Optimism in American Literature – Light Transcendentalists

Vocabulary

glossary iconmale student sitting on floor next to cell phone reading from bookAs a part of the readings in this topic, you will be looking at some essential vocabulary. You may have already seen these terms in the module overview, but you will see these again in the following excerpts by Transcendentalist writers. If you need to review the meanings of these terms, be sure to access the glossary.

  • alacrity
  • aversion
  • blithe
  • connate
  • expedient
  • magnanimity
  • suffrage

Transcendentalism

To transcend means to go beyond the physical realm or to go beyond physical human existence and experience. Transcendentalists were individuals who believed that one could find answers to life's big questions by transcending, or looking beyond, the physical world in achieving spirituality. They felt a person could not arrive at truth or life's meaning in the physical world but instead had to contemplate other factors found in the abstract or spiritual world.

Think about it like this: sometimes in life, when you are presented with conflicts to resolve, questions to answer, or decisions to make, you need time to think about it and sort out feelings, considerations, and benefits. To do this, you must get away from the external factors to focus on the internal. You may need to isolate yourself from the myriad of images and sounds you are bombarded with nearly every second of every day.

think iconWhat are some other ways an individual can transcend? Here are some examples:

  • meditate
  • pray
  • take a walk to clear the mind
  • jog, bike, or hike
  • do yoga
  • work on a puzzle or crafting project
  • write, paint, or draw
  • listen to or play music
  • sing
  • do gardening

Consider how the above examples allow you to contemplate those questions, heal, sort out thoughts, or just rest your mind and rejuvenate. The Transcendentalists believed this kind of internal solitude was a way to find those big answers about life.

The Transcendentalists were a group of individuals who emerged during the middle 1800s. They predominately hailed from New England and explored anti-Rationalist ideas about religion, culture, and philosophy. Their ideas fit well into the Romanticism mold because they believed in intuition, revered nature, and fought for human rights.

Transcendentalists saw major limitations to logical thinking. During the Enlightenment, scientific study became mainstream and improved the quality of life for many. However, many individuals felt science could not explain everything. There were some topics, issues, and events that happen in life that just could not be rationally or scientifically explained.

Tenets of TranscendentalismThough they held many different beliefs and championed a variety of causes, Transcendentalists widely shared some common tenets. In this interactivity, click on each of the tabs to examine seven tenets of Transcendentalism. Click on the player button to begin.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 


Many of the beliefs of Transcendentalists were considered blasphemous at the time. People were conservatively religious in New England, and they felt that this new set of ideas questioned their god and their beliefs. Because of this, Transcendentalist ideas were unpopular in many circles. However, some people found hope and comfort in this new way of thinking.

think iconConsider this: The concepts of peaceful protest, self-discovery, and individualism never completely died out. Indian revolutionist Mahatma Gandhi and American civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used Transcendentalist ideas in their protests for freedom.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered the "Father of Transcendentalism." Emerson was a preacher who found himself wrestling with his faith after his wife died after just two years of marriage. Emerson took time off and traveled through Europe. What he found was a world that had been industrialized and seemed to downplay individuality. Emerson felt that the human mind was the most powerful force on the planet and that individuals should use their minds to find peace and maintain freedoms. He believed that by respecting the natural world around them, speaking out, and looking inward for life-changing questions, people could find true peace.

Although many people, including philosopher and teacher Amos Bronson Alcott and feminist author and editor Margaret Fuller, came to Emerson's home in Concord, Massachusetts to visit him and be inspired by Transcendentalist ideals, Henry David Thoreau became his most famous protégé.

reading iconportrait of EmersonAccess and read Chapter One of Nature (quite appropriately titled "Nature"). Nature was a lengthy essay that became the Transcendentalists' unofficial statement of belief. In this excerpt, Emerson expresses his belief that the meaning of existence can only be found by exploring nature. He also relates how through his natural experiences, he has discovered spirituality.

As you read Nature, consider the following questions:

  • What is the relationship between Emerson and nature?
  • What does Emerson believe about being true to oneself?
  • What aspects of American culture are reflected today by Emerson's ideas?

Henry David Thoreau

While Emerson wrote about his ideas in general, Henry David Thoreau, a young student of Emerson's, felt the need to more deeply explore himself, nature, and society. In 1841, after receiving an education and then trying his hand at teaching, Thoreau moved into Emerson's house and performed odd jobs to pay for his room and board. Thoreau became fascinated with Emerson's ideas and decided to devote his life to pursuing the study of Transcendentalim. Thoreau, who had always been an eccentric rule-breaker, decided to live alone for two years in a simple cabin he built. This experience became the fodder for his most noted piece, Walden. Thoreau condensed his experiences living by Walden Pond into one year, set up the book in a structural framework that reflects the four seasons, and created a blend of natural observations, social commentary, and philosophical ramblings that became the most noted work of Transcendentalism.

Thoreau discovered meaning for humanity through ordinary natural observations. For example, if he witnessed a fight between a small bird like a finch and a larger bird like a blue jay, he might relate it to a bully of a school or even a strong nation dominating a weaker one during a war. Think back to your study of the Fireside Poets; they learned lessons from nature, lessons that help to understand events in life such as loss, death, and loneliness. Thoreau attempted to do the same.

reading iconportrait of ThoreauAccess and read Chapter Two: "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" from Henry David Thoreau's classic work Walden.

Walden covers many different subjects and topics. As you read Thoreau's work, consider the following questions:

  • How does Thoreau feel about land ownership?
  • What was the state of Thoreau's house at Walden Pond?
  • Why did Thoreau go through the woods?
  • How does Thoreau feel about wealth and poverty?
  • What is your reaction to Thoreau's ideas?


Transcendentalism Review

self-check iconTranscendentalism ReviewNow that you have explored the work of Emerson and Thoreau and the tenets of Transcendentalism, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. First, read each quotation by Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau and select the corresponding paraphrased meaning. Then, drag the synonyms or antonyms on the right and drop them next to the vocabulary words on the left. Click on the player button to get started.