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“Good men, must not obey the laws too well” (Emerson).

This demonstrates Emerson’s philosophy that people are born individualistic with their own gifts to share.  He believes that although people need to follow the laws, they should not go crazy trying to follow them and should use their own knowledge on what’s right and wrong.

About

He had a huge influence on the young people of his time and even people today.

He is one of the most quoted writers in American literature.

After his dad died at age eight, he moved in with his aunt, who encouraged his thinking.

He went to Harvard Divinity School.

He was a minister for three years.

He had a calm demeanor, but really had a restless, individualistic mind.

Favorite Song

“The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky/  Are also on the faces of people going by” (Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”).

The lyrics in this song represent Emerson’s belief that man and nature are connected.  Louis Armstrong connects the faces of people to the rainbow in the sky.

Advice
Don’t let the people around you tell you who you are or what you believe in; don’t be afraid to speak up for what you believe in.

Two of Emerson’s Famous Works

Essays

Second Volume

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“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth" (Thoreau).

This quote explains how Thoreau very much believed in living a simple life and experiencing things in nature. He believed in connecting with nature and being thankful for it.

About

Thoreau built a cottage in the woods to experience nature and life in simplicity. He sought to not live materialistically.

Thoreau believed in nonconformity so he wore a green coat to class when the dress code for Harvard required a black coat.

After being fired from his teaching job for living by his own rules, Thoreau and his brother opened their own school in Concord.

After his brother became ill, he moved in with Emerson and adopted his Transcendentalists beliefs.

While in the cabin, Thoreau used the experience to write his book Walden (1854).

Favorite Song

“We love the Earth, it is our planet/ We love the Earth, it is our home” (Lil Dicky, "Earth").

This song connects to Thoreau’s beliefs because he believed in connecting with nature and the Earth. The lyrics explain love for nature and the planet which exemplifies Thoreau’s belief in connecting to the planet and respecting it.

Advice

Thoreau’s advice would be to live life to the fullest and admire the simple things in life. He would also denounce materialistic goods and enforce nature.

Two of Thoreau’s Famous Works

Walden (1854)

The Maine Woods

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This poem, like the original piece displays key transcendental traits about nature. "Nature" written by Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses the beauty and benefits that nature provides to mankind. Similarly, this blackout poem shows how nature's beauty is known to many worldwide. Along with this, the idea that nature repairs and provides reason and faith is still evident. Also, "bare ground / blithe air / infinite space" describes the distinct beauties found within nature. The tree pictured represents an essential part of nature that provides us with key resources to life and that cycles through an annual journey of beauty. As is shown, the blackout poem relates to the piece by Emerson that praises nature and all that it has to offer.

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The beauty of nature,

Walking itself into view of those who wander,

Far across the earth,

With the purpose of spreading peace to man.

The whispers of the sky to the trees,

The whispers of the trees to their leaves,

The whispers of the leaves to the ground upon which they fall,

The whispers of the ground to the animals,

And the whispers of the animals to humans,

Provide humanity with wisdom to last for years long past the equivalent of a lifetime.

The wisdom of nature providing those who listen with lessons of life,

Lessons of life from when all life knew was nature.

Lessons of life from when the sun would smile at the forest-filled earth,

The earth bare in the view of the avaricious,

But beautiful and abundant in the view the the grateful.

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“The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man’s abode” (Thoreau).

This photo relates to the quote because it displays the setting sun's reflection. When Thoreau compares the two reflections, it shows that experiencing nature's beauty is not determined by wealth. This further connects to the photo because the beauty of the reflection on the water can be seen the same by whoever views it, whether they are rich or poor.

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“The life in us is like water in the river” (Thoreau).

This quote is reflected in the picture because the photo displays a river and the different life that exists in it. The water in the river continues flowing and can either be good or bad, as are some aspects of life.

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“Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star” (Thoreau).

The photo relates to this quote from Thoreau's "Walden" because it pictures the sunrise and day dawning. When Thoreau states that the sun is a morning star, it is shown that it is just a continuation of the never-ending cycle of nature and life.

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I hear America singing, the different melodies I recognize,

Those of teachers, each one singing knowledge and advice to their students,

The children singing as they form new opinions and ideas in life,

The parents of the world singing as they enlighten the new generation,

The various minorities of our society singing in efforts for equality,

The youth singing to preserve the failing world they will be left with,

The country’s song pleading for unity,

The beautiful singing of the people that do not conform to the rest of mankind,

Every song unique to the artist, containing lyrics that represent only their life,

Each person painting a different picture with their distinctive qualities through song,

Singing with hopeful voices their individual songs.

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Out of all of Thoreau's pieces of advice, the idea that thought is our most important ability resonates with me the most. I think that being able to have opinions and form ideas is important to our advancement as people. To apply this advice to my life, I can work on actively thinking and keeping my mind busy to help others in whatever I do.

