7A

a. a belief in a God;

b. a belief in an afterlife (dualism); and

Basic Assumption: 

The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational faculty or sensory apprehension, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche with the world psyche also known as the Oversoul, life-force, prime mover and God.

Basic Premises: 

1. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe - and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual.

2. The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self - all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."

3. Transcendentalists accepted the neo-Platonic conception of nature as a living mystery, full of signs - nature is symbolic.

4. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization - this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies:

a. the expansive or self-transcending tendency - a desire to embrace the whole world - to know and become one with the world.

b. the contracting or self-asserting tendency - the desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate - an egotistical existence.

This dualism assumes our two psychological needs; the contracting: being unique, different, special, having a racial identity, ego-centered, selfish, and so on; the expansive: being the same as others, altruistic, be one of the human race, and so on.

The transcendentalist expectation is to move from the contracting to the expansive. This dualism has aspects of Freudian id and superego; the Jungian shadow and persona, the Chinese ying/yang, and the Hindu movement from Atman (egotistic existence) to Brahma (cosmic existence). 

Reading:

Ralph Waldo Emerson  (1803-1882)  

READ:  Intro: 778-80, then:  "Nature" 781-810 and "Self Reliance" 824-42

Reading:

Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

READ:  Intro 943-44, "Resistance to Civil Government" 945-60, Walden, 961-76 

Discussion Question:

There has been quite a change in the American sense of Nature: early colonists saw the woods as things to be cleared away so that they could re-establish the agrarian homesteads they had left behind in Europe, and the tribes of native people inhabiting those woods were to be feared and conquered.  By the time of the Romantics (and Transcendentalists were certainly an offshoot of Romanticism), the woods represented "the essential facts of life" and were to be sought out while society was to be avoided.

The way that our cultural percieves and values Nature has enormous consequences:  do we drill a wildlife refuge for oil or invest in alternative sources of energy?  Do we pass laws to protect the environment or make it easier to be used?  Are you willing to pay higher prices for gas in order to cut down on pollution? 

Something entirely different for this week's discussion board:  write a short paragraph about your own feelings about Nature. 

2. Weekly Wiki (150 words)

Students will choose a short excerpt / quote from one of the readings of that week, type it in, then add a short (150 words or so) explanation for your choice. Was your selection important because it:

· is an example of beautiful or striking language?

· exemplifies a particular theme or character?

· makes the reader think about something in a new way?

· is typically "American" in some way (and in what way)?

· was just something that you liked?

Try not to use the same quote that someone else already has; if you must, make sure that what you say about it is original.

For example:

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."  Thomas Paine.  

I chose this quote because I think it is a good example of Enlightenment thought which was very popular during the late 1700's.  Paine is rejecting formal ties to any specific country or any particular religion (humanist world view).  He is focused on the here and now, not an afterlife, and this concern is evident in his writing about social and political systems that influenced the thinkers behind the American Revolution.  The language is simple and straightforward.

3. Write responses for another student’s work. (75 words)

 The use of folk tales was very useful in the early 1800's because it gave authors the ability to share America's issues in a subtle, yet effective way. Folk tales often include metaphors that symbolize real American issues. For example, the "enemy" in The Pioneers were the passenger pigeons. I think that the passenger pigeons represent the Native Americans. Referencing Freneau's poem, "The Indian Burying Ground," Freneau explains that ever since men migrated to America, the death rate of Indians had increased. The cause were the migrated men, de-naturalizing America. I believe that Cooper's metaphor of the passenger pigeons killing in The Pioneers was to bring up this issue to the Americans. This use of underlying messages through folktales appealed to readers because it was an easier way to address issues.

 One character in this folktale that could be described as a "folk hero" would Natty. Natty was a hunter who believed that the you should not take more than you need. He only killed a pigeon to eat and survive. He did not agree with Marmaduke and the Sheriff of killing all of the passenger pigeons. Natty shared his opinions with the judge, and his sentiment left a lasting impression. Natty represented the good of Americans. Cooper wanted to show readers that there is a chance to right any wrongs. A folk hero symbolizes hope and the greater good. Overall, the use of folk tales has paved the way for great works in American Literature. It has given authors the ability to address real issues in magical, cartoonish, heart-warming ways.