TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Some background...Some background...

New England New England Renaissance (1840-Renaissance (1840-1855)1855) Literary outpouring Literary outpouring

based mainly in the based mainly in the New England states.New England states.

Writing is distinctly Writing is distinctly “American” (Irving “American” (Irving and Cooper too and Cooper too “European”; Poe not “European”; Poe not yet respected).yet respected).

New England Renaissance (cont’d)New England Renaissance (cont’d) Increasing interest in Increasing interest in utopia utopia – “perfect – “perfect

community”community” Optimism of period led to Transcendentalist Optimism of period led to Transcendentalist

movement.movement.

What is What is Transcendentalism?Transcendentalism?

Hard to defineHard to define Kant says: based on Kant says: based on

understanding through understanding through intuition.intuition.

Some basic ideas:Some basic ideas: The “Over-Soul” – Divinity The “Over-Soul” – Divinity

of human nature and of human nature and omnipresence of God.omnipresence of God.

Reverence for nature - Reverence for nature - humanity is reflected in it.humanity is reflected in it.

Simplicity and self-Simplicity and self-reliancereliance

““Over-Soul”Over-Soul” For my ally is the For my ally is the

Force. And a powerful Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. The makes it grow. The force surrounds us and force surrounds us and binds us. Luminous binds us. Luminous beings are we not this beings are we not this crude matter. You crude matter. You must feel the Force must feel the Force around you. Here, around you. Here, between you, me, the between you, me, the tree, the tree, the rock...everywhere! rock...everywhere! Even between the land Even between the land and the ship.and the ship.""

Some basic ideas Some basic ideas (cont’d)(cont’d) Truth - based on Truth - based on

individual rather than individual rather than established rules. (“A established rules. (“A foolish consistency is foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little the hobgoblin of little minds” – Emerson)minds” – Emerson)

Civil disobedienceCivil disobedience

Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience Passive, non-violent resistance to Passive, non-violent resistance to

governmental policies to which an governmental policies to which an individual is morally opposed.individual is morally opposed.

Influenced individuals such a Dr. Martin Influenced individuals such a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, and Cesar Luther King Jr., Ghandi, and Cesar ChavezChavez

slide borrowed from Jamea Yaeger, Santana High Schoolslide borrowed from Jamea Yaeger, Santana High School

slide borrowed from Jamea Yaeger, Santana High Schoolslide borrowed from Jamea Yaeger, Santana High School

Some Key Players...Some Key Players...

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)(1803-1882) essayist, poet, Unitarian essayist, poet, Unitarian

minister (for a time), minister (for a time), orator, and philosopherorator, and philosopher

called for “intellectual called for “intellectual Declaration of Declaration of Independence”.Independence”.

NatureNature (1836): considered (1836): considered the first full expression of the first full expression of Transcendentalism.Transcendentalism.

Some Key Players…Some Key Players…(cont’d)(cont’d)

Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)(1817-1862) Somewhat of a Somewhat of a

protégé of Emerson.protégé of Emerson. Quit job as teacher Quit job as teacher

because he objected because he objected to corporal to corporal punishment.punishment.

Refused to pay taxes Refused to pay taxes in protest of the in protest of the Mexican War.Mexican War.

Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (cont’d)(cont’d) WaldenWalden - Based on - Based on

experiences living experiences living alone at Walden Pond alone at Walden Pond for two years.for two years.

Whereas Emerson Whereas Emerson established many established many tenets of tenets of Transcendentalism, Transcendentalism, Thoreau tested them.Thoreau tested them.