After reading several selections of poetry by Whitman, Emerson, and Dickinson, select one line from ANY of the poems discussed that displays one of the key transcendentalist traits.
On the blog, post:
-The line copied verbatim
-The author & poem title (Titles should appear "in quotes")
-Which of the 7 traits it shows (use handout)
-An explanation of the line and your reasoning
" I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear." Walt Whitman "I Hear America Singing" This line represents the Transcendentalist trait Unity of Mankind. This quote is saying he hears all of America singing together. What he really means is that America is made up of all different kinds of people, with different race, gender, ages, backgrounds and interests. He believes that America should be proud of the differences and exploit them, or what the figurative singing means. He hears many varied carols, which is all the different types of people living in harmony. This relates to Unity of Mankind because all of America is uniting to "sing" and all live in harmony.
ReplyDelete"Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same" Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself (Section I)". This line from Walt Whitman's poem, "Song of Myself", displays the transcendentalist trait Unity of Mankind. The meaning behind this line that may at first seem confusing is that everyone has parents that were born before them, all born the same way and on earth, just as their parents' parents before them. This illustrates Whitman's belief that we are all essentially the same and we are all connected, even through family trees; an identical idea to the transcendentalist trait of the Unity of Mankind.
ReplyDelete"The Carriage held but just ourselves and immortality." A line from Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death" poem. This line is saying that she and Death were all that mattered now. The petty cares of the world did not apply to her now. For all of Eternity, she would only be focused on Eternity and the afterlife and not on her former life. This line shows the Transcendentalist trait of spark of divinity. Dickinson in this line really expresses her believe in the afterlife and maybe even The Divine. These words are usually associated religiously which suggests that Dickinson may have religious beliefs about what happens after death. The Transcendentalists had religious beliefs also which makes the connection between Dickinson and other Transcendentalists that much stronger.
ReplyDelete"Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me"
ReplyDeleteEmily Dickinson "Because I could not stop for Death"
Dickinson feels that death is an inevitable event that people have no choice over, which supports the transcendentalist idea of respect for nature. The poem, and this quote especially, represents that she respects both life and death even though she feels unprepared for dying. For example, in stanzas three, four, and five, she shows her appreciation for various aspects of her life, describing sunsets, school children, and fields peacefully coexisting. Along with that, she remembers the last day of her life fondly despite wanting to continue living, explaining that the centuries she lived through afterward felt shorter than that day. Dickinson expresses her understanding that peoples' lives are limited, and though she loved hers, she recognizes that it had to come to end.
"Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else..." Walt Whitman, "I Hear America Singing". This quote represents both non-conformity and unity of mankind. Everyone is singing their own song and doing their own thing so this shows non-conformity because no one is doing the same thing. It also shows unity of mankind because even though everyone is doing different things, they come together into a rhythm. I chose this line because I think it is interesting how he describes the people each doing their own job
ReplyDelete"Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself, in the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, look'd up in perfect silence at the stars" Walt Whitman, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer". This line from, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", represents Respect for Nature. This line just shows what true beauty nature has on different people. In this poem, nature is an everlasting getaway that allows the man to just look up and observe the stars in the pitch blackness of night. The reason why that line represents Respect for Nature is because charts and graphs do allow an astronomer to really study space. They need to be outside where they can actually discover something new or witness how breath taking nature really is. Charts and graphs can no show you want nature is like or what it can do for you. That is why man must have a respect for nature because it can do so much more than what the human eye is capable of seeing it do.
ReplyDelete"Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs." Walt Whitman "I Hear America Singing".
ReplyDeleteThis line demonstrates truth through experience and innate wisdom. Through this quote Whitman describes how people are "singing their strong melodious songs". To me, this represents them speaking of their own experiences. The transcendentalist believed in sharing their own experiences and observations with everyone . Whether it was journals, essays, or other types of writing they expressed what they saw and went through. Likewise, this line shows innate wisdom. The people are sharing what they know from their own knowledge.
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ReplyDelete"We passed the school, where Children strove, At recess- in the ring" Emily Dickinson, "Because I could not stop for death"
ReplyDeleteThis shows the trait truth through observation/experience. I think this because the person is supposed to be having their life flash before their eyes so they are looking back on everything she has done or observed during her life. I think this quote meant that she is looking back on her childhood and her school. She is also trying to remember what it was like to be young before her carriage ride is over and she experiences death.
"In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
ReplyDeleteLook'd up in perfect silence at the stars." -Walt Whitman, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"
This quote is a good example for truth through experience. Sure, he could learn by looking at formulas and diagrams all day, but you can really learn for yourself when you go out and have an experience. The poem talks about how he was very uncomfortable sitting and listening to the lecture from the Astronomer. The, at the end, he says "In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars," which is telling how he would much rather go and learn through an experience.
