7 About the Selections In his essay, “Self-Reliance,” which echoes a theme common to many of his works, Emerson exhorts readers to avoid blindly conforming to the Self-Reliance ideas and behavior dictated by soci- 7 ety or peers. Instead, he urges people to think and act independently. In the poems “Concord Hymn” and “The Snowstorm,” Emerson continues his celebration of country and nature. In “Concord Hymn,” Emerson praises the bravery of the who fought at Lexington and Concord. The poem conveys the message that people who make great There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the sacrifices for noble causes such as conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he freedom will never be forgotten. In must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the “The Snowstorm,” Emerson develops wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to an extended metaphor in which he him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given compares nature’s force during a to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and snowstorm to an architect crafting a none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact building. The poem conveys the makes much impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in message that nature is capable of the memory is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed creating works of amazing beauty where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray. We that parallel or surpass those pro- but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which duced by human beings. each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work Literary Analysis 8 Literary Analysis made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put Transcendentalism Transcendentalism his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done What does the passage • Read aloud the bracketed text otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not beginning “Trust thyself” tell you about Emerson’s to students, and then reread the deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no belief in the importance opening two words: “Trust thyself.” invention, no hope. of the individual? Urge students to find evidence in Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the the paragraph for this opening place the divine providence has found for you; the society of your con- temporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so Vocabulary Builder exhortation. and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying chaos (kà« äs«) n. disorder •To help students, go around the of matter and space, 8 their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was stirring at their classroom and have volunteers supposed to have heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. existed before the express the meaning of each And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same ordered universe sentence in their own words. transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected cor- • Ask students the Literary Analysis ner, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors. Obeying the Almighty question: What does the passage effort and advancing on chaos and the Dark. ... 9 beginning “Trust thyself” tell you Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every What does Emerson about Emerson’s belief in the one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company in which the believe about being importance of the individual? members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, true to oneself? Possible response: He believes the individual’s importance is from from Self-Reliance � 393 God and that people must there- fore honor it and trust in it.

9 Reading Check Answer: Emerson believes it Strategy for Strategy for Enrichment for produces the best work and the most Special Needs Students Less Proficient Readers Gifted/Talented Students spiritual peace. He believes that Have students read the essay Encourage students to look Ask students to review what unless one is true to oneself, one will in small groups, pausing at the closely at the first sentence of they have learned about never find inspiration. end of each paragraph to each paragraph. These sen- Emerson’s life and writings. identify the sentence that best tences essentially serve as an Then, challenge them to give sums up its meaning. Students outline of the key points in the a brief talk to the class in should then try to restate the essay. By grasping the ideas in which they relate information meaning of each topic sen- these sentences, students will about Emerson’s personal tence in their own words. be well on their way to identi- experiences to the ideas he Circulate to check on the fying Emerson’s main ideas. discusses in Nature and Self- progress of the groups and Have students draft a list of Reliance. clarify any misinterpretations. the main points.

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to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most Vocabulary Builder Answers request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities aversion (ß v†r« zhßn) n. and creators, but names and customs. object arousing an intense Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would dislike 1. Students may cite our society’s gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, suffrage (suf« rij) tendency to admire “self-made” n. vote but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the or voting people. integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have divines (dß vìnz«) n. clergy 2. (a) He describes it as a joint-stock the suffrage of the world. . . . company. (b) Its purpose is to A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by lit- conspire against individual self- tle statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great reliance. (c) People should not soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his care how others perceive them. shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words and 3. (a) They were all misunderstood. tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it (b) He points out that some of the contradict everything you said today. “Ah, so you shall be sure to be greatest people who ever lived misunderstood?”—is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras were misunderstood. was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton,1 and every pure and wise spirit 4. (a) It is important because it that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. . . . distinguishes between a rational consistency of thought and 1. Pythagoras . . . Newton individuals who made major contributions to scientific, purpose and an unreasoning, philosophical, or religious thinking. compulsory conformity. (b) Possible response: Emerson clearly said that a foolish consis- tency was to be avoided. He would be unlikely to advocate inconsis- tency in scholarship, for example, Critical Reading or in friendships or family life. 1. Respond: Which aspects, if any, of today’s American culture reflect 5. (a) For Emerson, the divine is Emerson’s belief in self-reliance? God’s idea of what each of us 2. (a) Recall: What terms does Emerson use to describe society? might be if we had the courage to (b) Interpret: According to Emerson, what is society’s main purpose? live up to our full creative poten- (c) Draw Conclusions: In what ways does Emerson believe people tial. (b) Possible response: He should be affected by the way others perceive them? would say that the reason for liv- 3. (a) Recall: According to Emerson, what do Pythagoras, Socrates, ing is to seek out God’s purpose Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton have in common? for us and to pursue it without (b) Support: What evidence does Emerson use to support his claim fear of society’s pressures and that “to be great is to be misunderstood”? opinions. Students’ explanations should be supported with refer- 4. (a) Make a Judgment: How important is Emerson’s use of the adjective ences from the text. “foolish” in his discussion of consistency? (b) Speculate: Do you think there would be any circumstances in which Emerson would advocate 6. Students’ responses should reflect the benefits of consistency? Explain. a careful reading of the essay. 5. (a) Interpret: According to Emerson, what role does the “divine” have in determining each person’s circumstances? (b) Generalize: What For: More about Ralph would Emerson say is each person’s reason for living? Explain. Waldo Emerson For additional informa- 6. Apply: Which of Emerson’s statements, if any, would you choose as a Visit: www.PHSchool.com tion about Ralph Waldo guideline for personal conduct? Explain. Web Code: ere-9311 Emerson, have students type in the Web Code, then select E from the alphabet, and then select Ralph Waldo Emerson. 394 ■ A Growing Nation (1800–1870)

Early Revolutionary Battles In April 1775, a British military force marched British retreated to Boston. On the way, they to confiscate colonial arms they knew were were repeatedly attacked by thousands of stockpiled in Concord, Massachusetts. Along American militia. Many years later, sculptor the way, they were confronted at dawn on created his commemora- April 19 by a small group of militia on the tive statue with the support of a Concord resi- Lexington green. The British dispersed the dent who wished to memorialize the spot Americans, killing ten, and then moved on to where Americans fell. Concord, five miles away. There, they were met by a larger contingent of militia, who attacked them at the North Bridge. At this spot, the first British blood of the Revolution was spilled. The

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