Examples Of Transcendentalism

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Transcendentalism is a movement created in the nineteenth century, influenced by romanticism, that mainly focuses on the idea of individuality and the connection between man, the universe, and nature. It was started by Ralph Waldo Emerson, an author and essayist, who lived in the 1800s. Three ideas that are important to this movement are imagination, insight, and inspiration. According to transcendentalists, these are all gifts from God and are to be regarded highly. Art, poetry, literature, and music are all ways to express these ideas and can make a difference in the world today by influencing the way people see and perceive things.
The imagination is where creativity comes from. It is what forms ideas and visions. Sadly, in today’s world,
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It is a deep understanding of the world around you. Transcendentalists believe that the people with the most insight are poets. In his book, Nature, Emerson states that “There is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet.” According to Emerson, poets have to have a deep, intellectual understanding of the world around them. They understand that the world is to be appreciated and not passively taken for granted. They appreciate the complexity and the spirit of nature. Another example of this is found in William Cullen Bryant. He was a poet from the 1800s who wrote a poem titled Thanatopsis about nature and death and how we are all connected when he was merely seventeen years old. He makes the point that we should not fear death because we will simply return to mother …show more content…
You need an imagination and deep insight to appreciate the beauty and complexity of it all and it will inspire you. You need all three to think for yourself instead of following the ideas of the rest of society. All three of these ideas are shown through art, poetry, literature, and music. This is where you can see these aspects of light shine through and feel a connection to them. Then the world can be changed through these creations inspired by imagination and insight. They can influence peoples’ opinions and thoughts and change them for better or for worse. They are tools to reach out into society in our attempt to change it for the

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