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Rice 110 | |
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English 253 |
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The key to the period appeared to be that the mind had become aware of itself. -Ralph Waldo Emerson On all hands men's existence is converted into a preparation for existence. We do not properly live, in these days; but everywhere with patent inventions and complex arrangements are getting ready to live. The end is lost in the means, life is smothered in appliances. We cannot get to ourselves, there are so many external comforts to wade through. Consciousness stops half way. Reflection is dissipated in the circumstances of our environment. Goodness is exhausted in aids to goodness, and all the vigor and health of the soul is expended in quack contrivances to build it up. - Frederic Henry Hedge . . . I should have told them at once that I was a transcendentalist. That would have been the shortest way of telling them that they would not understand my explanations. - Henry David Thoreau
As one of the Transcendentalists (James Freeman Clarke) noted, the writers grouped together by that term were "a club of the likeminded, I suppose because no two of us thought alike." Part of our work thus involves an investigation into the very nature of the diverse religio-politico-philosophico-literary movement that is called Transcendentalism. What (if anything) linked the various participants of the movement? What did the word "transcendental" mean? What might it mean today? We will organize our inquiry around the concepts of nature, culture, & interpretation, using these as paths for our exploration of the movement. In addition, we will attend to the ways in which others have made sense of & responded to Transcendentalist writing. Considering how literary historians, philosophers, and nature writers have interpreted the Transcendentalists will enable us to reflect critically on the tenets of the movement, the diverse body of literature that it produced, its implications for contemporary "American scholars," & reading itself.
In order to discern the nature of Transcendentalism, we will attempt to know that nature as "transcendentally" as we can - that is, we will try to understand Transcendentalism from the inside, as it were, rather than viewing it exclusively from some sort of (questionably) detached position. This means participating in intellectual activities similar to those that the Transcendentalists themselves practiced. Lectures, conversations, addresses, & three types of writing (journals, letters, & essays) will be enlisted in order to help us think through our readings more thoroughly (Thoreauly?).
Readings: The Transcendentalists were eclectic & engaged readers, believers in what Emerson termed "the use of literature": learning about & changing one's world through careful attention to texts. This semester we will be using The Transcendentalists (Perry Miller, ed.); Ralph Waldo Emerson (Richard Poirier, ed.); The Portable Thoreau (Carl Bode, ed.); Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (Annie Dillard); Down the River (Edward Abbey); and a selection of other writings on reserve (see below).
Lectures: An important component of Transcendentalism, these were at once sermons, forms of entertainment, interpretations of other literary works, exhortations, provocations. . . . Although I will be mostly responsible for lectures, they will be largely interactive; your participation -through attentive listening, asking & responding to questions, etc. - is essential to their significance.
Conversations: Lectures were not every Transcendentalist's preferred means of intellectual activity. Discussing important questions with colleagues, arguing over issues, talking to & listening to one another, & then continuing to reflect on what had transposed, these conversations were lively & enlightening (though often frustrating) methods of thinking through matters of religion, politics, philosophy, education, literature. Frequently, we will meet during class (in groups of 5) to discuss (ardently, I hope, & with the will to learn) questions raised from our engagements with readings, addresses, & lectures.
Journals: Every Transcendentalist worth her or his salt kept a journal or notebook, in which were recorded occurrences, thoughts, scraps of poems, fragments of philosophy -in short, darn near anything resulting from his or her impressions of the world. Portions of these journals often appeared in more formal, "public" writing; in the cases of Thoreau, Emerson, & Fuller, the journal was elevated to the status of a work of art. Accordingly, each student will keep a journal throughout the semester, in any manner she or he prefers, to be used as a means to other writing for the course &/or as an end in itself.
Letters: Again, epistles were an important way of communicating & of working through intellectual matters for the Transcendentalists. For this course, students will write 1-page letters periodically, in which they will articulate issues that interest them in their own transcendental engagements of the world.
Essays: Along with poetry & journals, essays were the most prominent form of writing among Emerson & his coevals. Students will attempt to develop their skills in this genre on at least two occasions - at mid-term & at semester's end. These essays should draw from the other forms of writing practiced for the course.
Addresses: To address a large group of people is to direct their attention to certain matters as convincingly as possible, & some of the Transcendentalists became quite effective at productively provoking their audiences. Each student will present a 3-5 minute "mini-address" aimed at causing us to consider issues arising from our study from the angle she or he deems most salient.
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N.B.: Student responsibilities are many & multifarious. Indeed, half of each student's grade will be largely based upon his or her participation in all aspects of the course & fulfillment of the attendant responsibilities. The other half will result from her or his peformance on the final essay. In order to receive a passing grade, students must: complete all readings, attend all class meetings, keep (& be prepared to submit for cursory inspection) a Journal, deliver a brief but formal Address (& pay close attention to the Addresses of others), participate actively in Conversations, deliver (in a timely fashion) all assigned Letters, participate fully in the mid-term essay endeavor, & submit a Final Essay (15 pages). |
3 Sept. Introduction
Reserve List
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The English Department welcomes your Questions or Comments regarding
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