TRANSCENDENTALISM

Who are the Transcendental Writers?

Student: Draw a tree map like the one below and add to it as you hear the

presentation.

Transcendentalists

Ralph Waldo

Emerson

HenryDavidThore

au

Bronson

Alcott

Louisa

MayAlcott

WaltWhitma

n

Video Clip – click on picture to start

Ralph Waldo Emerson•1803-1882•American poet & essayist•original profession and calling was as a Unitarian minister •left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking

Henry David Thoreau•1817-1862•American author and naturalist•Harvard grad 1837•Wrote these essays: “Nature,” “Self-Reliance,” and “The Over-Soul”

Video Clip – click on the black area below to start

Bronson Alcott 1799-1888 American

educational & social reformer

Little formal education

His writings include Observations on the Principles and Methods of Infant Instruction (1830), Concord Days (1872), Table Talk (1877), and Sonnets and Canzonets (1882).

Louisa May Alcott 1832-1888 1st success was the

book, Little Women helped to voice and

shape American ideas and ideals of women and the role of women in the home and society

Her themes explore girls' education, their social training, individuality and its attainment, freedom for women, and limited options for them.

Walt Whitman 1819-1892 American poet celebrated the

freedom & dignity of the individual & sang the praises of democracy and the brotherhood

Walt Whitman Video ClipClick on the picture to start each video.

Walt Whitman – O Captain…video clip – click on picture to start

Closing The tree map will be

drawn on the white board. Students will come up one

at a time to add content to the map until all their information is there.