https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5 English 11, unit 5 activity en-us 2016-07-11 17:49:06 UTC 2016-07-13 14:15:34 UTC hello@padlet.com grettad118 https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116218756 Transcendentalist writings and ideas still persist today. Historical authors such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson  were prominent transcendentalist thinkers. In fact, Emerson is widely recognized as the founder of the transcendentalist movement in the 1800's. 

The founding writers of the Transcendentalist were seeking to create a purely American literary style, unique to the American transcendentalists. Although it had been almost 100 years since the USA's independence from England, writers still wanted to separate kind of literature. Prior to the Transcendentalist movement, American literate practically mirrored British works. Perhaps that is why the Transcendentalist movement was so inspirational and influential; because it captured the American spirit of freedom, independence, and uniqueness. 

Transcendentalism stresses the importance of individualism and self-reliance. There is emphasis placed on nature. Nature can teach us more than society can, and we are closer to God in nature, which diminishes the need for institutions or organized religion.  Transcendentalism believes that people can transcend, or move into a deeper spiritual sense, allowing them to be closer to God and more fully discover Him. Transcendentalism was also hugely important to the social and political battles being fought during the time period, the most important being slavery. Upstanding transcendentalist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau and Fulller fully disagreed with slavery, and fought to abolish it. One can find slavery as the subject of satire in the vast majority of transcendentalist works. The transcendentalists were extremely influential, both socially and politically, concerning the struggles of their generation. ]]> 2016-07-11 18:01:11 UTC https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116218756 grettad118 https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116292414 Born on July 12, 1817, Henry David Thoreau was one of the most influential writers in the transcendentalist movement. His book "Walden" describes his experiences living alone in a hand-made cabin next to Walden pond in the woods. His writing perfectly captures and explains the core ideas of transcendentalism. ]]> 2016-07-12 18:43:59 UTC https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116292414 grettad118 https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116303224 Emerson is widely considered the father of Transcendentalism. 
Before recognizing Transcendentalism, Emerson was ordained to the Unitarian church in 1829. However, several life crises caused hum to question his faith and quit the church. He held onto some of the beliefs from his Unitarian faith, and soon found that many outstanding writers and intellectuals of his time held the same perspectives and views. He developed his new philosophy, and published his main ideas in his work, "Nature". He became the leader of the new group know as the American Transcendentalists. ]]> 2016-07-12 23:20:41 UTC https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116303224 grettad118 https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116345877  "A hero is no braver than an ordinary man,  but he is braver five minutes longer."
Emerson is arguing that all people are capable of being heroes. The only thing separating "regular" people from heroes, is that they are braver for 5 minutes less; 5 minutes of bravery is all that separates everyday people from a hero.
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"Every revolution was first thought in one man's mind."

Emerson is saying that every revolution, breakthrough, and new invention was once just an idea, thought of by one ordinary person. All it takes is an extraordinary idea from an ordinary person to create a revolution.

]]> 2016-07-13 13:24:39 UTC https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116345877 grettad118 https://padlet.com/grettad118/transcendentalismunit5/wish/116346894 "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth."

Thoreau says that rather than any of the material things that society clings to, he would prefer to have truth, to know and pursue it. 

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