“I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,”
ReplyDelete--Song of Myself, Whitman
This line shows the transcendentalist trait of nonconformity. The second half of the quote speaks louder than the first half. “I permit myself to speak at every hazard,” means that Whitman will speak his mind at any time no matter what. During a problem or any time he is not afraid to let the world know what he is thinking. This attitude is prime example of what non-conformity truly represents. I harbor for good or bad means that Whitman keeps in mind the good and bad times while speaking his mind.
“Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.”
ReplyDeleteFrom Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer”
This line shows the respect transcendentalists have for nature. So Whitman just gets tired of listening to lectures and decides to go into nature and experience it. He looks up in those stars with perfect silence. When someone looks at something with perfect silence, they are completely focused on it. In this case, it is a good kind of focus. An admiration, a stare of be wonderment, and respect for the greatness and beauty of the stars. Transcendentalism’s respect for nature is very much like the saying, “stop and smell the roses.” But theirs is a little different. It seems to be, “stop and stare at the stares.”
"In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
ReplyDeleteLook'd up in perfect silence at the stars." -Walt Whitman, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"
This quote shows respect for nature and truth through observation. The character in this poem is tired of everything being facts, figures, diagrams and numbers. They get so sick of it that they just need to get away from all of the numbers and experience it first hand. So he/she goes outside and experiences wonder and awe when they gaze at the stars. They then truly realize what astronomy was all about, and learn that there is so much more to life than fact and figures. They realize life is about living in the moment and respecting the world around you.
"Because I could not stop for Death-He kindly stopped for me-" Emily Dickinson
ReplyDelete"Because I could not stop for Death"
I think this quotes shows truth through observation/experience. You can't stop death, you may think you can but you most certainty cannot. No one knows when or why it's going to happen, it just does. So when Emily, or whoever the character in this poem is says "I could not stop for Death,' she is basically saying that she didn't win and that Death won her over. Although death isn't a person, I think the character is saying because I can't stop for him, he will kindly stop for me to say my last goodbyes and cherish everything. Truth through observation fits well with that because you have to experience everything once in your life; you live and you learn. So my interpretation would be you experience everything once then die.
"I first surmised the Horses' Heads - Were toward Eternity - "
ReplyDeleteEmily Dickinson-"Because I could not stop for Death."
This quote represents the trait "Truth through observation and experience." Dickinson is painting a dark, gloomy picture to the reader of being in a carriage, heading for death. When reading this, we often get chills at the thought of death. Dickinson is writing about her first experience with death, and when she surmised (or realized) the horses guiding the carriage were heading towards "eternity," or the afterlife. She does not seem scared, but yet she seems confident when writing this. She has experienced this first hand, sitting in the carriage, face to face with so called "death." This truth through observation and experience gives us, the readers a look at the future and what is left to come.
"In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars." "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" By: Walt Whitman. This quote helps identify the transcendentalist trait of respect for nature and truth through observation/ experience. In this poem the speaker explains that it is essential to learn things through personal experience rather than the scientific studies of the stars or nature in general. Furthermore, the speaker explains that the astronomers lectures on using second hand information about the stars is less appealing to him then to go outside under the open sky and gaze at the stars. Overall, the speaker feels some enlightening, uplifting and mystical experience from understanding the importance of nature.
ReplyDelete"How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself"
ReplyDelete"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" Walt Whitman
I think Whitman is writing about non-conformity in this quote. The first half of the poem is set up by all these things and ideas this learn'd astronomer can teach people, but Whitman is just bored by the lectures by the astronomer. Instead Whitman is only satisfied with his own ideas, on his own. I also find emphasis in when Whitman writes, "I wander'd off by myself," and that Whitman walks out on his own, which alludes to the fact that so few people prefer to think of their own ideas, and that no one else walked out to think their own thoughts.
"I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman.
ReplyDelete"Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else"
Walt Whitman is known for transforming daily details in life into beautiful forms of poetry, and this characteristic of his writing is found in his poem, "I Hear America Singing". Walt writes about the "songs" of the people in America. These songs represent the different types of people, namely the mothers, boatmen, masons and carpenters. They are all different types of people with their own characteristics or "songs", as Walt compares it to. This quote from the poem ,"Each singing what belongs to him or her and to no one else", represents individualism and uniqueness. It shows that not everyone has the name or identity and thus, not conforming to the same voice. Everyone is a non-conformist in their own way according to this poem, which is a principal of transcendentalism.
"Song of Myself (Section 1)" by Walt Whitman
ReplyDelete"For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."
