By Matt Barrage, Andy Hickmann, and Tayler Wagner

What is transcendentalism? How does it reflect romanticism? Who are the major writers and the works of this group? What impact did they have on America? Research Topic

Transcendentalism An American political, literary, philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century that was centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson(Zalta) Authors were critics of conformity and urged that individuals should find their own original relationship amidst nature(Zalta)

Transcendentalism (cont.) Began as a protest against the general state of culture and society (Lewis) Among the author’s core beliefs, was an ideal spiritual state that is only realized through the individual’s intuition, rather than through the doctrines of religion (Lewis)

Transcendentalism vs. Romanticism Transcendentalists try to find themselves in nature and make their own identity in society (Lewis) Romanticism stressed on people to appreciate the beauty of nature and the wild (What) Transcendentalism furthers the natural beliefs of romantics (Zalta)

Major Writers Movement was lead mainly by Ralph Waldo Emerson (Ralph) Other writers included Henry David Thoreau, Amos Bronson Alcott, and Margaret Fuller to name a few (Lewis)

Ralph Waldo Emerson Born May 25 th, 1803 Boston, MA His father, Reverend William Emerson, was a Unitarian minister Died when Ralph was only 8 years old Founded a literary circle called the New England Transcendentalism Went to Harvard and graduated in 1821 Kept a journal that became the source for many lectures and books First book was called “Nature” Died in 1882 (Ralph)

Works by Emerson Nature – 1836 “Self Reliance” – 1841 to 1844 Representative Men – 1860 Conduct of Life – 1860 English Traits – 1865 (Work)

Henry David Thoreau Born July 12 th, 1817 Concord, MA Legally born David Henry Thoreau Attended Harvard between 1833 and 1837 Met Emerson upon returning to Concord Embarked on a 2 year experiment of self living where he moved to small self-built house on land owned by Emerson on the shore of Walden Pond Died in 1863 (Liukkonen)

Works by Thoreau Most prominent work was “Walden,” also known as “Life in the Woods” in 1854 “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers” in 1849 Only two books published during his lifetime “Civil Disobedience,” an essay published in 1849, reflected a night he spent in jail for protesting the Mexican-American war (Peacenik)

Margaret Fuller Born May 23 rd, 1810 in Cambridgeport, MA Born Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli Her dad died and she was put in charge of teaching her siblings (Sarah)

Works by Margaret Fuller “Summer on the Lake” in 1844 “Woman in the 19 th Century” in 1845 “Papers on Literature and Art” in 1846 (Sarah)

Effect on American Literature Ideals of transcendentalism called for people to develop their own way in life. Conformity in society was looked down upon because it promoted individuality. It still remains a prominent impact on American literature today.

Works Cited Lewis, Jone Johnson. "What is Trancendentalism?." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May < Liukkonen, Petri. "Henry D(avid) Thoreau." N.p., Web. 2 May Peacenik,. "Henry David Thoreau." Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 2 May "Ralph Waldo Emerson." Academy of American Poets, Web. 2 May "[Sarah] Margaret Fuller." American Transcendentalism Web, n.d. Web. 2 May "Work." Columbia University Press, Web. 2 May “What is Romanticism?." Penguin Books, Web. 2 May Zalta, Edward. "Transcendentalism." Encyclopedia of Philosophy. University of Stanford, Web. 2 May