"A core belief is in the inherent goodness of people and nature, and while society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual, people are at their best when truly 'self-reliant' and independent."
A philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the mid-19th century. It emphasized the importance of intuition and individual conscience, and stressed the unity of all things in nature.
Philosophy: Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the early 19th century. A basic understanding of the philosophy is essential to understand the movement's literary works.
The history of Transcendentalism: An understanding of Transcendentalism's historical roots can help one comprehend the literary works that emerged from the movement.
The Transcendental Club: Knowledge of the Transcendental Club, which facilitated the movement, can aid in understanding the literary works of the Transcendentalists.
The literary works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Emerson is one of the key figures of the Transcendentalist movement, and reading his works is essential in familiarizing oneself with the movement.
Henry David Thoreau: Another prominent Transcendentalist writer, reading Thoreau's works can also help one understand the Transcendentalist movement.
Transcendentalism and nature: The relationship between Transcendentalism and nature is fundamental to the movement, and understanding this relationship can illuminate the literary works.
Individualism vs. conformity: The tension between individualism and conformity is a theme that runs through many of the Transcendentalists' literary works.
Self-reliance: Self-reliance is a key Transcendentalist value, and it is a theme that reappears in many of the movement's literary works.
The Oversoul: The concept of the Oversoul, a universal spirit that unites all things, is an idea that is central to Transcendentalism.
The influence of Eastern philosophy: The Transcendentalists were influenced by the ancient philosophies of India and China, and this influence is evident in their literary works.
The abolitionist movement: Many of the Transcendentalists were involved in the abolitionist movement, and their literary works often reflect this involvement.
Women in Transcendentalism: Women played a significant role in the Transcendentalist movement, and examining their literary works can help one gain a fuller understanding of the movement.
Dark Romanticism: A literary movement that developed as a response to Transcendentalism's focus on optimism and spirituality. It instead explored darker aspects of human experience such as sin and guilt.
Romanticism: A literary and artistic movement that emphasized individualism, emotion, and nature. It often focused on the power and beauty of the natural world.
Transcendentalist Poetry: A style of poetry that reflected the Transcendentalist philosophy of spiritual unity and the belief in the inherent goodness of nature.
Realism: A literary movement that sought to represent the world as it was, focusing on everyday life and ordinary people rather than idealized or romanticized versions of them.
Naturalism: A literary movement that emphasized the influence of social and economic forces on individual lives. It often portrayed characters as victims of their environment and fate.
American Renaissance: A period of American literature that coincided with Transcendentalism and featured writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville who contributed to the development of a uniquely American literary voice.
Beat Generation: A literary movement of the 1950s and 1960s that rejected mainstream values and embraced freedom, spontaneity, and spirituality. It was influenced by Transcendentalism and other countercultural movements.
"Transcendentalism is a philosophical, spiritual, and literary movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the New England region of the United States."
"Transcendentalists saw divine experience inherent in the everyday, rather than believing in a distant heaven."
"Transcendentalists saw physical and spiritual phenomena as part of dynamic processes rather than discrete entities."
"It is one of the first philosophical currents that emerged in the United States; it is, therefore, a key early point in the history of American philosophy."
"It emphasizes subjective intuition over objective empiricism."
"Its adherents believe that individuals are capable of generating completely original insights with little attention and deference to past masters."
"It arose as a reaction, to protest against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time."
"The doctrine of the Unitarian church as taught at Harvard Divinity School was closely related."
"It emerged from 'English and German Romanticism, the Biblical criticism of Johann Gottfried Herder and Friedrich Schleiermacher, the skepticism of David Hume', and the transcendental philosophy of Immanuel Kant and German idealism."
"Perry Miller and Arthur Versluis regard Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme as pervasive influences on transcendentalism."
"It was also strongly influenced by Hindu texts on philosophy of the mind and spirituality, especially the Upanishads."
"A core belief is in the inherent goodness of people and nature."
"While society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual..."
"A reaction, to protest against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time."
"People are at their best when truly 'self-reliant' and independent."
"Transcendentalists saw divine experience inherent in the everyday, rather than believing in a distant heaven."
"Transcendentalists saw physical and spiritual phenomena as part of dynamic processes rather than discrete entities."
"Its adherents believe that individuals are capable of generating completely original insights with little attention and deference to past masters."
"It developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the New England region of the United States."