Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson: Main Ideas

“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson: Main Ideas

1. —As you read an excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance” (p. 185) you will see five paragraphs. Think about what each paragraph is saying, then write the number of the paragraph that matches with each of the main ideas expressed below.

______To be great is to be misunderstood; be yourself even if you are misunderstood.

______Trust yourself. You have something special to offer.

______Do not conform; think for yourself

______Each person has special talents and passions that can be discovered only on one’s own.

______Society ignores the special part of each person.

2. What does Emerson mean when he said “envy is ignorance” and “imitation is suicide”?

______

3. According to Emerson, what are the similarities between the following things: a. Planting corn and doing good deeds/working hard

b. an iron string and trusting oneself c. a joint-stock company and society

d. a shadow on the wall and consistency