TheRenaissancePeriod1840-1860. Renaissance Period Distinct period of Romantic Period Distinct period of Romantic Period Was a ‘rebirth’ / coming of age

TheTheRenaissance Renaissance

PeriodPeriod

1840-18601840-1860

Renaissance PeriodRenaissance Period

•Distinct period of Distinct period of Romantic PeriodRomantic Period

Was a ‘Was a ‘rebirthrebirth’ / coming of age’ / coming of age

• Illustrated By American writersIllustrated By American writers

Finding their own Finding their own identityidentityMoving away from English Moving away from English literature literature and and

influencesinfluences

Renaissance PeriodRenaissance Period

•Represented 1Represented 1stst time time literatureliterature was truly was truly AmericanAmerican

•Marked by Marked by cultureculture and and landscapelandscape

•Main authors-Main authors-Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson,Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson,

ThoreauThoreau

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

An attitude orAn attitude or

belief contradicting belief contradicting industrialism, growth, industrialism, growth,

and conformity.and conformity.

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

At this point in history-At this point in history-

•shift from:shift from:

AgricultureAgriculture to to IndustryIndustryRuralRural life to life to Urban Urban lifelifeFactoriesFactories replaced workers replaced workersImmigrantsImmigrants performed labor performed labor

TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists• FoughtFought this form of thought this form of thought

– looked to create a better looked to create a better societysociety

• Believed Believed truthtruth was not in was not in businessbusiness, , govtgovt, , or or wealthwealth, but in , but in GodGod, the, the universe universe, and , and the the selfself

• Wanted to go ‘Wanted to go ‘beyondbeyond//transcendtranscend’ the ’ the physical world in order to find physical world in order to find truthtruth– Non-ConformistsNon-Conformists

A Transcendental ViewA Transcendental View

• Everything in the Everything in the worldworld- including humans- - including humans- is a reflection of is a reflection of godgod

• HumankindHumankind, , naturenature, and , and GodGod are all are all connectedconnected

• People are inherently People are inherently goodgood- they should - they should always follow their always follow their beliefsbeliefs

• Personal Personal intuitionintuition can reveal god’s spirit in can reveal god’s spirit in nature nature and theand the soul soul- thus, - thus, truth truth is attainableis attainable

A Transcendental ViewA Transcendental View

• Self-relianceSelf-reliance / / individualismindividualism outweigh outweigh AuthorityAuthority / blind / blind conformityconformity

• Spontaneous Spontaneous feelingfeeling//intuitionintuition are are superior to superior to intellectualismintellectualism / / rationalityrationality

• The ‘The ‘natural worldnatural world’ is the doorway to the ’ is the doorway to the spiritual/idealspiritual/ideal world. world.

Ralph Ralph

Waldo Waldo

EmersonEmerson

1803 -18831803 -1883

A ‘Rare’ IntellectualA ‘Rare’ Intellectual

• Appealed to the Appealed to the youngyoung with his with his energyenergy and and vitalityvitality

• Appealed to Appealed to intellectuals intellectuals with his with his philosophical ideas concerning philosophical ideas concerning humanityhumanity, , naturenature, and , and GodGod

• Appealed to overall Appealed to overall society society with his with his optimismoptimism

The Quotable EmersonThe Quotable Emerson

•EmersonEmerson is quoted more times is quoted more times than any figure in history.than any figure in history.

•Only one source with more Only one source with more quotes- the quotes- the Bible Bible

Quotable- but why?Quotable- but why?

Represents the person Represents the person we all strive to we all strive to becomebecome

The person who has The person who has foundfound, , acceptsaccepts, , and and lovesloves his place on earth his place on earth

Loves Loves whowho he is; he is; whatwhat he is he is

Possesses Possesses peace of mindpeace of mind

Emerson’s historyEmerson’s history

•Born (1803) into a cultured family Born (1803) into a cultured family of of ministers ministers in Bostonin Boston

•Life was Life was pre-arranged/establishedpre-arranged/established

Was to be a Was to be a ministerminister

•Attended Attended HarvardHarvard; age ; age 2525 accepted accepted 11stst ministry post ministry post


• Spontaneously left ministry at age Spontaneously left ministry at age 28 28 after his after his wife diedwife died

• Intuition Intuition led him to Europe; influenced led him to Europe; influenced by by RomanticRomantic writers writers

• In In 18331833 returned to U.S.- possessed a returned to U.S.- possessed a new new optimismoptimism and and outlookoutlook on life on life


• Helped pioneer the Helped pioneer the Transcendental Transcendental Movement in the U.S.Movement in the U.S.

• Was, first and foremost, a Was, first and foremost, a writerwriter and and lecturerlecturer

• Realized the Realized the limitationlimitation of of transcendentalism in a civilized, transcendentalism in a civilized, conforming conforming societysociety..

Literary FocusLiterary Focus

-Aphorism (motto)--Aphorism (motto)-

A brief statement, usually one A brief statement, usually one sentence long, that expresses a sentence long, that expresses a general principle or truth about lifegeneral principle or truth about life

An apple a day keeps…An apple a day keeps…

Honesty is the best policyHonesty is the best policy

Quick ProjectQuick Project

A motto captures an A motto captures an individual’s attitude individual’s attitude

toward life in one pithy toward life in one pithy phrase. Think of a ‘motto’ phrase. Think of a ‘motto’ that you hear on a daily that you hear on a daily

basis.basis.

Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE

““Nothing can bring you Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; peace but yourself;

nothing can bring you nothing can bring you peace but the triumph peace but the triumph

of principles.”of principles.”


““The high prize in life, the The high prize in life, the crowning fortune of man is crowning fortune of man is to be born with a bias to to be born with a bias to some pursuit which finds some pursuit which finds

himhim in employment and in employment and

happiness.”happiness.”


““Accept the place Accept the place

divine Providence has divine Providence has

found for you.”found for you.”


““Trust the instinct to Trust the instinct to

the end, though the end, though

you can render you can render

no reason.”no reason.”


““Do not go where the Do not go where the

path may lead, go instead path may lead, go instead where there is no path where there is no path

and leave a trail.”and leave a trail.”


““Self-trust is the first Self-trust is the first secret to success.”secret to success.”


What is your mottoWhat is your motto??

Documents

TheRenaissancePeriod1840-1860. Renaissance Period Distinct period of Romantic Period Distinct period of Romantic Period Was a ‘rebirth’ / coming of age