Transcendentalism A Philosophical And Literary Movement

Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that started in the mid 19th Century in the U.S.A as a reaction against the dogma and industrialization of the time, placing individualism and self-reliance above the views of social institutions and the government. It was also, in part, an attempt at creating a uniquely American literature style completely different to the established English/European styles used in the past. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influential writer that led the transcendentalist movement, he was primarily concerned with individualism and in each person following their unique instincts and ideas. Another notable writer of this period is Henry David Thoreau, a transcendentalist author that believed in standing behind what you feel is right, despite the contradictions of the State or Government. Walt Whitman was another writer that had a profound influence on the transcendentalist movement, he was a poet that went against what people viewed as the typical format and rules for poetry and instead focused on what he wanted his poetry to be and how he thought it should be written. These radical free thinkers developed ideas and morals about society and the individual that, at the time, were viewed as â€Å"uncivilized free and wild thinking† (Thoreau, Henry. Walking) and which have influenced the development of America. â€Å"Uncivilized free and wild thinking† is a term created by Thoreau in his essay ‘Walking’, at the time when his essay wasShow MoreRelatedTranscendentalism in America: The Philosophical and Literary Movement1062 Words   |  5 Pagesspirituality. In the end, authors in America created Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that searches for individual truth through spiritual reflection, complete solitude, and a deep connection with nature. Because this was established by authors, many of them wrote different pieces reflecting and using the beliefs of Transcendentalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered to be the father of Transcendentalism. He wrote many influential pieces that follow andRead MoreSocial Anxiety : America s National Identity991 Words   |  4 Pagesrevolution, American authors were initiating an exploration of an emergent American sensibility with a neoteric literary conviction. This new authorship of ph ilosophical thought is characterized as â€Å"literary nationalism† and is furthermore expressed as an American Renaissance, yielding intellectually influential compositions. It was during this Renaissance that the transcendental movement materialized from New England and wrought innovative thoughts to literature, religion, culture, and philosophyRead MoreThe True Transcendentalist: Thoreau and Emerson775 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican literary movements. Like the Puritan which was a time of when people wrote personal poems, journals, and their personal diaries. The next is Enlightenment period was a time in which it was mostly about science and logic also it included political writings. Another wonderful literary movement is the Romanticism which was filled with emotion, individuality, and nature. But one of the greatest literary movements the one that will be focused on is transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is intuitionRead MoreDifference Between Romanticism And Transen dinlalism In American And British Writers1584 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom that of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightenedRead MoreTranscendentalism : An Idealistic Philosophical And Social Movement1120 Words   |  5 PagesTranscendentalism, which according to the dictionary means: â€Å"an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England around 1836 in reation to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its memb ers held progressive views on feminism and communal living†. Transcendentalism is an American Literary, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century. This is thought is centeredRead MoreDifference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers1616 Words   |  7 Pagesthat of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightenedRead More The American Renaissance Essay1168 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Renaissance period, circa 1876-1917, heralded a new sense of nationalism with a pride linking to a spirit akin to Greek democracy, the rule of Roman law, and a cultural and educational reform movement often referred to as Renaissance humanism. This American nationalism focused on the expression of modernism, technology, and academic classicism. Renaissance technological advancements include wire cables supporting the Brooklyn Bridge in the State of New York, along with cultural advancementsRead MoreEssay on Transcendentalism1619 Words   |  7 Pages Transcendentalism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have theories and philosophies about life in general. There have been hundreds of thousands of books published by many different people on the ideas of people in the past and the present. Transcendentalism falls in amongst all of these ideas. There have been articles, essays, poems, and even books written about this subject. Transcendentalism has effected many people since the philosophy was first introduced. The idea was complex andRead MoreTranscendentalism And The American Renaissance1693 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment of American literary traditions† (4). This created a diverse movement apart of the American Renaissance reform called, Transcendentalism. The Transcendentalism period which outlined majority of the Renaissance, was led by writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Transcendentalism is largely defined by the ideals of, religion, self reliance, civil disobedience, individualism, idealism, nonconformity, and nature. Emerson outlined th e reform and countless parts of these Transcendentalism ideals, for writersRead More Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as Fathers of Transcendentalism730 Words   |  3 Pagesas Fathers of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism was a movement in writing that took place in the mid-nineteenth century. It formed in the early to mid nineteenth century and reached it climax around 1850 during an era commonly referred to as the American Renaissance, America’s Golden Day, or the Flowering of New England. The basic tenets of Transcendentalism involve the relationships between one’s self and the world at large. First, the search for truth in Transcendentalism begins with