Monday, October 26, 2009

Transcendentalism Powerpoint

http://exchange.guhsd.net/details.php?object_id=1781

One more definition...

"Transcendentalists placed great faith in higher, intuitive forms or knowledge, and urged people to have disgust for conformity and praised individuality. Transcendentalists disliked the commercial, financial side of American life. They stressed instead spiritual well-being, achieved through intellectual activity and a close relationship with nature”

Literature. New York: McDougal, Littell, and Co., 1987.

The Basic Tenets of Transcendentalism-Simplified

*Nonconformity/ Individualism
*Self-Reliance
*Civil Disobedience (not supporting law/policy that is contrary to your nature)
*Importance of Nature
*Favoring Intuition over Reason/ Confidence
*Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
*Questioning progress that occurs to the detriment of the human spirit/condition

www.kent.k12.wa.us/.../Transcendentalism%20Final%20Project.doc

Transcendentalism Defined

Basic Tenets of Transcendentalism
Basic Premises:
1. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe - and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual.
2. The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self - all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."
3. Transcendentalists accepted the neo-Platonic conception of nature as a living mystery, full of signs - nature is symbolic.
4. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization - this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies:
a. the expansive or self-transcending tendency - a desire to embrace the whole world - to know and become one with the world.
b. the contracting or self-asserting tendency - the desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate - an egotistical existence.

Basic Tenets of American Transcendentalism:
Note : This list must not be considered to be a creed common to all transcendentalists. It is merely a grouping of certain important concepts shared by many of them.
1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism.
2. The transcendentalist "transcends" or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm.
3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or "float" for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death.
4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God).
5. This Oversoul or Life Force or God can be found everywhere - travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary.6. God can be found in both nature and human nature (Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations).
7. Jesus also had part of God in himself - he was divine as everyone is divine - except in that he lived an exemplary and transcendental life and made the best use of that Power which is within each one.
8. "Miracle is monster." The miracles of the Bible are not to be regarded as important as they were to the people of the past. Miracles are all about us - the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one. "A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels." - Whitman
9. More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life - "the one thing in the world of value is the active soul." - Emerson
10. Death is never to be feared, for at death the soul merely passes to the oversoul.
11. Emphasis should be placed on the here and now. "Give me one world at a time." - Thoreau
12. Evil is a negative - merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark.
13. Power is to be obtained by defying fate or predestination, which seem to work against humans, by exercising one's own spiritual and moral strength. Emphasis on self-reliance.
14. Hence, the emphasis is placed on a human thinking.
15. The transcendentalists see the necessity of examples of great leaders, writers, philosophers, and others, to show what an individual can become through thinking and action.
16. It is foolish to worry about consistency, because what an intelligent person believes tomorrow, if he/she trusts oneself, tomorrow may be completely different from what that person thinks and believes today. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." - Emerson
17. The unity of life and universe must be realized. There is a relationship between all things.
18. One must have faith in intuition, for no church or creed can communicate truth.
19. Reform must not be emphasized - true reform comes from within.

www.shs.d211.org/.../Basic%20Tenets%20of%20Transcendentalism.doc


Simplified definitions:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/165625/ten_key_tenets_of_transcendentalism.html?cat=7

http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html


Dead Poets Society & Transcendentalism
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1589969/dead_poets_society_and_emersons_transcendental_pg2.html?cat=4

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Defining "Transendentalism"

From 1840-1855, literature in America experienced a rebirth called the New England Renaissance. Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a clear American voice. No longer did they see their work as less influential than that of European authors. Transcendentalism was a part of this “flowering” of American literature. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were important voices in this philosophical movement that sought to have individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level. To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition. Emerson was the philosopher and teacher. Thoreau was the student and the practitioner.

To learn more about this complex philosophy visit:

http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/



"Transcendentalism is an idealism that encompasses a diverse and sometimes confusing set of beliefs regarding man's role in nature and the universe. Loosely, the doctrine refers to any view which holds that there's an aspect to reality that is higher than (or transcends) our everyday life and world. Emerson was the most notable Transcendentalist-- a great thinker with deep insight, and over time his ideas evolved and grew; however, he was always seeking "To what end is nature?" Transcendentalists eschewed materialism, and advocated a philosophy of self-reliance and self-fulfillment. Living in accordance with nature and a perpetual striving toward cultivation of character were other common attitudes. However, like most philosophies, not all transcendentalists strictly adhered to basis premises, which makes transcendentalism a thought provoking and challenging belief. "Shannon Riley, Virginia Commonwealth University

