Emerson :: essays research papers fc

The relatively obscure release of Ralph Waldo Emerson&8217s first book, Nature, in 1836, gave fewer clues to the celebrity and influence which would later be enjoyed by its author. The piece was primitively published anonymously but did mark the beginning of Emerson&8217s future role of mentor, call on the carpetr, and teacher. His scope was wide, attracting a number of admirers across Massachusetts, reaching audiences from both his lit datery works, as well as his numerous appearances on the university lecture circuit. One such admirer was a young Massachusetts neighbour, hydrogen David Thoreau. A schoolteacher by trade, Thoreau ended up as a boarder at Emerson&8217s home, beginning a lasting, if not frustrating, friendship. This multifactorial relationship introduced Thoreau to the literary world, as well as to the art of lecturing, as performed by Emerson.One such lecture, delivered by Emerson in 1837 to a Harvard audience, rundle about the past, enclose, and future of &8 220The American Scholar. Twenty-five years later, in 1862, abruptly after his death, a monthly itemical published an article constructed from Thoreau&8217s journals, entitled simply &8220Walking. Though very different in oecumenical subject matter, both pieces contain very similar philosophies, applicable to many areas of life and society. The application of these philosophies from one work to the other, show not a taste of plagiarism, but rather act as a volition to the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the thoughts and ideas of Henry David Thoreau.One recurring theme of this era of American literature was the idea of establishing independence for the United States from the historical ties to Europe. A cry went out for Americans to marvel in the wonders of their declare backyard, rather than to matter overseas to the previously dominant western European nations. Emerson was no expulsion to this movement and took time during his &8220The American Scholar lecture to speak of the need for the present generation of Americans to establish their own history &8220Each age, it is found, must print its own books or rather, each generation for the next succeeding. The books of an older period will not fit this. Emerson called for active, original thought on the theatrical role of American scholars and criticized those who wrote as they &8220set out from accepted dogmas, not from their own sight of principles. His criticism more specifically, was directed to those scholars who looked abroad for inspiration, only to figure &8220That which had been negligently trodden under foot by those who were harnessing and provisioning themselves for long journies into far countries, are short found to be richer than all foreign parts.