Ralph W. EmersonRalph W. Emerson

---The Great Man and His Works---The Great Man and His Works

ChronologyChronology

1803 Born in Boston1803 Born in Boston 1811 His father died1811 His father died 1812 Entered Boston Public Latin 1812 Entered Boston Public Latin

SchoolSchool 1817-1821 Studied in Harvard University1817-1821 Studied in Harvard University 1825 Studied Theology1825 Studied Theology

Chronology 2Chronology 2

1826 Began to preach1826 Began to preach 1829 Ordained as junior pastor of 1829 1829 Ordained as junior pastor of 1829

Boston’s Second hurch Boston’s Second hurch 1829 Married with Ellen Tucker1829 Married with Ellen Tucker 1835 Remarried with Lydia Jackson1835 Remarried with Lydia Jackson 1836 Published his 1st book “Nature”1836 Published his 1st book “Nature” 1882 He died 1882 He died

Main Idea of “Each and Main Idea of “Each and All”All”

Composition was more important than Composition was more important than beauty of individual forms to Effect beauty of individual forms to Effect

NatureNature

It was published anonymously in 1836.It was published anonymously in 1836. Was later recognized as a major Was later recognized as a major

document in American document in American Transcendentalism.Transcendentalism.

Emphasized individualism and rejected Emphasized individualism and rejected traditional authority.traditional authority.

Believed that people should try to live a Believed that people should try to live a simple life in harmony with nature and simple life in harmony with nature and with others.with others.

NatureNature

The death of Emerson’s first wife soured The death of Emerson’s first wife soured his faith and resigned from the church his faith and resigned from the church and emerged as the leader of the and emerged as the leader of the Transcendental movement. Transcendental movement.

Transcendentalism stressed a life style of a Transcendentalism stressed a life style of a personal nature over rational or dogmatic, personal nature over rational or dogmatic, which favored trusting one’s instincts over the which favored trusting one’s instincts over the guidance of authorityguidance of authority. .

Nature 2Nature 2

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. NatureNature

3.3. LanguageLanguage

4.4. DisciplineDiscipline

5.5. SpiritSpirit

6.6. ProspectsProspects

The American The American ScholarScholar

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

BackgroundBackground

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism Emerson, “We will walk on our Emerson, “We will walk on our

own feet; we will work with our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own own hands; we will speak our own minds.’’ minds.’’ [p.537-8][p.537-8]

An oration delivered before the An oration delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge, on August 31, 1837 Cambridge, on August 31, 1837

Main StructureMain Structure

By natureBy nature

By booksBy books

By actionBy action

DutiesDuties

Beliefs (1)Beliefs (1) Intellectual and philosophical Intellectual and philosophical

independence of America from Europeindependence of America from Europe “…“…new lights, new events and new lights, new events and

more days have thrown on his more days have thrown on his character, his duties and his hopes.’’ character, his duties and his hopes.’’ [525][525]

Man ThinkingMan Thinking NotNot “…a mere think, or, still worse, “…a mere think, or, still worse,

the parrot of other men’s thinking.’’ the parrot of other men’s thinking.’’ [526][526]

Beliefs (2)Beliefs (2) Understanding natureUnderstanding nature

““The scholar must needs stand The scholar must needs stand wistful and admiring before this wistful and admiring before this great spectacle. He must settle its great spectacle. He must settle its value in mind.’’ value in mind.’’ [526][526]

““Classification begins…it finds Classification begins…it finds how to join two things, and see in how to join two things, and see in them one nature…discovering roots them one nature…discovering roots running under ground.” running under ground.” [527][527]

Beliefs (3)Beliefs (3)

Being a divine manBeing a divine man““Books are written on it by thinkers, Books are written on it by thinkers,

not by Man Thinking…” not by Man Thinking…” [528][528]

““But genius always looks forward…But genius always looks forward…To create, - to create , - is the proof To create, - to create , - is the proof of a divine presence.” of a divine presence.” [528][528]

Beliefs (4)Beliefs (4)

Self-Reliance/self-trustSelf-Reliance/self-trustthe ideal of individualismthe ideal of individualism ““In self-trust, all the virtues are In self-trust, all the virtues are

comprehended. Free should the comprehended. Free should the scholar be, -- free and brave.” scholar be, -- free and brave.” [533][533]

Beliefs (5)Beliefs (5)

Self-RelianceSelf-Reliance

““He is one who raises himself from He is one who raises himself from private considerations, and private considerations, and breathes and lives on public and breathes and lives on public and illustrious thoughts. He is the illustrious thoughts. He is the world’s eyes. He is the world’s world’s eyes. He is the world’s heart.” heart.” [533] [533]

Works CitedWorks Cited

• Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" [1837]Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" [1837]http://www.philjohn.com/papers/pjkd_ga05.htmlhttp://www.philjohn.com/papers/pjkd_ga05.html

• Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar" http://www.geocities.com/fidelio1st/literature/theamerichttp://www.geocities.com/fidelio1st/literature/theamericanscholar.htmanscholar.htm

• American Transcendentalism American Transcendentalism http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl311/amhttp://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl311/amtrans.htmtrans.htm

To a WaterfowlTo a Waterfowl

by William Cullen Bryantby William Cullen Bryant

ChronologyChronology1794-18781794-1878

1794-Born in Cummington, Massachusetts1794-Born in Cummington, Massachusetts 1813-1814-The first and shorter version of 1813-1814-The first and shorter version of

ThanatopsisThanatopsis 1821-The first published volume, 1821-The first published volume, PoemsPoems.. 1825-He became the coeditor of 1825-He became the coeditor of New York New York

Review, a literary periodical.Review, a literary periodical. 1826-an editor for1826-an editor for New York Evening Post. New York Evening Post. 1829- He was editor in chief of the1829- He was editor in chief of the Post Post and and

later part owner. later part owner.

Chronology 2Chronology 2

18501850-Letter of a-Letter of a Traveler.Traveler. 18591859-Letter of a Traveler, Series II.-Letter of a Traveler, Series II. 1869-1869-Letter from the East.Letter from the East. 1870-1871-Translation work of Homer 1870-1871-Translation work of Homer IliadIliad and and

OdysseyOdyssey. . 1878-Died. He fell down after giving a speech 1878-Died. He fell down after giving a speech

at the unveiling of a statue of the Italian patriot at the unveiling of a statue of the Italian patriot Joseph Mozzini in Central Park.Joseph Mozzini in Central Park.

To a WaterfowlTo a Waterfowl

SettingSetting MetaphorMetaphor SymbolismSymbolism What is the poet view?What is the poet view? The connection between waterfowl and pThe connection between waterfowl and p

oetoet

EndEnd

References References

““Search View- Bryant, William Cullen” http:/Search View- Bryant, William Cullen” http://encarta.msn.com/text_761566052__1/Willia/encarta.msn.com/text_761566052__1/William_Cullen_Bryant.htmlm_Cullen_Bryant.html

““Strangers to Us All- Lawyers and Poetry”Strangers to Us All- Lawyers and Poetry” http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/bryhttp://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/bryant.htmlant.html

““To a WaterfowlTo a Waterfowl by by William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen Bryant” ” http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bryant/whttp://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bryant/waterfowl.htmlaterfowl.html