Dance to the Beat of a DIFFERENT DRUM! Transcendentalism (and a bit on Romanticism)

First, the Romantic Movement "Romanticism valued imagination and emotion over rationality"

What is Romanticism? An artistic and intellectual movement Ideas originated in late 18th century Western Europe Stressed strong emotion (trepidation, awe and horror) as human experience Individual imagination as a critical authority, which permitted freedom within or even from classical notions of form in art Overturning of previous social conventions, particularly the position of the aristocracy—anyone can see the beauty of life and write about it Notice: Romance and romanticism are two totally different concepts

What? Why? How? Reason and revolution…ok…now, tell me a story! People want more fiction All kinds of immigrants coming to the US have different backgrounds and cultural stories…remember the creation myths Less need for persuasive, more time for leisure and enjoyable texts, time to explore ideas and stories The idea that America has a culture and its own stories to tell

The Romantics are the spring board for the Transcendentalists Imaginative/Romantics Romantics Dark Romantics Transcendentalists The Romantics are the spring board for the Transcendentalists Transcendentalism—the first truly American Literary Movement!

Trans-cen-den-tal-ism Say What? Trans-cen-den-tal-ism

How did Transcendentalism 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance—later renamed Americans begin exploring their own ideas of BIG concepts: nature, religion, government, etc. Through poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a clear American voice No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authors

What is Transcendentalism? To Transcend: To pass beyond the limits To be greater than, as in intensity or power To surpass To exist above and independent of (material experience or the universe) Transcendentalism based on concepts that humans could go BEYOND our confines (mostly of civilization) and become more than ourselves, become something greater…WOW! The ultimate goal is to reach the UNIVERSAL TRUTH!

What is universal Truth? This refers to an idea that in determining the ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience in the physical world. The writers focused on intuition, self-reliance, individualism, and a love of nature as ways to behold the universal truth To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition Based on individual’s impressions rather than logic; emotional, not rational experiences

What Do Transcendentalists believe ? Transcendentalists were also idealists Idealism: a theory everything that exists only exists once your mind perceives it; therefore, reality is created in your mind Do you believe in human perfectibility? Do you strive to be the best you can be? Transcendentalists also believed in human perfectibility and worked hard to achieve this goal (bonus: who else have we read that fits into this category?)

How do they perceive the world? Everything in the world, including humans, is a reflection of the Divine Soul The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world Individualism must outweigh external authority and blind conformity to custom and tradition Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality

Who came up with this idea? Ralph Waldo Emerson was the philosopher and teacher Henry David Thoreau was the student and the practitioner These are the big dogs of Transcendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson Explore ideas of the individual's unity with nature, the divineness of the individual, the need to live in the present, and the role of the poet in society “Although he wrote no fiction and less poetry than many other poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson is perhaps the most important figure in the history of American literature.”

Emerson, cont. In the 1830s, he became the leader of Transcendentalism “Emerson's insistence that humans live in the present and trust their own impulses helped American writers forge their own identities at a time when European influence was still high and American confidence perhaps was still low.” After hearing Emerson deliver a speech, fellow writer Oliver Wendell Holmes called the speech "our intellectual Declaration of Independence.“ Emerson's chief contribution was his enormous influence on other writers and thinkers.

My Goodness! He’s Brilliant! (Yes, he is. He entered Harvard at 14!) Emerson had a hard life full of death of loved ones The tragedies helped him come up with some amazing ideas Do you think of the glass half empty or half full? Emerson saw the glass as half full. His optimism led him to believe that we can find God directly in nature. One of the COOLEST people EVER!

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Not your average guy… Took what Emerson spoke and wrote about and put it into practice famous experiment in living close to nature famous night in jail to protest an inhuman institution and an unjust war wrote essays and memoirs about his experiences exploring his own universal truths, to achieve his own idea of perfection

Thoreau, cont. Didn’t see eye to eye with the “typical” American "The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" 

And in his free time… A philosopher and creative artist: “Thoreau dedicated his life, skills, and classical learning to the Emersonian call for the creation of an original American literature and philosophy” A scientific originator: became wildlife expert and botanist An antislavery activist: In the 1850s he was a risk-taker on the underground railroad, and an outspoken defender even of extremism to defeat proslavery forces in a divided America.

Ideas to consider as we begin… Is there a God? Where is he/she? Why does she/she allow things to happen? Will we ever meet this person? What is beyond the earth? Are there aliens? Does the universe really go on forever? What is forever…do I know…can I comprehend? How well do I know me? Do I understand how my mind and body function? How is my body so intricately related? How did we get here? What can I do to make myself a better person

Transcendentalism Background Quiz Identify one reason why transcendentalism started. Identify the two main people associated with this literary movement. They believed we are each a reflection of what?______________________. The ultimate goal of this movement was for individuals to find what?______________ Why is this movement important to American literary history? _____________. What are the two main principals that transcendentalist believe in? 6. _______________ 7. _______ True or False: 8. The transcendentalists valued reason above all. 9. This movement focused on self-reliance, individuality and nonconformity. 10. Part of this movement was based on the concept that Americans should embrace European influences.