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Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the United States in the early 19th century. It emphasizes the idea of the individual's inherent goodness and connection to nature, and encourages self-reliance, intuition, and the pursuit of truth and beauty.

If you're studying transcendentalism in your literature or philosophy class, or if you're just interested in exploring its ideas further, you may be looking for essay topics to help you delve deeper into this fascinating movement. To help you get started, here are 106 transcendentalism essay topic ideas and examples.

Compare and contrast the beliefs of transcendentalism with those of traditional religious teachings.

Analyze the role of nature in the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Discuss how the concept of self-reliance is portrayed in Henry David Thoreau's "Walden."

Explore the influence of transcendentalism on the Civil Rights Movement.

Examine the relationship between transcendentalism and environmentalism.

Discuss the impact of transcendentalism on American literature.

Compare and contrast the ideas of transcendentalism and Romanticism.

Analyze the role of intuition in transcendentalist philosophy.

Discuss the importance of individualism in transcendentalist thought.

Explore the concept of the "oversoul" in the writings of Emerson and Thoreau.

Discuss the influence of Eastern philosophy on transcendentalism.

Analyze the role of women in transcendentalist literature.

Explore the connection between transcendentalism and the Transcendental Club.

Discuss the role of the individual in society according to transcendentalist beliefs.

Analyze the influence of transcendentalism on modern-day self-help movements.

Explore the concept of "divine spark" in transcendentalist philosophy.

Discuss the importance of simplicity in transcendentalist thought.

Analyze the role of the individual's relationship to society in the writings of Emerson and Thoreau.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on the Beat Generation.

Explore the role of nonconformity in transcendentalist philosophy.

Analyze the impact of transcendentalism on American politics.

Discuss the concept of the "transparent eyeball" in Emerson's writing.

Explore the influence of transcendentalism on the feminist movement.

Discuss the relationship between transcendentalism and the concept of the sublime.

Analyze the role of solitude in the writings of Thoreau.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Explore the connection between transcendentalism and the concept of the "hero's journey."

Analyze the role of intuition in decision-making according to transcendentalist philosophy.

Discuss the importance of nature in the writings of Margaret Fuller.

Explore the influence of transcendentalism on modern-day environmental activism.

Analyze the role of the individual in shaping society according to transcendentalist beliefs.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on American education.

Explore the concept of "soul-making" in transcendentalist philosophy.

Analyze the role of the artist in society according to transcendentalist thought.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on American architecture.

Explore the role of the unconscious in transcendentalist philosophy.

Analyze the influence of transcendentalism on American music.

Discuss the concept of the "divine within" in transcendentalist philosophy.

Explore the connection between transcendentalism and the concept of the "journey of self-discovery."

Analyze the role of simplicity in the writings of Emerson and Thoreau.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on American spirituality.

Explore the concept of "cosmic consciousness" in transcendentalist philosophy.

Analyze the role of the individual in shaping history according to transcendentalist beliefs.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on American art.

Explore the connection between transcendentalism and the concept of "flow."

Analyze the role of creativity in transcendentalist philosophy.

Discuss the influence of transcendentalism on American music.

Analyze the role of the unconscious in transcendentalist philosophy.

Explore the connection between transcendentalism and the concept of the "divine spark."

In conclusion, transcendentalism is a rich and complex philosophical and literary movement that has had a profound impact on American culture and thought. By exploring these transcendentalism essay topics and examples, you can deepen your understanding of this fascinating movement and its relevance to contemporary issues and ideas. Whether you're writing a paper for school or simply interested in learning more about transcendentalism, these topics can help guide your exploration and analysis.

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74 Transcendentalism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best transcendentalism topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting transcendentalism topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about transcendentalism, ❓ questions about transcendentalism.

