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Transcendentalism and Henry David Thoreau

Transcendentalism and Henry David Thoreau. 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 come to die, discover that I had not lived.” - Thoreau. What is Transcendentalism?.

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Transcendentalism and Henry David Thoreau

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  1. Transcendentalismand Henry David Thoreau

  2. 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 come to die, discover that I had not lived.” - Thoreau

  3. What is Transcendentalism? • Above all, the Transcendentalists believed in the importance of a direct relationship with God and with nature. • The Oversoul- To the Transcendentalists, the Oversoul was the divine spirit or mind that was present in each and every man and in all of nature. It was an all-pervading, omniscient, supreme mind.

  4. Transcendentalists • Ralph Waldo Emerson • Henry David Thoreau • Margaret Fuller • Amos Bronson Alcott • Frederic Henry Hedge • Theodore Parker • Emily Dickinson • Walt Whitman

  5. Thoreau • Mid-19th century writer / philosopher • Concord, Massachusetts • Walden Pond

  6. Quotes • 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 come to die, discover that I had not lived.” - Thoreau • Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. [Walden] • It takes two to speak the truth, — one to speak, and another to hear. [A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers]

  7. Quotes • Say what you have to say, not what you ought. Any truth is better than make-believe. [Walden] • If we dealt only with the false and dishonest, we should at last forget how to speak truth. [A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers] • No face which we can give to a matter will stead us so well as the truth. This alone wears well. [Walden]

  8. Quotes • Men talk of freedom! How many are free to think? Free from fear, from perturbation, from prejudice? Nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thousand are perfect slaves. [Journal, 6 May 1858] • The mass of men are very easily imposed on. They have their runways in which they always travel, and are sure to fall into any pit or box-trap set therein. [Journal, 28 November 1860]

  9. Project Assignment • Research transcendentalists. Choose one and create a presentation in which you explore connections between Chris McCandless and your chosen transcendentalist and his or her writing. • In your presentation, consider the following questions and ideas: • Were Chris’ actions in line with transcendentalist teaching or did he misunderstand the point? • What elements from Chris’ story can be seen in the written words of your transcendentalist? • Are there failings of transcendentalism?

  10. Presentation • You may work on this project with one other person. • Your presentation must be in PowerPoint format • Your presentation must include passages written by your chosen transcendentalist along with your interpretation of those words as they relate to Chris McCandless and Jon Krakauer’s telling of the story. • All Presentations will be presented round-robin style in class on January 27th.

  11. Viewers • Viewers of your presentation will be required to do the following: • Indicate brief bio info for your author • Identify one major work (title/year) of that writer • List at least three characteristics of the writers work • Identify at least two passages from your writer that connect to Krakauer’s writing or McCandless’ experiences

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