Transcendentalism: Revolution of 19th Century Thought

1. Transcendentalism By: Hunter Eager 4th 5-27-2009

2. Definition • Popular in the middle of the 19th century, consisting of new ideas in philosophy, literature, culture, and religion. • Most popular region was in New England, however eventually spread to other regions. • Was a protest against society and cultural views.

3. Definition II • Intellectualism (a form of it) was taught at Harvard, who leaders like Emerson attended. • Transcendentalism also supported the spiritual state of a person that uplifts that individuals physical and mental state of being. • The person’s intuition was an important feature, rather than religious beliefs.

4. Examples from what we have read • Important leaders of this group: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Theodore Parker (Minister), Orestes Brownson, William Henry Channing, and Margaret Fuller. • Starting Period: The known starting period is 1836 when Emerson wrote “Nature.” This led to the beginning of the Transcendental Club of Boston.Also was a Unitarian reformist kind of movement, in which the ministers of Unitarians were upset. “Walden” was an important novel written by Thoreau, when he was living on the land of the Emerson’s, in Concord. In this novel he writes about how important life is to be at the fullest, and to appreciate everything people have rather than what they want. Some of his best writings describe the outdoors and how things interact in their particular environments.

5. Works Cited • www.google.com/Walden • http://www.transcendentalists.com/ • http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm • http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/t/transcendentalism.html