Transcendentalism: Ralph Emerson vs Henry Thoreau These two thinkers contributed greatly to the development of the movement through the focus on certain basic values and principles as well as the promotion of particular aspects of the overall paradigm.
Transcendentalism in American Literature The emergence of new transcendental ideas reshaped the American literature introduced in the works by Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman in such a way that it contributed to the excellence and maturity of the literary world […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
Albert Bierstadt’s “Rocky Mountain Landscape”: Transcendentalism Artwork Romanticism is one of the most famous periods of the development of art and the formation of new views about the world.
Transcendentalism: The Role of Emerson and Whitman Emerson argued that American intellectuals should create their unique style of scholarship and literature, while Whitman celebrated the beauty and diversity of America in his poetry.
Transcendentalism of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman Olfactory imagery is mostly used, which indicates the utilization of smells and fragrances. The author emphasizes that he is alone and has no company, which enables him to blend in with his surroundings.
History of American Transcendentalism The most prominent topic was the status of intellectualism at Harvard in addition, to the canon of the Unitarian church trained at Harvard School of religion.
The Literary Movement of Transcendentalism
The Philosophical and Religious Movement of Transcendentalism
The Mockery of Transcendentalism in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher
The Spirit of Individualism: Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism in Modern America
Transcendentalism Through the Political Thought of Emerson Thoreau and Fuller
The Emphasis on Freedom and Individuality in American Philosophy: Epicureanism, Transcendentalism, Pragmatism, and Protestantism
Transcendentalism in Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Relationship Between Romanticism and Transcendentalism
The Philosophy Embodied by Dead Poets Society: Transcendentalism
Understanding Thoreau and Transcendentalism
The Important Role of Transcendentalism in American History
Transcendentalism: The Antidote to Brainwashed Youth
The Idea of Transcendentalism and the Search for Improvement in Society by Emerson and Thoreau
The Impacts of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau in the Field of Philosophy and Transcendentalism
Themes of Transcendentalism in Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
The Influence of Transcendentalism in the Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
The Roots of Transcendentalism and the United States
The Concept of Transcendentalism in Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Comparison Between Transcendentalism and Romanticism
The Belief of Anti-Transcendentalism in A Man Said to the Universe, a Poem by Stephen Crane
The Points of Transcendentalism and Anti-Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism and the Poetry of Emily Dickinson
Understanding of Transcendentalism According to Henry David Thoreau
The Features of Transcendentalism and Its Representatives
Romanticism and Transcendentalism in Dead Poets Society
The Ideas of Transcendentalism in the Works of William Bryant, Henry Thoreau, and Ralph Emerson
Utopian Thought and Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism in Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickinson’s Literature
The Transcendentalism in the 19th Century and the Plunge After the Civil War
Transcendentalism: The Leading Power of Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Sociological Analysis of Transcendentalism, a Philosophical Movement of the Early 18th Century
How Transcendentalism Is Impossible Without Change
Enlightenment, Transcendentalism, and Puritan Theology
An Analysis of the Anti-Transcendentalism in Moby Dick, a Novel by Herman Melville
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Influence of Transcendentalism
The Principles of Transcendentalism Brought Out in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance
Walt Whitman and the Emergence of Transcendentalism
Identities and Transcendentalism in Song of Myself by Walt Whitman
An Analysis of the Topic of Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Concept of Transcendentalism
The American Renaissance: Transcendentalism, Romanticism, and Dark Romanticism
Man’s Relationship with Nature: Transcendentalism
Puritanism and Transcendentalism in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
What Is a Simple Definition of Transcendentalism?
What Are Transcendentalist Beliefs?
Who Did Transcendentalism Influence?
What Is the Main Theme of Transcendentalism?
How Is Transcendentalism Used Today?
How Do You Practice Transcendentalism?
Are the Transcendentalism Religious?
How Did Transcendentalism View Life?
Is Transcendentalism Our Modern Culture?
What Is Transcendentalism and Why Is It Important?
How Did Transcendentalism End?
Did hippies adhere to transcendentalism?
Who Is a Transcendentalist Person?
Why Did Transcendentalism Become So Popular?
What Is God’s Transcendentalism?
Did Transcendentalism Allow For Slavery?
What Influenced Transcendentalism?
What Is a Transcendentalist Example?
Does Oprah Winfrey Follow Transcendentalism?
Is Buddhism a Transcendentalism?
How Did Transcendentalism Relate to Nature?
When Did Transcendentalism Start and End?
What’s the Difference Between Romanticism and Transcendentalism?
Is Transcendentalism the Same as Individualism?
How Is Transcendentalism Related to Feminism?
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Home — Essay Samples — Philosophy — Philosophical Movements — Transcendentalism