In this poem, Whitman symbolizes himself, a single individual, to all the other people in a positive and compassionate tone. Whitman believes that all humans are connected to one another because we all come from the same parents and the same land, making us interdependent on each other. This relates to the Transcendentalism theme of "Unity of Mankind", in which all humans are connected a sharing a common experience. Thus, Whitman feels a close relationship to all people and is proud to "celebrate himself", in other words celebrate the unity of people. Whitman thinks that there is a part of him in everyone, showing how he is selfless to others, and he narrates the poem not just for himself, but for all.
Dylan Cellini
ReplyDeleteEmily Dickinson "Because I could not stop for Death"
"Because I could not stop for death- He kindly stopped for me".
This quote is explaining that she does not mind that death has chose her. She believes that death is a normal part of life and is not afraid of it. She even welcomes it. This quote is an example of non-conformity because most people do not think of death like this and are afraid of it. But Emily Dickinson disagrees with that point of view and has different opinions on death.
"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me, the carriage held but just ourselves, and immorality" Emily Dickinson "Because I could not stop for Death"
ReplyDeleteDickinson is telling the reader that she didn't choose death, it chose to come for her and she's accepting of that. The transcendentalism trait this quote mostly reflects is spark of divinity. Dickinson is talking about death in a somewhat personified way because she refers to it as a "he." It seems like the quote is portrayed as a dark, supernatural thing, even though it is very natural. When she said " the carriage held but just ourselves" I think of it as a carriage to heaven which is a very divine thing. It stood out to me.
"When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars"
ReplyDelete"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman
This quote from this poem really expresses the transcendentalism trait of truth through experience. Throughout the poem, the author is speaking of how he is learning about astronomy from a professor in a lecture hall, looking at graphs and diagrams. But, he knows that he will not learn about astronomy very well if he is sitting, leaning about it in a class. He knows that he must go outside, in the real world and learn astronomy from looking at the sky and at the stars. Only then would he truly learn about astronomy becasue he was going out and experiencing it for himself, instead of trying to learn about it from a teacher. By learning through experience and observation, Whitman is showing a high amount of transcdentalism.
"Because I could not stop for death" by Emily Dickinson
ReplyDelete"We slowly drove- He knew no haste...for his civility".
In this quote I believe it shows the trancendalist trait of spark of divinity. I think she shows it because even though death is supposedly a terrible person she still depicts him as being chivalrous. in the quote she talks about how kind and generous he is. she says that death let her take her time in being with her.
"Because I could not stop for Death- He kindly stopped for me-" Emily Dickinson
ReplyDelete"Because I Could Not Stop for Death"
In the quote, Emily Dickinson is showing innate wisdom, and truth through observation and experience. When she says "Because I could not stop for Death-", she is talking about how she lived her life in the present. She didn't fear death, but she also didn't rush it. She lived life day by day, and just accepted what was thrown at her. She didn't bother to worry about death, until it was actually upon her. When she says "He kindly stopped for me-", she is talking about how when death was upon her, she accepted the fact that it was her time to die, and went with him without argument. These two lines of the poem show that Emily Dickinson had innate wisdom, and she showed truth through observation and experience. She was showing these traits because she understood that death was a part of the life cycle, and was not afraid of it. She understood this concept, which is not something many people could do, showing her wisdom. It also showed that she learned many things from life, and used these lessons in her writing and the way she thought and acted.
Matt Sutton
ReplyDelete"Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs" Walt Whitman "I Hear America Singing" This quote is showing the trait of unity of mankind. This poem makes it clear that all people, although different, are connected. No matter what race, what backgrounds, all of America sings as one melodic masterpiece. I chose this quote because although people are showing that they have different non-conforming songs throughout the poem, I found it very interesting that in the end they all sang as one.
"And what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you"
ReplyDeleteWalt Whitman, "Song of Myself (Section I)"
Through this poem, Whitman describes himself as an individual and he says that the atoms that he is made up of also belong to others. He also says that he is celebrating himself throughout the poem, and by saying that everyone is connected, he is really celebrating everyone. This is evidence of the key trait of unity of mankind, because Whitman is celebrating the connections that people share. He explains through the poem that people are the same, so by celebrating and singing for himself, he is really trying to show that he is celebrating the unity of mankind and he is singing for the bonds that bring people together.
"He kindly stopped for me-" Emily Dickinson "Because I could not stop for Death" This line from Dickinson's poem shows the transcendentalist trait of non-conformity. This quote refers to death as a blessing and a kind man that stopped for her to join him. Most people would fear death and run from him at record pace but she welcomes him with open arms and boards his carriage. She thinks him kind for stopping for her.
ReplyDelete