Emerson and Thoreau

What is Transcendentalism and how are Emerson and Thoreau related?

 

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Through time every thing has evolved including games we play, the way we live, what things we eat how food is made and how people write. It has evolved into many different forms; some of these forms are literary fiction and non-fiction poems, short stories, and transcendentalism. The following is going to include what transcendentalism is, how Emerson and Thoreau are related to it, and an overall summary.

"Transcendentalism is an American literary, political, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century." (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/) They believed a new era was at hand. They preached that the society they lived in was all about unthinking conformity, and that people did not even think about it either. They "urged that each person find an original relation to the universe." (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/) Their ultimate goal was to was to get closer to man and nature and felt that institutions and society made people conform to lose their individuality and transcendentalist wanted them to realize that and find them selves. Here is a brief video  that shows some ideas and quotes from some influential figures. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jyRZmu9nOQ)

 Transcendentalism was centered around "Ralph Waldon Emerson." (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/) But another important man is Henry David Thoreau. "Emerson was, as a high-profile writer, lecturer, and editor of the Transcendental periodical The Dial, central among the Transcendentalists. In addition to Emerson and Thoreau, others were involved in the movement." "Emerson was, as a high-profile writer, lecturer, and editor of the Transcendental periodical The Dial, central among the Transcendentalists. In addition to Emerson and Thoreau, others involved in the movement."(Cliff notes) During the uprising of transcendentalism, "the Transcendentalists were only loosely connected with one another. They were not a cohesive, organized group who shared a formal doctrine. They were distinct and independent individuals who accepted some basic premises about man's place in the universe."(Cliff notes) It finally started to flourish when Emerson moved to Concord and published his essay "Nature," which made some intense intellectual ferment. After that it blew up. It was based on ancient ideas. "Transcendentalism was in many ways a radical movement, threatening to established religion." (Cliff notes) There was some arguing on his essay but it was the turning point for transcendentalism.