The The Renaissance Renaissance Period Period 1840-1860 1840-1860
Jan 05, 2016
TheTheRenaissance Renaissance
PeriodPeriod
1840-18601840-1860
Renaissance PeriodRenaissance Period
•Distinct period of Distinct period of Romantic PeriodRomantic Period
Was a ‘Was a ‘rebirthrebirth’ / coming of age’ / coming of age
• Illustrated By American writersIllustrated By American writers
Finding their own Finding their own identityidentityMoving away from English Moving away from English literature literature and and
influencesinfluences
Renaissance PeriodRenaissance Period
•Represented 1Represented 1stst time time literatureliterature was truly was truly AmericanAmerican
•Marked by Marked by cultureculture and and landscapelandscape
•Main authors-Main authors-Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson,Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson,
ThoreauThoreau
TranscendentalismTranscendentalism
An attitude orAn attitude or
belief contradicting belief contradicting industrialism, growth, industrialism, growth,
and conformity.and conformity.
TranscendentalismTranscendentalism
At this point in history-At this point in history-
•shift from:shift from:
AgricultureAgriculture to to IndustryIndustryRuralRural life to life to Urban Urban lifelifeFactoriesFactories replaced workers replaced workersImmigrantsImmigrants performed labor performed labor
TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists• FoughtFought this form of thought this form of thought
– looked to create a better looked to create a better societysociety
• Believed Believed truthtruth was not in was not in businessbusiness, , govtgovt, , or or wealthwealth, but in , but in GodGod, the, the universe universe, and , and the the selfself
• Wanted to go ‘Wanted to go ‘beyondbeyond//transcendtranscend’ the ’ the physical world in order to find physical world in order to find truthtruth– Non-ConformistsNon-Conformists
A Transcendental ViewA Transcendental View
• Everything in the Everything in the worldworld- including humans- - including humans- is a reflection of is a reflection of godgod
• HumankindHumankind, , naturenature, and , and GodGod are all are all connectedconnected
• People are inherently People are inherently goodgood- they should - they should always follow their always follow their beliefsbeliefs
• Personal Personal intuitionintuition can reveal god’s spirit in can reveal god’s spirit in nature nature and theand the soul soul- thus, - thus, truth truth is attainableis attainable
A Transcendental ViewA Transcendental View
• Self-relianceSelf-reliance / / individualismindividualism outweigh outweigh AuthorityAuthority / blind / blind conformityconformity
• Spontaneous Spontaneous feelingfeeling//intuitionintuition are are superior to superior to intellectualismintellectualism / / rationalityrationality
• The ‘The ‘natural worldnatural world’ is the doorway to the ’ is the doorway to the spiritual/idealspiritual/ideal world. world.
Ralph Ralph
Waldo Waldo
EmersonEmerson
1803 -18831803 -1883
A ‘Rare’ IntellectualA ‘Rare’ Intellectual
• Appealed to the Appealed to the youngyoung with his with his energyenergy and and vitalityvitality
• Appealed to Appealed to intellectuals intellectuals with his with his philosophical ideas concerning philosophical ideas concerning humanityhumanity, , naturenature, and , and GodGod
• Appealed to overall Appealed to overall society society with his with his optimismoptimism
The Quotable EmersonThe Quotable Emerson
•EmersonEmerson is quoted more times is quoted more times than any figure in history.than any figure in history.
•Only one source with more Only one source with more quotes- the quotes- the Bible Bible
Quotable- but why?Quotable- but why?
Represents the person Represents the person we all strive to we all strive to becomebecome
The person who has The person who has foundfound, , acceptsaccepts, , and and lovesloves his place on earth his place on earth
Loves Loves whowho he is; he is; whatwhat he is he is
Possesses Possesses peace of mindpeace of mind
Emerson’s historyEmerson’s history
•Born (1803) into a cultured family Born (1803) into a cultured family of of ministers ministers in Bostonin Boston
•Life was Life was pre-arranged/establishedpre-arranged/established
Was to be a Was to be a ministerminister
•Attended Attended HarvardHarvard; age ; age 2525 accepted accepted 11stst ministry post ministry post
Emerson’s historyEmerson’s history
• Spontaneously left ministry at age Spontaneously left ministry at age 28 28 after his after his wife diedwife died
• Intuition Intuition led him to Europe; influenced led him to Europe; influenced by by RomanticRomantic writers writers
• In In 18331833 returned to U.S.- possessed a returned to U.S.- possessed a new new optimismoptimism and and outlookoutlook on life on life
Emerson’s historyEmerson’s history
• Helped pioneer the Helped pioneer the Transcendental Transcendental Movement in the U.S.Movement in the U.S.
• Was, first and foremost, a Was, first and foremost, a writerwriter and and lecturerlecturer
• Realized the Realized the limitationlimitation of of transcendentalism in a civilized, transcendentalism in a civilized, conforming conforming societysociety..
Literary FocusLiterary Focus
-Aphorism (motto)--Aphorism (motto)-
A brief statement, usually one A brief statement, usually one sentence long, that expresses a sentence long, that expresses a general principle or truth about lifegeneral principle or truth about life
An apple a day keeps…An apple a day keeps…
Honesty is the best policyHonesty is the best policy
Quick ProjectQuick Project
A motto captures an A motto captures an individual’s attitude individual’s attitude
toward life in one pithy toward life in one pithy phrase. Think of a ‘motto’ phrase. Think of a ‘motto’ that you hear on a daily that you hear on a daily
basis.basis.
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““Nothing can bring you Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; peace but yourself;
nothing can bring you nothing can bring you peace but the triumph peace but the triumph
of principles.”of principles.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““The high prize in life, the The high prize in life, the crowning fortune of man is crowning fortune of man is to be born with a bias to to be born with a bias to some pursuit which finds some pursuit which finds
himhim in employment and in employment and
happiness.”happiness.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““Accept the place Accept the place
divine Providence has divine Providence has
found for you.”found for you.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““Trust the instinct to Trust the instinct to
the end, though the end, though
you can render you can render
no reason.”no reason.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““Do not go where the Do not go where the
path may lead, go instead path may lead, go instead where there is no path where there is no path
and leave a trail.”and leave a trail.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
““Self-trust is the first Self-trust is the first secret to success.”secret to success.”
Aphorisms- RWEAphorisms- RWE
What is your mottoWhat is your motto??