Essays on Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism was a philosophical, literary, and social movement that emerged in the early 19th century in the United States. It emphasized the importance of self-reliance, individualism, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Transcendentalism had a profound impact on American literature, art, and culture, and its ideas continue to resonate with people today. Writing an essay on Transcendentalism provides an opportunity to explore its key concepts and their relevance to contemporary society.

The Importance of the Topic

Transcendentalism is a rich and complex philosophical tradition that has had a lasting impact on American culture and thought. Its emphasis on the individual's connection to nature, the importance of intuition and self-reliance, and the rejection of societal norms and institutions are ideas that continue to inspire and challenge us today. By exploring Transcendentalism in an essay, students can gain a deeper understanding of its influence on American literature and philosophy, as well as its relevance to contemporary issues such as environmentalism, social justice, and personal identity.

Advice on Choosing a Topic

When choosing a topic for a Transcendentalism essay, it's important to consider your interests and the specific aspects of Transcendentalist thought that you find most compelling. You may want to explore the writings of key Transcendentalist figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller, or examine the movement's impact on American literature and culture. You could also consider how Transcendentalist ideas relate to contemporary issues, such as environmentalism, social justice, or spirituality. Whatever topic you choose, be sure to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the complexities of Transcendentalist thought.

Transcendentalism offers a wealth of rich and thought-provoking topics for essays. Whether you're interested in exploring the writings of key Transcendentalist figures, examining the movement's impact on American literature and culture, or considering its relevance to contemporary issues, there are numerous avenues for exploration. By delving into Transcendentalism in an essay, students can gain a deeper understanding of its influence on American thought and culture, as well as its continuing relevance to the challenges and opportunities of the present day.

Examples of Transcendentalism in Walden

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Feminism and Gender Roles Presented by Hilda Doolittle

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Analysis of Transcendentalist Views of Ralph Waldo Emerson in His "Self-reliance"

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Essay Samples on Transcendentalism

A review of trancendentalist work 'civil disobedience' by d.thoreau.

Abmist the years late 1820 Transcendentalism began to spring up and spread like a raging wildfire, sweeping up the world during a time of a heavy emphasis on intellectualism and spirituality; as people were often too comfortable and debatably complacent as innovations and commodities became...

Civil Disobedience
Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism And The Work Of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Transcendentalism is an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England around the 1900s due to rationalism. During the time the most important transcendentalists were Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Lydia Maria Child, Amos Bronson Alcott, Frederic Henry Hedge, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Theodore...

Literature Review
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Examples Of Transcendentalism In "Dead Poets Society"

“Words and Ideas can change the world”. The movie “Dead Poets Society” is about a group of students that attend a very strict, New England prep school, during 1959. Their new teacher; John Keating, uses non-traditional methods of teaching to reach out to this group...

Dead Poets Society

Mccandless's Heroes And Transcendentalism In Into The Wild

Christopher Johnson McCandless was an intelligent stubborn young man that found no importance in materialistic items. He was adventurous and filled with curiosity, but curiosity killed the cat. McCandless was inspired by various literary people, but he was most influenced by Jack London. Jack London...

