Emersons Experience A Close Reading Essay

"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, - no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God."

In this essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his view of an ideal education. What are its defining characteristics?

The first passage reveals the parallel suffering occurring in the lives of different members of the family, which emphasizes the echoes between the sufferings of the father and the narrator. The narrator’s father’s despair over having watched

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character." This quote is a belief that your beliefs show innermost self. Emerson believes that your thoughts and ideas of the world reflect your true self. I agree that your mental outlook of the world is a representation of your real character. Regardless of whether or not you expressed those thoughts and ideas out loud, they still show your true colors. Opinions are just another way of showing the world who you really are. Your attitude on the certain topics and people, marks your stance on the world and show your true beliefs.

Pinsky, Robert, director. Emerson and the Examined Life. YouTube, WGBHForum, 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMhmoH42bRs. In this documentary, they give the context of Emerson’s life, how he was friends with Thomas Edison. Emerson was important during his day, although controversial in his ideas of self-reliancy and self-thought. Pinksy is an award winning author and poet, choosing sections of Emerson’s work to read at the bicentennial of

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emerson is a firm believer of maintaining self-reliance and values rather than following the crowd. He also explains that in order to be truly successful in life, a person must make decisions and trust in his or her judgment. In today’s society, teenagers are more likely to not be self-reliant because the teens feel they will be judged for having different beliefs. People today need to realize that they should not conform to be like the rest of the world, they must not depend on the judgment and criticism of others, and people must refuse to travel somewhere in order to forget their personal problems. Through Emerson’s piece, readers are able to

In the second paragraph Emerson said that people’s destiny was to accept that the divine creator is within us, also that the universe is full of decency and it’s all powerful. There can also be a power found within that we

The book, Lament For a Son, written by Nicholas Wolterstorff talks about his pain and grief after losing his 25-year-old son (Joy, 2009). His son died while on a mountain-climbing expedition. Dr. Wolterstorff has several books published during his career as a philosophical theology professor in Yale Divinity. However, he wrote Lament for a Son with a different journal style since it is a personal thing for him. The book is similar to a journal as he narrates the events that happened before and after his son’s death. The emotions expressed in the book are common among people who lose close relatives. What matters is how a person handles the issue. Kubler-Ross invented the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptancethat explain the escalation of grief when stricken by bad news (Axelrod, 2004). The paper looks into the book and its relation to the five stages of grief.

“Dance to the beat of your own drummer:'; A piece of advice that I have been told my whole life, and have tried my hardest to follow. The words were taken from Thoreau’s quote, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.';

“That Ray was not unhappy, he knew nothing of what was to come and so he did not suffer…he was happy in his lifetime, he loved his work, his domestic life, loved to garden…he did not suffer the loss of meaning that his survivor feels. Ray’s death was no tragedy but a completion” (Oates 241). This revelation was very powerful to me, as much as she is suffering depressed and having suicidal thoughts; she is able to start having moments of clarity. I saw this as a positive step in her healing. As she states “the widow must remember, her husband death did not happen to her but to her husband. I must stop dwelling upon the past, which can’t be altered” (Oates 228). She reminds herself that “you have your writing, your friends and your students” (Oates 264) and this gives me a sense of hope for her. I am eager to proceed with reading the last section of this book and knowing the outcome of this memoir; that I have enjoyed

Ralph Waldo Emerson							I am writing this essay on the beliefs and thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the subjects of individuality, society, government, technology, and spirituality.

This poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson is an exceptional work of his. Entirely characteristic of his poetic approach, it captures the full meaning behind the appreciation of nature, and it does so in a simple yet effective style. The poem is also, in my opinion, an effective rebuttal to the Puritan critique of the Emersonian lifestyle.

On countless inspirational posters, calendars, and even boxes of tea can be found the timeless aphorisms of America’s most famous philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph Waldo Emerson is hailed by literary critics by being the father of individualism and the transcendentalist movement in America. Emerson’s most famous poems are known for their positivity and faith in human nature. However, this positivity is contrasted with his tragic personal life, full of challenges and heartache. Through explicating Emerson’s notable poems The Rhodora, it is evident how Emerson’s life and experiences have impacted his creative works.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” Emerson was an essayist and a poet, so he was constantly having to try new things in order to grow as a writer. I believe that Emerson was not just stating a fact, but that he was speaking from his own experience. Emerson had learned that one had to try new things in order to achieve new skills or abilities. As a result, Emerson stated the very quote that many people live by today. Following Emerson's instructions can be as easy as applying a simple mindset to yourself. Soon, the results will pay off quite nicely.

The definition of a school according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “an organization that provides instruction.” This definition does not define what a good school is though. In order to determine what a good school is you must have a standard for comparison. In the eyes of Emerson I imagine a good school would be defined by having a copious amount of both free will and free thought, individuality, involvement of nature, and the incorporation of becoming self-reliant. Emerson would wish for his students to be eleutheromaniac, to be able to use teleology, and to not be fully reliant upon technology. Using Emerson’s beliefs to create a school causes me to address many topics; sports, extracurricular activities, classes, organizations, where the power is held, days off of school, disciplinary actions, the rules, the daily structure, a grading scale, and even what food/drinks would be offered within the school.