1. Transcendentalism Early 1840s to 1860s

2. Transcendentalism Unlike the Romantics who struggled to define what is unknown – death, the next generation of writers focused on what they could define – life. In order to define life, we have to define who we are as individuals. And that is difficult to do.

3. Transcendentalism The Transcendentalists were intellectuals who asked the important question: Who are you truly, without any other influence?

4. Transcendentalism The Transcendentalists were intellectuals who asked the important question: Who are you truly, without any other influence? They believed that in order to find your true self, you would have to pass through or rise above or transcend through the many layers of “stuff” that we think defines us.

5. Transcendentalism Characteristics of Transcendentalist Literature: – Embrace individualism – Promote simplicity and minimalism – Living in the present, releasing the past – Trusting in nature as a divine and providing spirit – Trusting oneself and one’s intuition – Connecting to others by giving of oneself

6. Transcendentalism Famous writers during the New England Renaissance: – Ralph Waldo Emerson – Henry David Thoreau – Walt Whitman

7. Transcendentalism Famous writers during the New England Renaissance: – Ralph Waldo Emerson – Henry David Thoreau – Walt Whitman

8. Transcendentalism Famous writers during the New England Renaissance: – Ralph Waldo Emerson – Henry David Thoreau – Walt Whitman

9. Transcendentalism Famous writers during the New England Renaissance: – Ralph Waldo Emerson – Henry David Thoreau – Walt Whitman

10. Transcendentalism Most transcendentalists were pantheists: – the means god – pan means all They believed that we are all a part of God. God becomes more of a human spirit of giving and sacrifice. He is referred to as the Oversoul.

11. Transcendentalism Lived for 5 days without a cell phone This reminds me of Thoreau’s passage about Time: Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it, but while I drink, I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is.”

12. Transcendentalism Donated a bag of clothing and shoes and ties: Thoreau says: “Simplify!”

13. Transcendentalism Gave away one NASCAR shirt that I did not want to give away:

14. Transcendentalism Gave up TV for one week. I loved it SO much that I never went back to watching the news in the morning. I now watch TV on Sundays only (NASCAR races).

15. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Too many socks! Socks without partners and socks with holes!

16. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Simplified my sock drawer: Thoreau writes, “Simplify, simplify!” and promotes living a less complex life.

17. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Lived a week without my cell phone Thoreau writes, “Time is but a stream I go a- fishing in...” and explains how brief Life really is. Emerson also claims that we don’t live in present. We live in the past or the future. I don’t think he could’ve imagined how life is today: Where we live in the present but in other places than where we are: I am here physically, but I’d rather be connected with someone else electronically.

18. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Oh, the irony! My daughter, Isla, dropped my phone on the last day (Saturday), and it shattered.

19. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Oh, the irony! My daughter, Isla, dropped my phone on the last day (Saturday), and it shattered. And I couldn’t be more happy.

20. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 Lastly, I had accrued 33 ties since my last purging of “stuff.”

21. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 So I reduced it to 20. Thoreau gives me this number in Walden, to accounts of my life on my fingernails, and it necessary count my toes. So, 20 is plenty.

22. Transcendentalism Fall 2014 So I reduced it to 20. Thoreau gives me this number in Walden, to accounts of my life on my fingernails, and it necessary count my toes. So, 20 is plenty. And, yes. My “Harry Potter” tie is the toughest to give up.