TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

““Who so would be a man must be Who so would be a man must be a non-conformist.”a non-conformist.”

Search for the American VoiceSearch for the American Voice

1825 – 18551825 – 1855 Throughout the first half of century, Throughout the first half of century,

European and American critics called for European and American critics called for writers to celebrate the new country in writers to celebrate the new country in poetry or prosepoetry or prose

America looking for own style/genre of America looking for own style/genre of literature unique to usliterature unique to us

Period often referred to “American Period often referred to “American Renaissance” Renaissance”

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Emerson started the Transcendentalism Emerson started the Transcendentalism movement – first American literary movement – first American literary movementmovement

It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-relianceand self-reliance

Beliefs of TranscendentalismBeliefs of Transcendentalism

Direct connection or Direct connection or “communication” “communication” between the universe between the universe and the individual soul.and the individual soul.

Nature is the gospel of Nature is the gospel of the new faith. In other the new faith. In other words, nature is words, nature is worshiped and all worshiped and all answers can be found answers can be found within it. within it.

The “Oversoul”The “Oversoul”

Transcendentalists believed that the Transcendentalists believed that the oversoul encapsulated the universeoversoul encapsulated the universe

Connected man with nature and everything Connected man with nature and everything else in the worldelse in the world

Believed they could unlock all of the Believed they could unlock all of the answers to the world by communicating answers to the world by communicating with the oversoulwith the oversoul

““I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all”see all”

Say Whaaa?Say Whaaa?

What is the “Over-Soul”?What is the “Over-Soul”? The over-soul is the combination of all your The over-soul is the combination of all your

life experiences, all the lives people have life experiences, all the lives people have lived, all the things everyone has learned and lived, all the things everyone has learned and all of the workings of natureall of the workings of nature

In order to connect with the oversoul one had In order to connect with the oversoul one had to listen to their intuition and follow it to to listen to their intuition and follow it to translate the symbols of nature into spiritual translate the symbols of nature into spiritual facts.  facts.  • In other words, your reading the signs of nature to In other words, your reading the signs of nature to

understand how the world works. understand how the world works.

By connecting with the By connecting with the oversoul…oversoul…

The belief is that all people can change The belief is that all people can change and become more than they are now. and become more than they are now.

With each lesson comes more With each lesson comes more understanding of our purpose for being (on understanding of our purpose for being (on the earth). the earth).

It is also believed that with meditation you It is also believed that with meditation you can gain insight into your own personal can gain insight into your own personal path.path.

Following Your IntuitionFollowing Your Intuition

Follow your own intuition Follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however and own beliefs, however divergent or different from divergent or different from the social norm they may the social norm they may be.be.

Since all people are Since all people are inherently good, the inherently good, the individual’s instinctive individual’s instinctive response to any given response to any given situation will be the right situation will be the right thing to do.thing to do.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism

Non-conformityNon-conformity Self-relianceSelf-reliance

Free thoughtFree thought/ / individualismindividualism

Importance of Importance of Nature Nature

Non-ConformityNon-Conformity Failure or refusal to conform to the Failure or refusal to conform to the

majoritymajority Non-conformity and TranscendentalismNon-conformity and Transcendentalism

Transcendentalists realized that it had been Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary and that it was time to seek literary independence as well.independence as well.

These people wanted to create literature These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything unique to America different from anything England had to offerEngland had to offer

Began as a protest against popular cultureBegan as a protest against popular culture

Self Reliance Self Reliance

Depending on only oneself for all needsDepending on only oneself for all needs Self reliance and transcendentalismSelf reliance and transcendentalism

Before this time, no one had thought of looking Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers.into ones self to find answers.

It’s better to listen to your own intuition than It’s better to listen to your own intuition than to follow someone else’s beliefs. to follow someone else’s beliefs.

Self Reliance ContinuedSelf Reliance ContinuedFree thought and TranscendentalismFree thought and Transcendentalism

Another way to look at the Transcendentalists Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day)(hippies of their day)

The spiritual hunger for understanding of the The spiritual hunger for understanding of the world (which is why they tried to connect with world (which is why they tried to connect with the oversoul)the oversoul)

Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just-experiential, passionate, more-than-just-rational perspective. rational perspective.

