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Discover the battle between optimism and darkness in the works of the Transcendentalists and Anti-transcendentalists such as Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe. Delve into the symbolism of sin, the effects of guilt, and the pursuit of truth. Embrace the natural world as a doorway to the spiritual realm and find inner peace through self-reliance and intuition.
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The Transcendentalists The New England Renaissance
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away Two schools of philosophical thought battled Transcendentalists Anti-transcendentalists
Come to the Dark side. Anti-transcendentalists
Anti-transcendentalists The works of writers such as Hawthorne, Melville and Poe acknowledged the existence of sin, pain and evil in human life and formed a counterpoint to the optimism of the transcendentalists.
Nathaniel Hawthorne The ScarletLetter Symbolism: conflict between good and evil; effects of sin on conscience
Herman Melville -”It’s the white whale I seek.” -Dark side to human nature -Obsession
Edgar Allan Poe • Psychological effects of sin and guilt on the human psyche. • Explored Madness. • What is beyond the pasteboard mask of social respectability.
Transcendentalists Optimistic view of the world. Use the Force The natural world is a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world. No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Self Reliance Rely on your own thought. Seek not to follow others.
Transcendentalists beckon us to leave behind the hurried and technological world
To venture forth to the natural world, to find our inner peace, to reconnect with all mankind and Nature.
Use intuition to find truth and connect with the spiritual realm. Intuition He believed in the “Over-Soul”- our individual souls are part of a larger entity. Nature and man are part of a universal whole From the Lyceum Movement Education, Train Teachers, Social Reform, Museums
Be a keen observer of Nature Stay quiet and be still to hear her lessons
Whereas Emerson was the philosopher, Thoreau was the practitioner. Thoreau built the cabin for $28.12. Walden Pond Cabin site today
Anti-transcendentalists Realists Experience Spirituality based on Puritanism/Calvinism Nature is indifferent; Man is evil Man’s dark side Suspicious of science and technology The Dark Side vs.The Force • Transcendentalists • Idealists/Individualist • Intuition • Everything is a reflection of the divine soul • Nature is good; even Man is good • Man and Nature in partnership • Embraces science as part of nature
For when you face the danger, your inner strength will see you through.