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Transcendentalism
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Historical Events most affecting Transcendentalism
SLAVERY CONTROVERSIES 1820 Missouri Compromise 1824 Mexico becomes republic – outlaws slavery
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Historical Events most affecting Transcendentalism
SLAVERY CONTROVERSIES 1820 Missouri Compromise 1824 Mexico becomes republic – outlaws slavery 1830 “Underground Railroad” established 1831 Nat Turner revolt 1835 Texas declares independence from Mexico
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Historical Events most affecting Transcendentalism
SLAVERY CONTROVERSIES 1820 Missouri Compromise 1824 Mexico becomes republic – outlaws slavery 1830 “Underground Railroad” established 1831 Nat Turner revolt 1835 Texas declares independence from Mexico 1846 War with Mexico (U.S. joins on behalf of Texas), Texas joined the union as a slave state
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Historical Events most affecting Transcendentalism
SLAVERY CONTROVERSIES 1820 Missouri Compromise 1824 Mexico becomes republic – outlaws slavery 1830 “Underground Railroad” established 1831 Nat Turner revolt 1835 Texas declares independence from Mexico 1846 War with Mexico (U.S. joins on behalf of Texas), Texas joined the union as a slave state 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act (repeals Missouri Compromise)
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Historical Events most affecting Transcendentalism
RELIGIOUS REVIVALISM “Second Great Awakening” ~ a series of religious revivals that spread across the Frontier The crusading spirit of religious evangelism carried over into secular life…
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What does it mean to Transcend?
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God is located in the soul of each individual
Basic Belief #1 God is located in the soul of each individual
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Basic Belief #2 Structure of universe duplicates structure of the individual - all knowledge begins with self- knowledge.
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Nature is a living mystery,
Basic Belief #3 Nature is a living mystery, full of signs; nature is symbolic
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Individual virtue and happiness depend upon self- realization.
Basic Belief #4 Individual virtue and happiness depend upon self- realization.
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Who were the Transcendentalists?
Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Margaret Fuller Emily Dickinson Walt Whitman
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Ralph Waldo Emerson Nature Self Reliance 1803-1882
Unitarian minister, Poet and essayist Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity School address Supporter of abolitionism Greatly influenced Walt Whitman, with his ideas that the “poet is the voice of the people”. Most important for the INFLUENCE he had on other writers Nature Self Reliance
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Henry David Thoreau Walden Civil Disobedience 1817-1862
Schoolteacher, essayist, poet Spent a year in a cabin on Walden Pond in order to write his famous essay Social Activist Influenced environmental movement Supporter of abolitionism Often called the “Transcendentalist in Action”. One of most widely quoted American authors (any guesses as to the other three?) Walden Civil Disobedience
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Margaret Fuller Summer on the Lakes Women in the 19th Century
Journalist, critic, women’s rights activist First editor of The Dial, a transcendental journal First female journalist to work on a major newspaper—The New York Tribune Taught at Alcott’s Temple School Summer on the Lakes Women in the 19th Century
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Emily Dickinson Writer of poetry Unlike the other writers, she existed largely on the fringes Most of her poems were not published until after her death Known for her unusual style, including the use of dashes, slant rhyme and ambiguous language The titles of her poems are taken from the 1st line – she did not title them herself “Because I could not stop for Death- - / He kindly stopped for me” – poem “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” - poem “Tell the truth, but tell it slant” - poem
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Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass (Collection of Poetry)
Often called father of American poetry Revolutionized development of free verse Part of transition from Transcendentalism to Realism Large work of poems, Leaves of Grass, very controversial Wrote quite a bit about Abraham Lincoln and his legacy Leaves of Grass (Collection of Poetry) “Song of Myself” - poem “I Sing the Body Electric” – poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” - poem
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THEMES Self-wisdom Nature – Nature and the soul are linked
– We tune in to this self wisdom by listening to nature Nature – Nature and the soul are linked
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THEMES Social Reform – We must use writing to right the injustices of society - Confident – they feel their cause is just “the right thing to do”
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THEMES Free Thinking – believe we must “think out of the box”
Non-conformity- We do not need to conform to society’s expectations of us
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SIMILARITIES TO ROMANTICS
Both reactions against something Transcendentalists = a reaction against religion, & predeterminism Both encouraged the individual to rely on their own truths – Trust Yourself
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DIFFERENCES FROM ROMANTICS
Dark Romantics believed humans were corruptible and susceptible to evil influences. Transcendentalists believed in inner goodness of human beings
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STYLE Highly intellectual /Tough vocabulary
Poetry tended to be free verse Unlike other movements, the style differed among the writers
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TONE Exalted / felt awe & amazement Feelings are intense
Deep reflection Serious and deep ideas
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