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Transcendentalism and Henry David Thoreau
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Transcendentalism: a philosophy
The industrial revolution became too much for some; with the development of industry many felt disconnected from the natural world.
Transcendentalists believe in:
- Respect/appreciation for nature
- abolitionism
- An individual's right to
protest against one's govt.
- Nonviolent civil disobedience
- self reliance
- Questioning systems/transcend above forced beliefs
What does a
transcendentalist believe?
Transcendentalists ASKED questions: "No facts are sacred, I experiment, I'm an endless seeker of information. It's our duty to be discontented."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
American individualism/nonconformity
Break from following the masses like sheep & only believing in strict/Puritanical ways of living
One person's voice should be as powerful as any religion or any political group. God/man/nature
The period lasted 20+ years (1830-1850).
Two books came out as the epitome of Transcendentalist thinking:
Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature &
Henry David Thoreau's Walden
Henry David Thoreau's quote near his cabin in Mass.
Thoreau (follower of Emerson) sequestered himself on purpose
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." (1854)
He lived in a remote cabin (1845-1847) all alone near Walden Pond, Massachusetts.
He wrote about the spirituality in nature, the need to question beliefs, & the idea that it's okay to redefine what's important in life.
Let's look at some photos of his life at Walden Pond.
http://animoto.com/play/Z3HB15aMgOxqcxcTD0vZ0g
Become self reliant & live a spartan life
Look at the depiction of nature between 1820-1870 in art. What do you notice?
Civil disobedience: Henry David Thoreau
To transcend, all must be free-
"I think we must get rid of slavery or we must get rid of freedom.... If you put a chain around the neck of a slave, the other end fastens itself around your own." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Answer these four questions in your notes titled "Transcendentalism". These will go in your "argument" section of your AP notes.
Is it okay for an American to question this government and its leaders?
Our country's seminal documents preach "liberty and justice for all". Is this the case? Is every American truly free?
Do you feel a sense of divinity when you are out in nature and away from technology/city life?
Can personal traits of nonconformity, self reliance, and individualism lead to problems?
How does this 1870 painting prove a respect for nature?
http://ed.ted.com/featured/8H0FHeWq
Watch The Minimalists for extra credit - due by quarter grades (make ANY quiz 100% or any homework 100%).
Simply keep annotations throughout the movie. 1 page m