English III, Period 4: Viteritto and Brady-Transcendentalism Study Guide
Transcendentalism Information (Textbook page 221)
-Focus on individuality
-Ideas of nature and the oversoul, which is omni-present
-Non-conformists
-The most fundamental truths lie outside the experiences of the senses
Thoreau’s Philosophy (Textbook pages 372-373)
-Thoreau was very independent and often went against the rules.
-He always questioned the rules that were presented to him.
-Thoreau was inspired by Emerson’s Transcendentalist beliefs, which led him to become Emerson’s close
friend and “student.”
-Thoreau disliked the rules given with his teaching career, so he dedicated himself to testing the
Transcendentalist philosophy through experience.
-Thoreau lived alone in a cabin he built at Walden Pond. He used his experience to write Walden, using
the four seasons of weather as a structure for the book. Walden is now regarded as the supreme work
of Transcendentalism literature. (It is a long essay in its entirety, but we read a small excerpt)
-Thoreau explored and wrote about the relationship between humanity and nature.
-Thoreau died when he was forty-four due to tuberculosis (disease of the lung). He did not receive much
recognition for his works while he was alive, but his work has inspired many readers and writers after his
death.
“Walden” (Textbook pages 374-379)
-What are three or more important themes or ideas that you learned from “Walden?” How do these
themes or ideas relate to Thoreau as an author? How do these themes relate to the elements of
Transcendentalism?
Quotes
From “Walden…” (Textbook pages 374-379)
“Time is but the stream I go fishing in…”
“I do not wish to be any more busy with my hands than necessary.”
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.”
*Please be prepared to state why these quotes are important to the selection and how the quotes
relate to Thoreau as an author.
Vocabulary
Synonyms: Words that have similar meanings (alike)
Antonyms: Words that have opposite meanings (different)
*When you are presented with two of the following words, please be prepared to identify if
the words are synonyms or antonyms!
Transcendentalism Vocabulary Words: chaos, anxious, order, acquired, blithe, serene, tumultuous,
dilapidated, bulwarks, depressed, majestic, sublime, ministers, evitable, divines, avoidable, posterity,
previous generations, bastions, connate
Essay Topics
1. What are some important quotes from “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson? Why are they
important to the selection?
2. You will be provided with quotes from “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David
Thoreau. Be prepared to explain why these quotes are important to the selections and how
these quotes relate to Thoreau as an author.
3. What are the major elements of Transcendentalism? How are these elements evident in the
selections that you read?