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Flashcards about Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman
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What is Transcendentalism?
A 19th-century American theological & philosophical movement that combined respect for nature & self-sufficiency.
What are the four main philosophical beliefs of Transcendentalism?
Self-reliance, individual conscience, intuition over reason, and unity of all things in nature.
Who were the key figures in The Transcendentalist Movement?
Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Ripley, Henry David Thoreau, Bronson Alcott, and Margaret Fuller.
Who was Margaret Fuller?
She advocated for women's rights and gender equality.
Who was Ralph Waldo Emerson?
He was a chief spokesman for Transcendentalism, reacting against scientific rationalism.
According to Emerson, what is Nature?
Everything is a microcosm of the universe.
According to Emerson, what is the Over-Soul?
The supreme mind shared by all, prioritizing direct experience.
According to Emerson, what is 'Trust Thyself'?
His motto and guiding principle for others.
What did Henry David Thoreau aim to do?
He aimed to revive philosophy as a way of life and integrate his identities as a philosopher, poet, environmental scientist, and political activist.
What influenced Henry David Thoreau's work?
Classical philosophy and poetry, Asian wisdom traditions, modern philosophy, and natural science.
What is Thoreau's 'Walden' viewed as?
A philosophical treatise on labor, leisure, self-reliance, and individualism.
What were Thoreau's intentions for his experiment?
To live simply, have time for contemplation, walk in the woods, write, & commune with nature.
What is 'Civil Disobedience'?
It argues that people should refuse to pay taxes to the government if they believe the government is acting unjustly.
Who is Walt Whitman?
He is regarded as a major successor to literary giants who celebrated democracy, nature, love, & friendship.
What are the themes featured in Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass'?
Friendship, nature, democracy, love, and beauty in death.
What was Whitman's literary style?
Whitman incorporated both Transcendentalism and Realism in his writings, becoming the father of free verse.
What did Whitman do during the Civil War?
He cared for his wounded brother George, witnessed the war's atrocities and volunteered, visiting wounded soldiers in hospitals.
Why was Walt Whitman called the 'bard of democracy'?
His poems were based on the notion of universal brotherhood.