Chris Mccandless
Into The Wild

The Power Of Transcendentalism In Into The Wild

Within society today, every person is wanting the new phone or the new television system. People always wait in lines for hours and hours to get the new greatest things available in their era. This type of concept is very common in society today but...

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The Transcendentalism Of Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild

Christopher Johnson McCandless is a 24 year old explorer who idolized the philosophers Tolstoy, Thoreau, and London; so much so that he immersed himself deep into the wild nature of Alaska only to be found dead just four months later. Chris McCandless, the protagonist of...

Analysis Of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Speech "The American Scholar"

A scholar. What is a scholar? A scholar is a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher or someone who has done much study in a particular field of education. The American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson was a speech given in...

Individualism
The American Scholar

Biography and Famous Works of Henry David Thoreau, A Man Devoted to Nature

Henry D. Thoreau was a well-known American poet, essayist, and philosopher. He was one of the most famous transcendental writers in American history. He was born on July 12, 1817 and was raised all over Massachusetts but lived most of his life in the small...

Social Awareness and Transcendentalism in I, Robot

Isaac Asimov, like Ralph Waldo Emerson and other transcendentalists, is intrigued by the ideas of nature and self-reliance (Lea). Asimov introduces this quote at the beginning of Nightfall, many of his works evolve around complex ideas that concern one’s self.. Asimov was born in Petrovichi,...

Comparison of Emerson's and Thoreau's Concept of Transdescentalism

Transcendentalists believed that nature was essential for people to discover their identity. Two important influencers who created works to support this movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Henry Thoreau. The two authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, expressed a similar appreciation for...

Transcendentalism as a Literary, Social, and Philosophical Movement of the 19th Century

Transcendentalism was a literary, social, and philosophical movement that flourished during the middle 19th century which prioritized individuals over society as man’s greatness is found in the individual, not in the group. Transcendentalists were progressive individuals who went against traditionally held beliefs and thus were...

Self Reliance

The Two Works on Transcendentalism: Their Analysis and Comparison

Transcendentalism is a simple idea. People, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that 'transcends' or goes beyond what you can see, hear, taste, touch, or feel. It is a belief in nature, self-reliance, and humanity. You should think for yourself without society's...

The Ideas of Transcendentalism in the Works by Famous Authors

Immanuel Kant began the transcendentalist movement in Germany when he started to Combat the scientific revolutions storing of facts. His driving force was his argument, which stated that each individual has the right to reason for themselves and to fit their reasoning into their view...

Immanuel Kant

Thoreau's Ideas of Transcendentalism Expressed in His Works

Transcendentalism is the movement that emphasizes transcendence from the ordinary limits of thoughts and experiences and acknowledges the new outlook in self-reliance. The movement originated in America in the 19th century after the independence of America from the British gave people a different perspective to...

The Transcendental Arguments of Mary Wollstonecraft

Writing at a time the French Revolution was shaking France and Europe in general; Mary Wollstonecraft borrowed the ideals of this revolution and incorporated it in the struggle for the advancement of the role and position of women in the society. At the time of...

Mary Wollstonecraft
Women's Rights

The Presence of Transcendentalism in the Dead Poets Society

Transcendentalism has to do with the idea, that in order to understand nature of reality, one must first examine and analyze the reasoning process which governors the nature of experience. At Welton Academy, Mr. Keating educates his students through transcendental ideas. Welton Academy is a...

Philosophy of Transcendentalism in Krakauer's Into The Wild

For over twenty years, many different people have speculated on the reasoning behind Chris McCandless’ actions – particularly his trip to Alaska where he, unfortunately, met his demise. McCandless, the subject of Job Krakauer’s nonfictional book Into the Wild, was a young man at the...

