Tuesday 12/01In your warm-up section:

Create your own personal motto. To get started, consider the traits or resources that helped you solve a difficult problem, or the best advice you’ve ever given a friend.

Aphorism Brief statement, usually one sentence long, that

expresses a general principle or truth about life.

Example: Benjamin Franklin’s “Honesty is the best policy”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Background: Leader of Transcendentalist movement Cited as one of the most significant writers in

American history Born in Boston, father was prominent Unitarian

minister Graduated from Harvard in 1821, ranked 30th our of

59 students

Spiritual Crisis Returned to Harvard in 1825 to study Unitarian

Ministry, ordained in 1829 Wife, Ellen, died in 1830 of tuberculosis Fell into “spiritual crisis”, questioned aspects of

Christian tradition and duties as a minister Resigned in 1832

Voice of Transcendentalism

After wife’s death, settled in Concord, Massachusetts devoted himself to study of philosophy, religion and literature

Published Nature IN 1836, which articulates his Transcendentalist philosophy

Formed a Transcendentalist Club (1836) with like-minded individuals including Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller

Nature became group’s unofficial manifesto

The Sage of Concord

Thought to be stiff, formal person and always wore black

Saved his passion for the page Known as “The Sage of Concord” and became a

major literary force, still evident in American culture today

Review: Transcendentalism

Intellectual movement emphasizing dignity of the individual

Advocates a simple, mindful life Transcend (go beyond) limitations of the senses and

everyday experience

Key Tenets of Existentialism:

1. “Transcendent forms” of truth exist beyond reason and experience. Every individual is capable of discovering this truth on his or her own, through intuition.

2. Conviction that people are inherently good and should follow their own beliefs, however controversial they may be.

3. Belief that humankind, nature and God are interconnected.

*As you read, consider how Emerson’s writing articulates his belief in the importance of the individual as well as his ideas about humankind’s relationship to the natural world.

Self-Reliance (362-364) and Nature (365-66)

Create a T-chart, with the left side labeled “Self-Reliance” and the right “Nature”

As we read, use the chart to record aphorisms found in the text. Star the aphorisms that particularly stand out to you.

After Reading Questions: p.367 On the same paper as your chart, complete Critical

Analysis questions 4-7.