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Walt Whitman

Biographical Facts:

  • Walt Whitman while employed at Brooklyn Eagle opposed slavery compared to society of the time showing that society is not always correct and that personal beliefs should be expressed.
  • Whitman later got employed in New Orleans which allowed him to travel across the country and observe  the different cultures and landscapes. From this experience  Walt Whitman later incorporated nature and diversity into his many poems.
  • In 1850 Walt Whitman quit journalism and focused on poetry because it allows highest expression  of imagination.

Ralph Waldo Emersons Quote

Walt Whitman Poem

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer by Walt Whitman is a first person poem that explains that society has scientififc explainations for natural phanominons. It is stated " When the proofs , the figures, were ranged in columns before me" (Page 446). This references society explaining scientifically how nature works through different math equations and charts. Yet the person of the poem is fustrated with these scientific explainations and prefers to percieve nature with his own imagination . This is a Transadental Poem because It explains that society is influencing one to interperate nature a specific way. While the I is trancendental and goes outside to admire nature . This is shown by the quote" In the mystical night air , from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars"(line 8-9).

The quote " Nature always wears the color of the spirit"(page. 392). Is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's passage called from Nature. The quote state that nature changes depending on how one's spirit is feeling. The quote "the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for frolic of the nymphs is overspread with melancholy today"(page. 392).  This supports the other quote by stating that one day nature can bring happiness and ease but the next day nature can bring melancholy or depression. This relates to transcendentalism because both spirit and nature is the most important possession a person a can have. Also that each influence how one perceives society and could inspire greater ideas to improve society.

Henry David Thoreau

Biographical Facts:

Quote from Henry Thoreau

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Biographical Facts:

  • Henry David Thoreau started writing about nature in 1840. To become immersed in nature he stayed in on Walden Pond for two years. This  allowed Thoreau to express his inspiration
  • Thoreau inspired  civil rights with "Civil Disobedience".   Which included  Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. This influenced America in the future and could affect society in today's standards.
  • Since Thoreau's individual thoughts were ahead his time many referred him as an anarchist. They called him an anarchist because he rebelled against concepts that other viewed as necessary

The quote "... if one advances confidently in the direction of his dream, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined , he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours"(page.412). This explains that following your individual dream will provide success in unexpected ways. This poem relates to Transcendentalism because an individual dream can benefit themselves by being independent and could  inspire others.

  • Mary Moody Emerson  encouraged Emerson's independent thinking. This is Transcendental thinking because she influenced him to be independent and not to follow society even if others frown upon it.
  • Emerson's poems expressed his views on a person's individuality and humanity's spiritual connection to nature.
  • Traveling around Europe allowed Emerson to experience different cultures and landscapes also he got to meet other Romantics like Coleridge and Wordsworth. This allowed Emerson to be inspired by the encounter of other Romantics and by the new landscape.

Connection to Dead Poet Society

Transcendentalism Project

The Dead Poets Society demonstrates transcendentalism in modern society through the lives of college students.Mr. Keating, the students english teacher  guides them on there transcendentalist evolution.  He states that "Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go" . This quote from Mr.Keating expresses that students should think for themselves and follow their own belief even if society disregards them. This connects to transcendentalism because the choice reflects a person's individual soul.

Another example of transcendentalism in the Dead Poets Society is when Neil Perry decides against his actions and participates in the the play A Midsummer Night's Dream. He says "For the first time in my whole life, I know what I wanna do! And for the first time, I'm gonna do it! Whether my father wants me to or not! Carpe diem!" Niels actions allowed his to express his own individualism and rebel against his father. Neil also connects to transcendentalism when he participates in A Midsummer Night's Dream  because it had a nature background . Nature is one of the major six philosophies of transcendentalism. The Dead Poet Society  demonstrates how transcendentalism can still be influenced in today's society.

By:Sydney Bodden

Connection to Self

An act of transcendentalism can influence others to stand there own path. My act of transcendentalism is opposing the negative views cast upon a girl in band class. In class she expresses thoughts that  the majority view as ridiculous. These actions resulted in students and my own friends to mock her. Recently I have not been submissive to the jokes instead objecting them. Through stern remarks and the occasional stare off they have received my tolerance of jokes about the girl. Even though my act of transcendentalism is insignificant my courageous will spread to others to oppose the wrongs done in society.

Work Cited

Charateristics of Transedentalism. 2017. Exploring Transcendentalism,

     exploringtranscendentalism.weebly.com/transcendentalism.html. Accessed 20

     Feb. 2017.

Dead Poets Society (Mr.Keating & Neil). 1989. Menwhile Here At Jaman Hq...,

     blog.jaman.com/2014/09/recommended-dead-poets-society-1989.html. Accessed

     20 Feb. 2017.

Henry David Thoreau. 2017. BookFans, bookfans.net/henry-david-thoreau/. Accessed

     20 Feb. 2017.

Minor, Ursus. When I Heard The Learn'd Astronometer. 25 Apr. 2013. Youtube,

     youtube, youtu.be/bFxjB5htwmA. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Moral Values. 8 June 2016. Elements of Transcendentalism,

     kartranscends.weebly.com/moral-values.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Nature always wears the color of the spirit walpaper. 2017. Quotefancy,

     quotefancy.com/quote/759504/

     Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-Nature-always-wears-the-colors-of-the-spirit. Accessed

     20 Feb. 2017.

Noncormity. 5 Dec. 2013. Transcendentalism, hellogorgeousyou15.blogspot.com/.

     Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Transcendentalism in Movies. 3 May 2016. Transcendentalism,

     sarahblogblog7.blogspot.com/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Walt Whitman Biography. 5 Dec. 2015. The Biography.com, A&E Television Network,

     www.biography.com/people/walt-whitman-9530126. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017

Ralph Waldo Emerson. 4 Aug. 2015. American Transcentalism Web, archive.vcu.edu/

     english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Closing

Definition of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism has influenced many individuals to discover who they are as a person. Through inspirational poems from Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman that promoted imagination and self thought through there views on nature, God, and society . Even today transcendentalism is promoted through everyday actions yet society destructive powers have caused a lack of individual thought and action. Yet Transcendentalists are out there influencing others in small amounts.

Transcendentalism is the spiritual connection between nature, God, and society  all united  by the oversoul.

Philosophy of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism alike Romanticism focuses on finding out who you are and how society influences your decisions in life. Transcendentalists believe that everyone is part of the oversoul. They also believe that  nature and individualism  introduces God spirit and that nature and spirit are the most important item a human possesses . Transcendentalist were rebellious because of their imagination and individuality that were incorporated in poems they wrote.  Of these transcendentalists Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman wrote empowering poems that introduced Transcendentalism to society.

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