Ralph Waldo Emerson's American Scholar

The first couple-paragraphs of Emerson’s “American Scholar” gives advice to the male American scholars. Emerson wrote the “American Scholar” a couple decades after America got its independence. For America, it was time for change, so Emerson delivered a speech that would help motivate the “American Scholars” to push for that change.
One way Emerson delivers his message is the way he appeals to his audience. When Emerson starts off his speech he lets the “American Scholars” know that it's going to be a “recommencement of our literary year” (Emerson 1). Emerson including “our” in the sentence shows his involvement and establishes credibility by portraying that he has been in their spot. A team effort is needed to make the changes necessary to …show more content…
Throughout Emerson’s oration he appeals to the American Scholars emotionally. Emerson insists a change and saying that it is their duty to influence others to come. When Emerson says “[our] day of dependence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close” (Emerson 1). Emerson here makes a strong statement telling the American Scholars that they are no longer under the British government and that it is time for them to make a change and forget other influences to the lifestyle they live. Another statement Emerson says is that the “[events,] actions arise that must be sung, that will sing themselves” (Emerson 1). Emerson saying this to the American Scholars relates to one of Emerson’s idea of how adversity could be beneficial towards society. Yes, getting independence from another nation is a major accomplishment, however going through the phase and process of trying to be a successful nation, afterwards, is not an easy task to accomplish. The biggest difficulty would be letting go of past influences. Connecting this idea to the quote, a song can have “good and bad …show more content…
Throughout the entire piece, there is the repetition of the word “his.” The “his” that Emerson constantly is referring to is the male American Scholars. The words that follow the word “his” are qualities an American Scholar should have. The order is in climax which all summarise the idea of being new, different, and better. Emerson is addressing the President and the American Scholars, which would prove to why his entire piece is written formally. Then, Emerson goes on to say “... in the beginning, divided Man into men…” (Emerson 2). Emerson made sure to differentiate the word Man and men. It is a goal to accomplish and sustain a new nation; the American Scholars needed to work together as a team to unify and make this new nation last. Making a new nation is not a one man job and “we are all parts of a whole” (Emerson 1). One gear cannot move a clock, multiple gears are needed to work together to make the clock