Importance of NatureImportance of Nature

Experiencing nature was of critical Experiencing nature was of critical importance because the natural world was importance because the natural world was the face of God. the face of God.

Becoming physically closer to nature, Becoming physically closer to nature, contemplating it, understanding it—these contemplating it, understanding it—these were the actions that brought man closer were the actions that brought man closer to his maker. to his maker.

The A ListThe A List

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson WriterWriter PhilosopherPhilosopher

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau Writer/NaturalistWriter/Naturalist

Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller Feminism/Free ThoughtFeminism/Free Thought

Bronson AlcottBronson Alcott EducatorEducator

What are YOUR thoughts and beliefs?What are YOUR thoughts and beliefs? Are you ever effected by nature?Are you ever effected by nature?

Can you feel when nature is going to take a turn?Can you feel when nature is going to take a turn? Do you seek a sense of reality from nature? Do you find yourself Do you seek a sense of reality from nature? Do you find yourself

needing to take a walk outside to clear your head?needing to take a walk outside to clear your head? Do you find comfort in it? Do you find comfort in it? Do you reflect the moods of nature?Do you reflect the moods of nature?

• For example: If it is raining outside what is your mood? If it is 70 degrees and For example: If it is raining outside what is your mood? If it is 70 degrees and sunny, what is your mood? Why do you think that is?sunny, what is your mood? Why do you think that is?

If you answered YES you are affected and do find comfort in nature, If you answered YES you are affected and do find comfort in nature, you may be a naturalistyou may be a naturalist

If you answered NO you are not affected and find little to no comfort in If you answered NO you are not affected and find little to no comfort in nature, you might not be a naturalistnature, you might not be a naturalist

What does it mean to know something intuitively?What does it mean to know something intuitively? Have you ever known something was wrong with a loved Have you ever known something was wrong with a loved

one without having talked with or seen them?one without having talked with or seen them? Have you ever guessed right about a situation, and said: “I Have you ever guessed right about a situation, and said: “I

just know it”? What type of feeling does that bring?just know it”? What type of feeling does that bring? Do you believe in your own intuition? Do you always listen Do you believe in your own intuition? Do you always listen

to it? Why or why not?to it? Why or why not?

If you answered YES you believe in INTUITION, you If you answered YES you believe in INTUITION, you may be a free thinker/self reliantmay be a free thinker/self reliant

If you answered NO you do not believe, or have ever If you answered NO you do not believe, or have ever encountered such moments of “INTUITION”, you encountered such moments of “INTUITION”, you might not be a free thinker/self reliantmight not be a free thinker/self reliant

How do you demonstrate that you are an individual?How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you often think independently of others or do you follow Do you often think independently of others or do you follow

the crowd? How do you do it?the crowd? How do you do it? Do you like structure when given a task or a job? An obvious Do you like structure when given a task or a job? An obvious

path that leads to an end goal? Or do you like freedom to path that leads to an end goal? Or do you like freedom to explore while learning/completing a job?explore while learning/completing a job?

Do you prefer the beaten path or the more scenic route?Do you prefer the beaten path or the more scenic route? Do you find it thrilling to get lost while walking/driving? Or do Do you find it thrilling to get lost while walking/driving? Or do

you follow your GPS to a T (even when you know it’s wrong?you follow your GPS to a T (even when you know it’s wrong?

If you answered with YOU LIKE TO BE INDEPENDENT, you may If you answered with YOU LIKE TO BE INDEPENDENT, you may be a non-conformistbe a non-conformist

If you answered YOU LI KE TO FOLLOW A PATH, you might a If you answered YOU LI KE TO FOLLOW A PATH, you might a conformistconformist

Non-Conformist VS. ConformistNon-Conformist VS. ConformistWho are They?Who are They?

Step One: Divide into your teamsStep One: Divide into your teams Step Two: Make a T-Chart labeling each Step Two: Make a T-Chart labeling each

side as Conformist and Non-Conformistside as Conformist and Non-Conformist Begin your Team List!Begin your Team List!

Be Sure to Explain WHY they are in each Be Sure to Explain WHY they are in each category and be prepared to explain to your category and be prepared to explain to your classmatesclassmates