Best topics on Transcendentalism

1. A Review Of Trancendentalist Work ‘Civil Disobedience’ By D.Thoreau

2. Transcendentalism And The Work Of Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. The Examples Of Transcendentalism In “Dead Poets Society”

4. Mccandless’s Heroes And Transcendentalism In Into The Wild

5. The Power Of Transcendentalism In Into The Wild

6. The Transcendentalism Of Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild

7. Analysis Of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Speech “The American Scholar”

8. Biography and Famous Works of Henry David Thoreau, A Man Devoted to Nature

9. Social Awareness and Transcendentalism in I, Robot

10. Comparison of Emerson’s and Thoreau’s Concept of Transdescentalism

11. Transcendentalism as a Literary, Social, and Philosophical Movement of the 19th Century

12. The Two Works on Transcendentalism: Their Analysis and Comparison

13. The Ideas of Transcendentalism in the Works by Famous Authors

14. Thoreau’s Ideas of Transcendentalism Expressed in His Works

15. The Transcendental Arguments of Mary Wollstonecraft

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Transcendentalism

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: November 15, 2017

A painting from the Hudson River School: "View Towards the Hudson Valley" by Asher Brown

Transcendentalism is a 19th-century school of American theological and philosophical thought that combined respect for nature and self-sufficiency with elements of Unitarianism and German Romanticism. Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson was the primary practitioner of the movement, which existed loosely in Massachusetts in the early 1800s before becoming an organized group in the 1830s.

The Origins of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism has its origins in New England of the early 1800s and the birth of Unitarianism. It was born from a debate between “New Light” theologians, who believed that religion should focus on an emotional experience, and “Old Light” opponents, who valued reason in their religious approach.

These “Old Lights” became known first as “liberal Christians” and then as Unitarians, and were defined by the belief that there was no trinity of father, son and holy ghost as in traditional Christian belief, and that Jesus Christ was a mortal.

Various philosophies began to swirl around this crowd, and the ideas that would become Transcendentalism split from Unitarianism over its perceived rationality and instead embraced German Romanticism in a quest for a more spiritual experience.

Thinkers in the movement embraced ideas brought forth by philosophers Immanuel Kant and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge , ancient Indian scripture known as the Vedas and religious founder Emanuel Swedenborg.

Transcendentalists advocated the idea of a personal knowledge of God, believing that no intermediary was needed for spiritual insight. They embraced idealism, focusing on nature and opposing materialism.

By the 1830s, literature began to appear that bound the Transcendentalist ideas together in a cohesive way and marked the beginnings of a more organized movement.

The Transcendental Club

On September 12, 1836, four Harvard University alumni—writer and Bangor, Maine , minister Frederic Henry Hodge, Ralph Waldo Emerson , and Unitarian ministers George Ripley and George Putnam—left a celebration of the bicentennial of Harvard to meet at Willard’s Hotel in Cambridge.

The purpose was to follow up on correspondence between Hodge and Emerson and to talk about the state of Unitarianism and what they could do about it.

One week later, the four met again at Ripley’s house in Boston. This was a meeting of a much larger group that included many Unitarian ministers, intellectuals, writers and reformers. There would be 30 more meetings of what was called “the Transcendental Club” over the next four years, featuring a shifting membership that always included Emerson, Ripley, and Hodge.

The only rule the meetings followed was that no one would be allowed to attend if their presence prevented the group from discussing a topic. Emerson’s essay “Nature,” published in 1836, presented Transcendentalist philosophy as it had formed in the club meetings.

This group ceased to meet in 1840, but were involved in the publication The Dial , at first helmed by member and pioneering feminist Margaret Fuller , and later by Emerson, with the mission of addressing Transcendentalist thought and concerns.

Henry David Thoreau got his start in The Dial , reporting on wildlife in Massachusetts . After its demise in 1844, Thoreau moved to Walden Pond where he wrote his most famous work, Walden; or, Life in the Woods .

Inspired by different utopian groups like the Shakers, members of the Transcendental Club were interested in forming a commune to put their ideas to the test. In 1841, a small group of them, including author Nathaniel Hawthorne , moved to a property named Brook Farm in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

The venture, helmed by George Ripley, was covered in the pages of The Dial as an idyllic one that involved farm work by day and creative work by candlelight at night.