Helpful Links:

http://womenshistory.about.com/bltranscend.htm

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Ken Kifer's Analysis & Notes on Walden

An excellent site developed by Ken Kifer who was tragically killed by a drunk driver...
"If Ken revered anyone, it was Thoreau. He felt Thoreau's ideas were so valuable and so relevant. He knew that a lot of people had difficulty understanding Thoreau, so he devoted a section of his website to helping them. He thought that if more people lived like Thoreau, then there was hope for the world. "

Helpful Hints: Reading Walden

From "The Walden Express" http://thoreau.eserver.org/waldenxp.html:
"This is not an easy book, especially at the beginning. Usually, it's best not to spend too much time on individual sentences, pondering the meaning of each phrase. Walden is the classic "more than the sum of its parts," and it's easier to pick up the overall meaning if you take care not to get caught in the details — just keep reading. But not too fast! Try to "listen" to the words, to catch the tone, the color, the sound. Henry Thoreau loved words and writing and ideas. He put a lot of his life into developing his ideas and writing them down, and much of the time he never expected to get a lot back, except for the joy of his work. If you listen carefully, the joy is still there."

Excellent advice from Mark Bitman on dealing with the novel's structure and language can be found at:
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng372/thorcrit.htm

Walden Annotated Edition Link

Thursday, October 01, 2009

BLOGGING ABOUT: Transcendentalism in Popular Culture

BLOGGING ABOUT: Transcendentalism in Popular Culture:What examples can you find in comics, music, movies, television shows, etc…?*This assignment is ongoing. Please use the class blog to post examples at least twice throughout the unit. (20 Points)

Walden Unit Plan- Mrs. Baker

Walden Unit Plan: Mrs. Baker
Online Text:
http://publicliterature.org/books/walden/xaa.php
Essential Unit Questions:
What are the major tenets of transcendentalism?
Why did Henry David Thoreau live at Walden Pond for two years?
How do the literary characters we’ve met this year fit into the transcendental school of thought?
What aspects of modern day society agree with transcendentalism? What aspects of modern day society are at odds with transcendentalism?
What views have you developed on the subjects of individualism, nature and passive resistance?

Due Date: Assignments:
___________ Walden Vocabulary Quiz 1
___________ Create a list of 12 items you would take if you were setting out to live with nature for a long period of time.
___________ THINK/PAIR/SHARE:
How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do you reflect the moods of nature?
What is the role of nature in your life?
What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How to you define it?
Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature? If so, what is that connection?
What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, has a parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without having talked with or seen you? What do we mean when we say “I just know it”?
How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think independently of others or do you follow the crowd?
­­___________ Introduction: Lecture by Virginia Commonwealth University Associate Professor Ann Woodlief
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/audio/walden.html
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/walden/
(Need Real Player)
Take notes on the main points of the lecture.
___________ Thoreau’s Bio:
http://www.biography.com/articles/Henry-David-Thoreau-9506784?part=0
In your notebooks, list 10 interesting things about Thoreau.
___________ Thoreau & Transendialistism & Walden Pond Background: Jill Kaufman Report NPR
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/walden/index.html#media%20
In your notebooks:
What is an archetypal symbol?
What is the trick for reading Walden?
How did Walden become the “manifesto” of the environmentalist movement?
___________ Walden Vocabulary Quiz 2
___________ “Economy” By far the longest (and most difficult) section in the book, this chapter is essential to read, despite its difficulty, because it explains Thoreau's basic beliefs about how to live, and because he tells us the story of how he got started at Walden.
­___________ “Economy” Quote Assignment:

Look at the page from which your quote was taken. Read what comes before it and directly after it. Then determine what Thoreau is saying in your quote. If you are unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary, look it up. Write down your interpretation of the quote. Be as thorough as possible.
Now that you have “unpacked” the quote and know what Thoreau is saying, consider how what he says relates to you personally or to society today. Write down your thoughts.
Be prepared to share #1 and #2 with your classmates.

___________ “Where I Lived, What I Live For” Thoreau describes the setting of his cabin; then he reflects on the ideas of possession, work, wakeful living, and reality, all in relation to the purpose of his experiment.
In your notebooks:
Thoreau asserts that "we live meanly, like ants." What explanation does Thoreau give for this way of life? Why does he place so much emphasis on simplicity?
Thoreau complains that “Our life is frittered away by detail.” What does he mean? Can you relate to this perspective?

