Emerson

I hate quotations. Tell me what you know. -Emerson

There is properly no history; only biography.

-Emerson