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fromSelf-Reliance

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Author Biography:

Ralph Waldo Emerson He was an essayist, poet, and philosopher

born May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Son of well-know minister, William Emersonand Ruth Haskins, daughter of a merchant.

His father died in 1811 when Emerson waseight, leaving his mother to rear six children.

His aunt, Mary Moody Emerson, was a writer

who took an interest in the education of herfour nephews. It is likely that she played a large role in

Emersons development as a writer.

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Biography: Emerson

Emerson attended Boston Latin School, a privateacademy.

At age fourteen he enrolled (on scholarship) at

Harvard College where he won several prizes forwriting.

After graduation in 1821, he worked as a teacher at aschool run by his older brother William.

In 1825, he enrolled in Harvard Divinity School, and ayear later he began a career as a Unitarian minister.

He soon became Chaplain of the MassachusettsSenate.

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Emerson Biography

Emerson married Ellen Tucker, the

great love of his life in 1829.

Her death a year and a half laterdevastated him and took a heavy toll on his

religious faith.

He resigned his pastorate in 1832, tellinghis congregation that he no longer believed

in celebrating Holy Communion.

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Emerson Biography

After a tour of Europe, Emerson earned aliving as a lecturer.

In 1835, he married his second wife, LydiaJackson. They lived in Concord, Mass. and had four

children; one died as a boy.

In Concord, Emerson became friends with authorNathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau,fellow transcendentalist and author of Walden,who became his student and close friend.

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Emerson Biography

Emerson began to shape his lecture material intoessays in the early 1840s.

These works expound various aspects of Emersons

transcendentalist philosophy. Transcendentalism stood against materialism,

institutionalized religion, and slavery.

Emersons strong belief in the integrity of the

individual is summarized in his oft-repeated phrase,trust thyself, and given full expression in his famousessay Self Reliance, published in 1841.

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Style of Self Reliance

Rationalist Argument Essay is a carefully constructed rational argument

with goal of persuading readers to adopt ideas

Emerson promotes. Author uses logic, reasons, facts, and examples to

support his position.

Emerson organizes his ideas so that they lead readersstep by step to the conclusion he wishes them to reach.

He begins by defining genius and explains why he

believes every human being possesses it. He goes on toexplain how and why this genius is to be expressedtheexpression of that inborn genius is the essence of selfreliance.

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Emotional Appeal

Emersons tight rational argument is

complemented by energetic and

passionate language that appeals toreaders emotions.

He uses the effective technique of using

images from nature.

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References to Persons and Literature

Self-Reliance is studded with a

multitude of references to famous men

and well-known literature. Men mentioned are held up as examples of

self-reliance and of the greatness it brings.

There are several biblical references.

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Literary Focus: Figures of Speech

Self-Reliance is an essay that includes somestriking figures of speech.

Figures of Speech are based on unusual

comparisons They are not meant to be taken literally. For example: When Emerson says Society is a joint-stock

company, he is comparing society to a business.

In a joint-stock company, all of the owners share thecompanys profits and losses equally.

Emersons comparison points out that society is interested inmoney and success.

Figures of speech include similes, metaphors, andpersonification.

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Reading Skills: Recognizing

Figures of Speech A figure of speech can help us see something

in a new, imaginative way.

When you come across a figure of speech,ask yourself these questions:

What two things are being compared?

What do these two things have in common?

Why does the writer create this comparison?

How does it affect the text?

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Using the Skill

As you read the selection, pause whenever

you notice an unusual comparison.

Such comparisons may be figures of speech. Jot down each figure of speech you find.

As the questions above to help you

understand each comparison.

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Romanticism

Emerson is considered an American icon of

Romanticism.

Emersons philosophy as expressed in Self-Reliance largely overlaps the ideas of

romanticism, which include the inherent worth

of the individual, the importance of personal

freedom from religious and social restrictions,and the divinity of nature.

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Themes

Individualism

Nonconformity

Originality versus Imitation

Past, Present, and Future

Cause and Effect versus Fortune

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Summary

Genius

Societal Disapproval and Foolish Consistency

Self-Worth Relation of Individual to God

The Highest Truth

Resist Temptation Effects of Self-Reliance