Thoreau advises us to "Simplify, simplify" What modern inventions, new in Thoreau's day, does he question the value of? What inventions new in your day would you question the value of?



___________ “Solitude” This chapter discusses the delights of being alone; solitude, Thoreau says, is his best companion.
In your notebooks:
Thoreau argues that solitude is not created by physical distance between people but by distance between their points of view. He also maintains that solitude in nature brings us closer to the source of all life – and thus to other people. In light of these beliefs, do you think the hours people today spend in front of televisions and computers serve to bring people together or to isolate them?

___________ “The Bean Field” This chapter is a discourse on farming, on using the land, on hearing the town's silly military displays from afar (with special reference to the Mexican War); but mainly it is about beans, their cultivation and care. "I was determined to know beans," he says (reversing the expression: "You don't know beans!)
In your notebooks:
What is the author’s main purpose in this selection?

___________ “Higher Laws” Thoreau comments on fishing, hunting, vegetarianism, and eating. He is exploring a tension between "an animal in us" and a "higher nature" which is pure and therefore at odds with "this slimy beastly life, eating and drinking."
In your notebooks:

What aspects of this section did you agree/ disagree with? Did you find this section enjoyable? Why or why not?
___________ “Conclusion” Thoreau sums up: he tells why he left the lake and what he gained from his experience there. He also has much to say about the individual and society (this chapter contains the famous "different drummer: statement), about living well, about finding the truth. And he ends with the wonderful story, one of his "wake up!" pitches, of "the strong and beautiful bug." We too can enjoy a "beautiful and winged life." But we have to be alert to the possibilities: "Only that day dawns to which we are awake."
In your notebooks:

What one statement in this selection generates the strongest response from you? Rewrite the excerpt and explicate your response.


­­­­­___________ “What would Thoreau do?” Handout
___________ Essayist Tom Schiff's reflections on Walden. From Weekend Edition, May 5, 2002.
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/walden/
In your notebooks, write a one paragraph response to Shiff’s piece. Be sure to consider Shiff’s tone.



___________ Emerson’s “Self-Reliance”
http://www.nationalcenter.org/SelfReliance.html


Print out Essay & Make marginal notations (i.e., ask questions, express surprise, disagree, elaborate, and/or note any moments of confusion).
Here is one way to structure marginal notations:
(1) Label what the author says in the left-hand margin:
· The introduction
· The issue or problem the author is writing about
· The author’s main arguments
· The author’s examples
· The conclusion

(2) In the right hand margin, write reactions to what the author is saying.

_________ EMERSON ESSAY
“Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you…Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age…Whoso would be a man must be a non-conformist…To be great is to be misunderstood…”
Explain Emerson’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

____________ Civil Disobedience- Thoreau
http://publicliterature.org/exp/music/index.php?prev_url=http://publicliterature.org/books/civil_disobedience/xaa.php&playlist=http://publicliterature.org/books/civil_disobedience/music/playlist.xspf
*I’m not sure what we are going to do with this essay yet.
___________ BLOGGING ABOUT: Transcendentalism in Popular Culture:
What examples can you find in comics, music, movies, television shows, etc…?
*This assignment is ongoing. Please use the class blog to post examples at least twice throughout the unit. (20 Points)


_______________ CHOICE ASSIGNMENT (50 Points)
Please complete ONE of the following:
A Quiet Place Take a walk outdoors. Seek out an area with trees or some other natural setting. Sit quietly, and record in a journal what you see, hear, and smell. Then tell how this setting makes you feel. (Minimum of 3 pages)Simplify! Keep a three-column log for one day. In the left-hand column, note the time. In the middle column, describe your behavior and environment at that time. In the right-hand column, describe what if anything Thoreau might recommend you modify in your behavior or environment to keep it simple. (Minimum of 3 pages)
Your Personal Walden
If you choose, you may act like Henry David Thoreau and create your own "Walden" within the context of your own life. For this assignment, you will need to remove yourself from all of the following, as much as possible:
*other people
*electronic devices, including cell phones, IPods, video game systems, etc.
*electric devices, including TV, computer, hairdryers, curling irons, lights, etc.

You will spend a minimum of 8 hours alone reading, writing, and contemplating life. You must be AWAKE during these hours. This time may be split up; it doesn't all have to be consecutive hours.
You will write a minimum of three pages about your experience--what was it like to be removed from people and devices like this? What thoughts or ideas came to you about your life?