WHO EVER SAID ENGLISH WHO EVER SAID ENGLISH CLASS WASN’T ANY FUN?CLASS WASN’T ANY FUN?

Please take Cornell style notes on all of the following slides.Please take Cornell style notes on all of the following slides.

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

““There are always two parties: the There are always two parties: the establishment and the movement”establishment and the movement”

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

A philosophical movement that began A philosophical movement that began around 1840around 1840

It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-relianceand self-reliance

““a philosophy which professes the a philosophy which professes the essential unity of all creation and the essential unity of all creation and the innate goodness of man” (innate goodness of man” (Britannica Britannica MacromediaMacromedia).).

Philosophy 101: The Three Big Philosophy 101: The Three Big Beliefs of the TranscendentalistsBeliefs of the Transcendentalists

Direct connection or Direct connection or “communication” “communication” between the universe between the universe and the individual soul.and the individual soul.

Nature is the gospel of Nature is the gospel of the new faith. In other the new faith. In other words, nature is words, nature is worshiped and all worshiped and all answers can be found answers can be found within it. within it.

Second BeliefSecond Belief

By thinking about objects in nature, people By thinking about objects in nature, people can go beyond the world and discover can go beyond the world and discover union with the union with the Over-Soul Over-Soul that unites us all.that unites us all.

““I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all”see all”

“…“…the currents of the Universal Being the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me, I am part or parcel of circulate through me, I am part or parcel of God”God”

Say Whaaa?Say Whaaa?

What is the “Over-Soul”?What is the “Over-Soul”? The over-soul is the combination of all your The over-soul is the combination of all your

life experiences, all the lives you have lived all life experiences, all the lives you have lived all the things you have learned.the things you have learned.

The over-soul is the collected knowledge of all The over-soul is the collected knowledge of all lessons learned and wisdom. lessons learned and wisdom.

It is believed that all people are born to learn, It is believed that all people are born to learn, to experience, and connect with one another to experience, and connect with one another and nature. and nature. 

““We are not human beings We are not human beings having a spiritual having a spiritual

experience. We are experience. We are spiritual beings having a spiritual beings having a

human experience.” - human experience.” - Pierre Teilhard de Pierre Teilhard de

Chardin Chardin

Over-Soul Continued…Over-Soul Continued…

The belief is that all people must strive to The belief is that all people must strive to change and become more than they are change and become more than they are now. now.

With each lesson comes more With each lesson comes more understanding of our purpose for being (on understanding of our purpose for being (on the earth). the earth).

It is also believed that with meditation you It is also believed that with meditation you can gain insight into your own personal can gain insight into your own personal path.path.

Third BeliefThird Belief

Follow your own intuition Follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however and own beliefs, however divergent or different from divergent or different from the social norm they may the social norm they may be.be.

Since all people are Since all people are inherently good, the inherently good, the individual’s instinctive individual’s instinctive response to any given response to any given situation will be the right situation will be the right thing to do.thing to do.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism

Non-conformityNon-conformity Self-relianceSelf-reliance Free thoughtFree thought/ /

individualismindividualism Importance of Importance of

Nature Nature

Non-ConformityNon-Conformity Failure or refusal to conform to the Failure or refusal to conform to the

majoritymajority Non-conformity and TranscendentalismNon-conformity and Transcendentalism

Transcendentalists realized that it had been Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary and that it was time to seek literary independence as well.independence as well.

These people wanted to create literature These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything unique to America different from anything England had to offerEngland had to offer

Began as a protest against popular cultureBegan as a protest against popular culture

Self Reliance Self Reliance

Depending on only oneself for all needsDepending on only oneself for all needs Self reliance and transcendentalismSelf reliance and transcendentalism

Before this time, no one had thought of looking Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers.into ones self to find answers.

Free ThoughtFree ThoughtFree thought and TranscendentalismFree thought and Transcendentalism

Another way to look at the Transcendentalists Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day)(hippies of their day)

The spiritual hunger was seen in the educated The spiritual hunger was seen in the educated people of New England specifically Bostonpeople of New England specifically Boston

Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just-experiential, passionate, more-than-just-rational perspective. rational perspective. • God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of

insight, the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a insight, the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a gift?gift?

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

"We will walk on our "We will walk on our own feet; we will work own feet; we will work with our own hands; with our own hands; we will speak our own we will speak our own minds...A nation of minds...A nation of men will for the first men will for the first time exist, because time exist, because each believes himself each believes himself inspired by the Divine inspired by the Divine Soul which also Soul which also inspires all men."inspires all men."

Importance of NatureImportance of Nature

Experiencing nature was of critical Experiencing nature was of critical importance because the natural world was importance because the natural world was the face of God. the face of God.

Becoming physically closer to nature, Becoming physically closer to nature, contemplating it, understanding it—these contemplating it, understanding it—these were the actions that brought man closer were the actions that brought man closer to his maker. to his maker.

The A ListThe A List

Writer Ralph Waldo Writer Ralph Waldo EmersonEmerson

Writer/Naturalist Writer/Naturalist Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Feminist writer Feminist writer Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller

Educator Bronson Educator Bronson AlcottAlcott

From 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called From 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance. the New England Renaissance.

Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a clear American voice. during this period established a clear American voice.

No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authors. European authors.

Transcendentalism was a part of this “flowering” or peak of American Transcendentalism was a part of this “flowering” or peak of American literature. literature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were important Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were important voices in this philosophical movement that sought to have individuals voices in this philosophical movement that sought to have individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level. “transcend” to a higher spiritual level.

To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition.greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition.

Emerson was the philosopher and teacher. Thoreau was the student Emerson was the philosopher and teacher. Thoreau was the student and the practitioner. and the practitioner.

Your AssignmentYour Assignment

First – Ask your substitute for the First – Ask your substitute for the assignment guidelines handout. assignment guidelines handout.

Second – Follow the guidelines to complete Second – Follow the guidelines to complete your assignment. your assignment.

Third - Answer the questions on the Third - Answer the questions on the following slide in following slide in no less than a two page no less than a two page response.response.

Fourth – Turn in whatever you have Fourth – Turn in whatever you have completed at the end of the period. completed at the end of the period.

Address each of the following questions:Address each of the following questions: How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do you How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do you

reflect the moods of nature? (ex. If it is raining outside what is your reflect the moods of nature? (ex. If it is raining outside what is your mood? If it is 70 degrees and sunny, what is your mood?) Why do you mood? If it is 70 degrees and sunny, what is your mood?) Why do you think that is?think that is?

What is the role of nature in your life? What is the role of nature in your life?

What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How do you define it? What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How do you define it?

Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature? If so, Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature? If so, what is that connection? If not, why are these not connected?what is that connection? If not, why are these not connected?

What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, has a What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, has a parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without having talked with or seen you? What do we mean when we say “I just having talked with or seen you? What do we mean when we say “I just know it”? know it”?

Do you believe in intuition? Why or why not?Do you believe in intuition? Why or why not?

How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think independently of others or do you follow the crowd? Provide specific independently of others or do you follow the crowd? Provide specific examples and scenarios. examples and scenarios.