1. Romantic Poetry in America
Through the Dead Poets Society

2. Mr. Keating’s Words of Wisdom
The idea of education =“ learn to think for yourself”
“The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What would your verse be?”
“You must strive to find your own voice”

3. R. W. Emerson’s Advice to America
“Trust thyself” “…imitation is suicide” (“Self- Reliance”)
We Americans need to interpret our OWN culture, not just rely on British ideas (“The American Scholar” 1837)
We need an “American Poet” who can sing about OUR country. We need to see nature through American eyes (“The Poet”

4. Keating = Emerson?
Unorthodox = Not conforming to rules or traditions

5. Emerson as Mentor Emily Dickinson
Call for an “American Voice” sparked the “New England Renaissance”
Many writers finding their voice
Henry David Thoreau
Walt Whitman
Emily Dickinson

6. Emerson Inspires Thoreau
Emerson encouraged Thoreau to do his experiment of living in the woods.
Let Thoreau stay on his land
Emerson = inspiring ideas (“Nature” “Self-Reliance”)
Thoreau = putting it to practice

7. Emerson Inspires Walt Whitman
Young Walt tries to be THE “American Poet” (as Emerson described)
Writes Leaves of Grass
a collection of poems (fresh, original)
Mails the collection to Emerson
Emerson congratulates him for having a fresh new voice

8. Inspiring the Boys…

9. Each Found his OWN voice
Inspiring the Boys…
Each Found his OWN voice

10. Emily Dickinson Was born and died in the same house
Didn’t get out much (not in contact with Emerson)
Wrote poems, published only 10 Anonymously
Found her OWN voice

11. Emerson’s Over-soul Single soul of entire Universe
“I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God” (“Nature”)
Whitman & Dickinson also wrote about the soul.

12. What makes this stanza Romantic? (think of the 5 ‘I’s)
DAREST thou now, O Soul, Walk out with me toward the Unknown Region, Where neither ground is for the feet, nor any path to follow?