Transcendentalism

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

2. Search for the American Voice • 1825 – 1855 • Throughout the first half of century, European and American critics called for writers to celebrate the new country in poetry or prose • America looking for own style/genre of literature unique to us • Period often referred to “American Renaissance”

3. Transcendentalism • Emerson started the Transcendentalism movement – first American literary movement • It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance

4. Beliefs of Transcendentalism • Direct connection or “communication” between the universe and the individual soul. • Nature is the gospel of the new faith. In other words, nature is worshiped and all answers can be found within it.

5. The “Oversoul” • Transcendentalists believed that the oversoul encapsulated the universe • Connected man with nature and everything else in the world • Believed they could unlock all of the answers to the world by communicating with the oversoul • “I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all”

6. Say Whaaa? • What is the “Over-Soul”? • The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives people have lived, all the things everyone has learned and all of the workings of nature • In order to connect with the oversoul one had to listen to their intuition and follow it to translate the symbols of nature into spiritual facts.   • In other words, your reading the signs of nature to understand how the world works.

7. By connecting with the oversoul… • The belief is that all people can change and become more than they are now. • With each lesson comes more understanding of our purpose for being (on the earth). • It is also believed that with meditation you can gain insight into your own personal path.

8. Following Your Intuition • Follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however divergent or different from the social norm they may be. • Since all people are inherently good, the individual’s instinctive response to any given situation will be the right thing to do.

9. Characteristics of Transcendentalism • Non-conformity • Self-reliance • Free thought/ individualism • Importance of Nature

10. Non-Conformity • Failure or refusal to conform to the majority • Non-conformity and Transcendentalism • Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary independence as well. • These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything England had to offer • Began as a protest against popular culture

11. Self Reliance • Depending on only oneself for all needs • Self reliance and transcendentalism • Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers. • It’s better to listen to your own intuition than to follow someone else’s beliefs.

12. Self Reliance Continued Free thought and Transcendentalism • Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day) • The spiritual hunger for understanding of the world (which is why they tried to connect with the oversoul) • Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just-rational perspective.

13. Importance of Nature • Experiencing nature was of critical importance because the natural world was the face of God. • Becoming physically closer to nature, contemplating it, understanding it—these were the actions that brought man closer to his maker.

14. The A List • Ralph Waldo Emerson • Writer • Philosopher • Henry David Thoreau • Writer/Naturalist • Margaret Fuller • Feminism/Free Thought • Bronson Alcott • Educator

15. What are YOUR thoughts and beliefs? • Are you ever effected by nature? • Can you feel when nature is going to take a turn? • Do you seek a sense of reality from nature? Do you find yourself needing to take a walk outside to clear your head? • Do you find comfort in it? • Do you reflect the moods of nature? • 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? • If you answered YES you are affected and do find comfort in nature, you may be a naturalist • If you answered NO you are not affected and find little to no comfort in nature, you might not be a naturalist

16. What does it mean to know something intuitively? • Have you ever known something was wrong with a loved one without having talked with or seen them? • Have you ever guessed right about a situation, and said: “I just know it”? What type of feeling does that bring? • Do you believe in your own intuition? Do you always listen to it? Why or why not? • If you answered YES you believe in INTUITION, you may be a free thinker/self reliant • If you answered NO you do not believe, or have ever encountered such moments of “INTUITION”, you might not be a free thinker/self reliant

17. How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? • Do you often think independently of others or do you follow the crowd? How do you do it? • 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 explore while learning/completing a job? • Do you prefer the beaten path or the more scenic route? • 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? • If you answered with YOU LIKE TO BE INDEPENDENT, you may be a non-conformist • If you answered YOU LI KE TO FOLLOW A PATH, you might a conformist

18. Non-Conformist VS. ConformistWho are They? • Step One: Divide into your teams • Step Two: Make a T-Chart labeling each side as Conformist and Non-Conformist • Begin your Team List! • Be Sure to Explain WHY they are in each category and be prepared to explain to your classmates