Question

transcendentalism notes

1. what does the word transcend mean?
2. what were the transcendentalists trying to discover?
3. transcendentalism was a literary movement in the __________ that was a branch of __________.
4. what text is the o.g. of transcendentalism? who is the author?
5. two beliefs of the transcendentalists are:
6. according to emerson “every __________ fact is a symbol of some __________ fact.
7. how were the transcendentalists like the puritans?
8. how were they different from the puritans?
9. what was emerson’s profession?
10. emerson’s ideas

a. god is __________, and god works through __________.
b. death is simply a part of the cycle of life.
c. according to emerson, we are capable of evil because we are ____________ from a direct, intuitive knowledge of god.
d. but if we simply trust in the power each of us has to know god directly—then we will realize that each of us is also part of the ____________, the source of all good.

Explanation:

1. "Transcend" means to go beyond or surpass limits.
2. Transcendentalists aimed to discover the inherent goodness in people and nature, and a direct connection to the divine through intuition.
3. Transcendentalism was a literary movement in the 19th - century America that was a branch of Romanticism.
4. "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered a foundational text of Transcendentalism.
5. Two beliefs of Transcendentalists are the inherent goodness of people and the divinity of nature.
6. According to Emerson, "Every particular fact is a symbol of some universal fact."
7. Transcendentalists, like Puritans, had a strong spiritual focus.
8. Transcendentalists were more individual - centered and emphasized intuition, while Puritans were more dogmatic and focused on strict religious rules.
9. Emerson was a minister and a writer.
10. A. God is everywhere (omnipresent), and God works through nature. C. According to Emerson, we are capable of evil because we are separated from a direct, intuitive knowledge of God. D. But if we simply trust in the power each of us has to know God directly—then we will realize that each of us is also part of the Over - Soul, the source of all good.

Answer:

1. To go beyond or surpass limits.
2. The inherent goodness in people and nature, and a direct connection to the divine through intuition.
3. 19th - century America; Romanticism.
4. "Nature"; Ralph Waldo Emerson.
5. Inherent goodness of people; divinity of nature.
6. particular; universal.
7. Both had a strong spiritual focus.
8. Transcendentalists were more individual - centered and emphasized intuition; Puritans were more dogmatic and rule - focused.
9. Minister and writer.
10. A. omnipresent; nature. C. separated. D. Over - Soul.