Transcendentalist Movement

Transcendentalist

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that took off in America in the early to mid-nineteenth century. It evolved into a dominant literary expression. The followers of Transcendentalism believed that knowledge could be gained not just through the senses, but through intuition and contemplation of the internal spirit.

Definition

· The belief that truths about life and death can be reached by going outside the world of the sense

Major Beliefs

· Relationship between man and nature. Heightened awareness of this relationship would cause a “reformation” of society away from materialism and corruption.

· Feelings were a priority over reason

What promoted the movement?

· Rise of cities

· Class Systems

· War

· Freedom from the past

· Freedom from organized religion

· Greed/Manifest Destiny

Transcendental Characteristics

Nature

· Nature was divine

· Nature held the truths of life

· To communicate and be one with nature was true goodness

· Nature was innocence and an escape from the evils of society

Individualism

· Rejection of standard societal beliefs

· Inner truth is the only thing that matters

· The soul is something equally available to all people

· Fulfillment comes from knowing one’s self, not wealth, gender or education

Moral Enthusiasm

· Anti- Artistocracy

· Anti-Slavery

· Pro-Women’s Rights

· Quest for Utopia ( Brook Farm)

Literary Focus

· Because of the stress of “feelings” and “self” during this time period, literature was a very large medium that artists used to express themselves.

Authors

· Emily Dickinson

· Ralph Waldo Emerson

· Henry David Thoreau

· Edgar Allen Poe

Example of poetry

‘Tis Opposites—entice—

Deformed Men—ponder Grace—

Bright fires—the Blanketless—

The Lost—Day’s face—

The Blind—esteem it be

Enough Estate—to see—

The Captive—stranglers new—

For deeming—Beggars—play—

To lack—enamor Thee—

Tho’ the Divinity—

Be only

Me—