Nature
Essay “Nature” was published in 1936, was considered “manifesto（宣言 ） of American transcendentalism”, standing for a new way of thinking in America. Contents: introduction 8 chapters: nature, commodity, beauty, language, discipline, idealism, spirit and prospects.
谢谢观赏
Ideas of Transcendentalism 1, the emphasis on oversoul（超灵）: allpervading power for goodness, omnipresent( 无所不在）, omnipotent（无所不能） 2, the importance of individual — “ Selfreliance” 3, perception of nature as symbol of the oversoul — “ Nature”
Analysis
Part Ⅰ(1-6): Trust thyself
1 P1:The importance of thinking for oneself 2
P2:“Trust thyself” P3:The force of infancy and youth P4:The analogy between boys and the idealized individual P5:The importance of an individuals resisting the pressure to conform to the external norms P6:The necessity to follow one’s inner voice,
“Nature” & “Self-reliance”
Introduction of the Author
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) : essayist, philosopher and poet, founder of American transcendentalist movement（超验主义 运动） in the 19th century.
Analysis
Part Ⅰ(1): claim to go into nature Part Ⅱ(2-5): how we perceive objects Part Ⅲ(6): it is necessary to use nature’s pleasures with great temperance
3 an object not vice versa
Calling on individuals to take responsibility for our own needs – physical, emotional, spiritual, social and economic, not conform to the opinions of others.
3
4
1
2 whatever irt Ⅱ(7-13): Consistency is the hobgoblin（妖怪） of little minds
1 2 3 4 1 2
P7: Society’s disapproval or scorn P8: The individual’s own sense of consistency P9: Consistency drains our creativity P10: The condemnation of the society that demands conformity P11: The ultimate consistency P12: A true man is the center of things P13: Humans determine the worth of
Nature is the symbol of spirit, make a healthy and restorative influence on human beings. Go back to nature
Self-reliance
Self-reliance is widely considered to be the definitive statement of Emerson’s philosophy of individualism and the finest example of his prose “trust thyself”. Contents: 1.The confidence 2.The independence 3.Keep personality 4.Showing no sympathy to the poor