Transcendentalists American Literature Remember Romantics & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

▶

Oct 25, 2022 459 likes •590 views

Transcendentalists American Literature Remember Romantics & Transcendentalists = Emos Romantics were darker and more emotional and Hippies Transcendentalists focused on positive actions and creating change Beginnings

SLIDE 1

Transcendentalists

American Literature

SLIDE 2

Remember…

Romantics & Transcendentalists =
Emos

– Romantics were darker and more emotional

and Hippies

– Transcendentalists focused on positive actions and creating change

SLIDE 3

Beginnings – Romantics & Transcendentalists

Both grew out of a reaction to the strict,

Puritanical code at the foundation of American literature and society.

By the mid 1830’s, the Puritan rules and

themes were considered outdated and repressive.

SLIDE 4

Beginnings Cont.

Transcendental movement

began a few years after the Romantic

Both groups chose to write

anti-Puritan themes

Both chose to ignore topics like

strict religion, morals and the issue of guilt

Each group chose very

different ways of doing this.

SLIDE 5

Hippies

The Transcendentalists’ main

topic was “self reliance”.

While the Romantics wrote

mainly to entertain

– love poems or horror stories

the Transcendentalists wrote

to effect change

– motivational packets and political pieces.

SLIDE 6

Transcendentalism

SLIDE 7

Self reliance/intuition

Understanding comes from

within individual, rather than being learned.

Individual capable of making
wn decisions without the

help/guidance of society.

Emerson’s famous “Self

Reliance” emphasized the importance of trusting your instinct.

SLIDE 8

Importance of Nature

Two aspects:

– the earth – human nature

In both aspects, nature was

considered the ultimate guide and sustainer. (cont. next slide)

SLIDE 9

Importance of Nature (cont.)

Transcendentalists found the

divine in nature.

Unlike Puritans, didn’t need

church

viewed the earth/nature as a

spiritual place.

Thoreau’s famous Walden

idealizes nature and water.

SLIDE 10

Free thought & expression

society should not silence the individual
each person should be free to express

him/herself without fear.

Transcendentalists did not all agree with each
ther, and thought these conflicting opinions

made them stronger.

SLIDE 11

The individual is important/non- conformity

individual conscience more

important as guide than the law, government and community.

Thoreau refused to pay poll

tax to protest slavery; Emily Dickinson wore only white

SLIDE 12

Confidence

individual should rely on his/her own knowledge
rather than living by society’s norms and just

“going with the flow”.

Americans could form their own identity and