Emerson never joined the farm. He approved of the commune but didn’t want to give up his privacy, preferring to be a frequent visitor. Thoreau refused to join as well, finding the entire idea unappealing. Margaret Fuller visited but felt the farm was destined for failure.

The farm was run by members buying shares for life-long membership, guaranteeing an annual return on their investment, and allowing members who could not afford a share to compensate with work. As farmers, they were fledglings, but Hawthorne, in particular, was thrilled by the physicality of farming life.

There was also a boarding school onsite that was the farm’s primary income source. The farm proved successful enough that in its first year, members had to build new homes on the property to house everyone. There were over 100 residents.

In 1844, following a restructuring that brought further growth, the commune began to fall into a slow decline, with members becoming disillusioned by its mission, as well as financial challenges and other problems, and squabbling amongst themselves. By 1847, this particular Transcendentalist experiment was finished.

Transcendentalism Fades Out

As the 1850s arrived, Transcendentalism is considered to have lost some of its influence, particularly following the untimely death of Margaret Fuller in an 1850 shipwreck.

Though its members remained active in the public eye—notably Emerson, Thoreau and others in their public opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850—following the failure of Brook Farm, it never again materialized as a cohesive group.

American Transcendentalism. Philip F. Gura . Paradise Now: The Story of American Utopianism. Chris Jennings . Transcendentalism. Arizona State University . Transcendentalism. Stanford University .

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Home / Essay Samples / Philosophy / Philosophical Theories / Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism Essay Examples

The role of ralph waldo emerson in transcendentalism.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803, Emerson is known for being a prominent essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet in American literature. His works focus on the champion of the individual and how the self-evaluation of the individual experience can discover many of...

The Core Ideas of Transcendentalism in "Dead Poets Society" and "Self-reliance" Movies

Transcendentalists had an abundance of key values that made up their movement. Some among them being, self-exploration, intuition, personal identity, non-conformity, and spirituality. These values made up the transcendentalism movement that occurred in the 1830-40s. During this time many rejected social norms and attempted to...

The Power of Transcendentalism

Divinity Within the Woods: the Concept of Transcendentalism

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Transcendentalism was a 19th-century literary, philosophical, and reform movement that emphasized the development of the individual as its primary subject of concern” (Wayne 285). In other words, it is a concept that integrates nature, humanity, and divinity onto the same...

The Concept and Ideas of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the 1820’s and 1830’s, in the eastern United States. It was born from a widespread protest against intellectualism and spirituality. Heavily influenced by English and German philosophy, as well as Unitarian and Hindu ideology, its introduction was...

History and Concept of Transcendentalism Movement

What was Transcendentalism? Transcendentalism, which came about in the mid 1800’s, was a philosophical and literary movement that celebrated nature, personal emotions, imagination, and emphasis on living a simple life. It exalted the dignity of the individual and also stressed the idea of optimism, freedom,...

Christianity and Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism was a movement in philosophy, literature, and religion that blossomed in the nineteenth century New England with the help of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Both of these men were transcendentalists who expressed their beliefs through writings, poems, and essays. They went...

Ralph Waldo Emerson and His Transcendentalist Views

A comparison of two similar characters or writers from a particular era. You will write how the two characters are similar and different from each other. If you are writing about the differences between two authors or two literary works you will have to provide...

Analysis of the Main Ideas in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Poetry

Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson is centered around the foundation of transcendentalism which is the appreciation of nature in an individualized manner. Transcendentalism is the belief that God suffuses nature thus that reality can be understood by studying nature. “Adopt the pace of nature: her...

The Ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau in John Krakauer’s into the Wild

McCandless’s motivation for his venture into the wild is to detach himself from a societal life and begin a new one within nature living off the land. These ideals line up with the thinking of transcendentalist minds such has Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David...

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