Copy of Journal Write

Transcendentalism:

A movement (a literary time period) in 19th-century American Literature and thought

What is a literary period?

A period of time in which authors often have a shared sense of purpose or influences. Their literature shares social, cultural, intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences.

Romanticism—Rather than focusing on logic and reason, which was true for the Age of Reason, Romanticism focused on emotions. They believed that imagination and emotion were more important than rules and restraints.

Characteristics of Romanticism:

Imagination

Love of nature

Individualism

Enthusiasm for the wild in nature

Transcendentalism:

It's a more focused movement that falls under the Romanticism time period.

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that sought to have individuals "transcend" or “break through” to a higher spiritual level. To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition, self-reliance, and nature.

During the 1830s, Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Father of Transcendentalism, and a small group of like-minded friends gathered regularly in his study to discuss philosophy, religion, and literature. The intimate group, known as the "Transcendental Club," developed a philosophical system that stressed intuition, individuality, and self-reliance.

Optimism

Transcendentalism

Other Transcendentalists:

Margaret Fuller

Henry David Thoreau

Walt Whitman

Emily Dickinson

Quick Facts:

-2 published poems

-sister

-style

"Letter to the World"

John Muir

What is Transcendentalism?

The Father of Transcendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803=1882)

-Essayist

-"Self-Reliance", "Nature"

-Power of Individual

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Personal Top 5 most important

qualities of life to you:

Transcendental

TOP 5:

example:

1-happy family

2-My Health

3-Be empathetic

4-Find a balance

5-Develop talents

Goals:

1- Individuality

2- Nature allows for Growth

3- Optimism

4- Anti-society

5- Over-Soul

AVATAR--

TREE of SOULS

Delight in life. Focus on the good. There is power in choosing to be grateful and optimistic.

Over-Soul

Individuality

People can pursue their beliefs despite what everyone else around them says. They had a willingness to push beyond society’s limits.

Anti-Society

Don’t conform. Don’t try to fit into the mold that society creates. Man should push back against things they know aren’t right for them.

Literary Movements

Growth through Nature

If people explored nature thoroughly, they would come to know themselves and the universal truths better. They thought that the human spirit is reflected in nature.

Age of Reason --> Romanticism

Romanticism

Journal Write

Gothic

Transcendentalism

Age of Reason

Think Puritans!

The world can be figured out using logic—emotion should be contained.

no grey areas—everything was black and white.

Logic over Emotion

Characteristics:

• Imagination
• Love of nature
• Individualism
• Enthusiasm for the wild in nature
• Enthusiasm for the uncivilized or “natural”

Imagination and emotion is MORE

IMPORTANT than reason and rules

Ultimate spiritual unity that encompasses all existence and each individual has their own part.

All forms of being – God, nature, and humanity – are spiritually united through a shared universal soul or “over-soul.”

( 7 Minute Free-Write)

Describe a time in nature

where you had a positive or life-changing experience.

*Songs: "Tornado (acoustic)" by Jonsi; "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

.

1- Understand the transcendental movement.

2- Read for main idea + summarize/interpret the texts.

3- Make authentic connections to life.