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Assignment
Transcendentalism & Text Stacks Assignment
Transcendentalism
English III
Dead Poets SocietyStarring Robin Williams
INTRODUCTION
An Origins Story!
“Transcendentalism?”
● An ideal spiritual state which transcends the physical and empirical
Transcendentalism is a state of mind
iNcOnFoRmItYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryb2WawuV4g
Spontaneityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_DDU38SDQ
Sincerity towards Naturehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9EfSS4tMfA
Romance and Adventurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3U0AdatdfI
BELIEFS
(Makes things real, brah)
5 Tenets of Transcendentalism
Tenet means the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
Wat r yo tenets, son?!
“Five Tenets”
�
The 5 Tenets of Transcendentalism
1. Everything is a reflection of God
2. People are generally good and fair
3. Closer to nature → closer to God
4. Follow your intuition
5. Individuality and self-reliance > majority or tradition
CARPE DIEM
What does it mean? A Latin aphorism for "seize the day" from a poem in 23 BC by the poet Horace
Amos Bronson Alcott
“Maxims for Educators”(Maxim aren’t the same as Maxi Pads or some beauty magazine)
It’s a short statement expressing a general truth.
Amos Bronson Alcott
� 1799—1888� Teacher and writer� Introduced art, music, P.E.,
nature study, and field trips; banished corporal punishment
� Father of novelist Louisa May Alcott
DaughterLife as a romance or quest.
A family drama that validates virtue over wealth
Founder of Temple School and Fruitlands (short-lived commune)
Maxims for Educators
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Where is Waldo?
Emerson: The Father of Transcendentalism
� Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882� Founded Transcendentalist Movement � Essays
� “Nature” (1836) � “Self Reliance” (1844)
� Unitarian minister, but questioned the meaning of life, religion, and existence after death of young wife
� Took long walks in the forests around Concord, MA
Henry David Thoreau
What did the waitress say to Henry upon his first meal after his stay in the woods?
“I can take that dish away, sir, if you are thoreau.”
Henry David Thoreau� 1817 – 1862� Nicknamed “the judge” and
“hermit of Walden” -so stern and spends most of his time alone
� In 1839, he decided to be a poet of nature, essayist, philosopher, and lecturer
� Spent most of his life unemployed, doing odd jobs
� Man of action
“Civil Disobedience” Excerpt
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe—"That government is best which governs not at all."
1906 Houghton, Mifflin edition of Walden Pond
2005 Summer at Walden Pond
Thoreau’s Survey of Walden Pond
Thoreau Lasting Impact in Recent TimeCivil Disobedience, p. 228Long Walk of Freedom p. 237 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bGuC7elOO6M
Life at Walden Pond (1845-1847)
2 years, 2 months, and 2 days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taFaFEuwHLQ
Into the Wild - Christopher McCandless
Walt WhitmanEnglish III - Transcendentalism
The Wonderous Walt Whitman
Leaves of Grass
An excerpt from “Songs of Myself” part 3
I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end,But I do not talk of the beginning or the end.
There was never any more inception than there is now,Nor any more youth or age than there is now,And will never be any more perfection than there is now,Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.
A reading of “America” ● https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=5IeIN3WE4lI
A reading of “Pioneers! O Pioneers!”
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha7O0O_fc48
Community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3U0AdatdfI (day seized!)
Community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_DDU38SDQ (cake for breakfast)
Community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9EfSS4tMfA (weeping right now)
DPS: Conformity DPS: Carpe Diem DPS: Yawp
TEXT STACK ASSIGNMENT
Basic Beliefs
Individuals = spiritual center of the universe.
Nature is a living mystery, full of signs and symbols
INTUITION
World vs. the Desire
Text Stack Instructions
Homework: read all of the excerpts from Alcott, Whitman, Thoreau, and Emerson. You will be asked to focus on ONE to summarize in detail - you’ll be the expert on that piece. Come prepared for the activity next class!
Next Class: In groups of four, you’ll put each of the Transcendentalist’s tenets, or main beliefs, in your own words. Then, properly cite at least 2 quotes that exemplify each tenet.
Ex.) A transcendentalist believes that a person should base their decisions on intuition.1. “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string” (Emerson, Self-Reliance). 2. “I celebrate myself … Creeds and schools in abeyance” (Whitman, “Song of Myself”).
Text Stack InstructionsGet out your Transcendentalist texts from last class.
In groups of four, review the texts - each of you is an expert on one!
Then, put each tenet in your own words and properly cite at least 2 quotes that exemplify each tenet.
Ex.) A transcendentalist believes that a person should base their decisions on intuition. 1. “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string” (Emerson, Self-Reliance). 2. “I celebrate myself … Creeds and schools in abeyance” (Whitman, “Song of Myself”).
Warm-up: Tone - Read passage; select most appropriate answer for tone; write 2-3 sentences justifying choice based on textual evidence
From Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt:
“‘Look at what he did. Thrun up his First Communion breakfast. Thrun up the body and blood of Jesus. I have God in me backyard. What am I goin’ to do? I’ll take him to the Jesuits for they know the sins of the Pope himself.’
She dragged him through the streets of Limerick. She told the neighbors and passing strangers about God in her backyard.
‘In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s a day since me last confessions.’
‘A day? And what sins have you committed in a day, my child?’‘I overslept. I nearly missed my First Communion, My grandfather said I
have standing up, North of Ireland, Presbyterian hair. I threw up my First Communion breakfast. Now Grandma says she has God in her backyard and what should she do.’”
A. Horrific C. Condescending B. Disdainful D. Amusing