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“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson illustrates how people should be confident and self-accepting, even when faced with issues that attempt at convincing them to give up. Albert Einstein, a world-renowned physicist and Nobel Prize winner, was exemplary of Emerson’s thoughts and ideas that are displayed in “Self Reliance.” As a young child, Einstein attended school in Germany where he learned various subjects. Although he was able to teach himself things like geometry at age twelve, four years later he attempted to become an electrical engineer, but he failed the exam. While this was disappointing, Einstein kept persevering and studied to become a teacher (“Albert Einstein”). This shows Einstein’s self-confidence and how he believed in himself and his abilities, proving that he is an example of Emerson’s thoughts and beliefs. In the following years, Einstein attended and graduated from university with hopes of becoming a teacher in math and physics. However, in searching for a job, he found difficulty, as is stated, “His teachers did not think very highly of him” (“Albert Einstein”). Despite their views, Einstein continued to believe in himself, further showing that he was underestimated and persevered in spite of that. Years after this, Einstein developed a theory of relativity that is still well known today, along with a theory of the photoelectric effect, which would win him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 (“Albert Einstein”). This shows how Einstein embodied Emerson’s beliefs of self-reliance and was an exemplary person of these beliefs in his time. Through years of perseverance, confidence, and self-acceptance, Albert Einstein was able to accomplish many mathematical, scientific, and overall feats during his life.

“Albert Einstein.” NASA, NASA, starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/einstein.html.

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Disconnecting from my phone for the day had both benefits and issues that I encountered. At first it felt weird not checking my phone for the time of day, like I would normally do when in the hallway, class, or during lunch. When I was not checking my phone or on my phone, I noticed the frequency at which others use their phones, which helped me reflect and gauge my phone usage. During lunch I had a meeting, where I would usually take notes on my phone, however, since I did not have it I had to take note of what was being said in a different way. Through this I realized the extent of our societal dependence on technology, whether it be for practical and simple uses or for entertainment. Overall, I think the experiment had neither a positive or negative impact on myself. While I did come to conclusions and realizations about technology and learn to make personal improvements, it was an inconvenience to myself when I needed it for simple things such as time and note-taking.

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The song “I Lived” by OneRepublic is exemplary of how I would like to live my life. Similar to Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and “Oh me! Oh Life!” this song is an anthem that lifts people up to praise themselves and live without feeling regretful and scared of living their life to the fullest. In one of the verses, the singer speaks of life and how to gain the most from it. When speaking of experiences in life and learning from everything, the singer says, “The only way you can know / You gave it all you had” (OneRepublic, “I Lived”). As this is said, it is shown that through living life, people can learn valuable things. However, this also shows that in order to learn the most, people have to put forth a great effort into experiences and living to the fullest extent. Later in the song, the singer talks about the benefits of living life to its full capacity. In a statement about what someone will say after experiencing life and gathering a lifetime of memories, the singer says, “I, I did it all / I owned every second that this world could give / I saw so many places, the things that I did” (OneRepublic, “I Lived”). This statement by the singer shows the importance of contributing to life, as does Whitman in “Oh me! Oh Life!” when he talks about contributing through our existence and identity. This also shows how each moment contributes to life. Some strengths that help me contribute to the world are compassion and perseverance. I would like to be able to contribute to the world by always helping others through volunteer work and in the future, through the medical field.

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“Standing on the bare ground - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space - all mean egotism vanishes” (Emerson).

This quote is reflected in the picture by the seemingly never-ending sky and land extending along in the mountains. The air mentioned in the quote is also demonstrated by the clouds extending far across the horizon and until one can no longer see.

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“In the woods is perpetual youth” (Emerson).

This photo shows the never-ending youth of the woods because from the ground dirtied with leaves, there are new leaves and bright green plants growing. The photo shows how the woods and nature forever continue to grow and advance while maintaining simplicity.

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“In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in the streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature” (Emerson).
This photo represents the quote by Emerson because it displays the tranquility of the landscape extending on for what seems like forever. Also, the horizon seems so distant, as described by the quote.

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“That you are here - that life exists and identity, / That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse” (Whitman).

This quote represents Whitman as a person and with his philosophy because of his belief in the value of each person. When it is said that a verse can be contributed by each person, it shows that he believes in individuals bringing a valuable aspect of themselves to society as a whole.

About

He is best known for his influence through poetry and literature, including Leaves of Grass, which was different than many poems at that time.

He was born in New York as one of eight children in 1819.

While working as a journalist, he was known for having opinions that differed from those in charge.

When Whitman first saw slavery, he decided to go back to New York, where he contemplated the issue which he thought was completely wrong.

After publishing Leaves of Grass, Whitman was noticed by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who praised Whitman’s unique work.

During the Civil War, Whitman volunteered by visiting many of the wounded soldiers and worked as a nurse.

Favorite Song

“We love the Earth, it is our planet / We love the Earth, it is our home” (Lil Dicky, “Earth”).

These lyrics connect to Whitman and his beliefs because of his value for the Earth and humanity as a whole. This shows the importance of the Earth and our connection to it, which is an important part of his views.

Advice

If Whitman could provide advice, he would tell people to contribute to life as a whole though being their authentic self. He would also want people to value themselves, their opinions, and their connection to nature as a part of humanity.

Two of Whitman's Famous Works

Leaves of Grass

“Song of Myself”