The Transcendentalism was not an undisputable movement. It had numerous different influences and strong and sometimes even radical beliefs which did not only evoke sympathy and understanding. Especially Ralph Waldo Emerson, on of the most important person of this movement, was critized for his ideas.1 Some contemporary artists, like Edgar Allan Poe, even had cravings to murder some Transcendentalists2 – although this statement probably has to be seen in regard to Poe's common irony. Poe and other authors used their work to express their distaste for Transcendentalism and tried to ridicule it, for example by exaggeration.3
In this term paper, I will answer the following question: What are the typical elements of Transcendentalism in Emerson's Poetry and how are they ridiculed by Edgar Allan Poe? To answer this question, I chose Emerson's poem „Give All To Love“. In my analysis of the poem, I will show that it contains a lot of typical elements of Transcendentalism, which is the reason why I chose this particular poem of Emerson. The work of Poe I will use is his short-story „The Fall of the House of Usher“. There are several works of Poe where he tries to ridicule Transcendentalism, but I chose this short-story since it is probably his most famous one.
Concerning my secondary literature, I tried to find a mixture of classical references, like „Literary Transcendentalism“ by Lawrence Buell, and of new and rather fresh internet-sources. To achieve a high level of reliability for my internet-sources, I almost only used homepages of american universities. With this mixture, I want to demonstrate that the topic of my term paper has been, and still is, relevant to literary studies.
I will start with a chapter about the Transcendentalism in general, the role of Emerson and name some of the criticism of Transcendentalism. The third chapter is concerned with a detailed analysis of the poem „Give All To Love“ by Emerson after which I will point out the typical transcendental elements in the poem. In chapter four, I will analyse Poe's short-story „The Fall of the House of Usher“ with regard to the research question and look for ridicule of Transcendentalism. I will close my term paper in the fifth chapter with a conclusion and will subsume, if and how my research question has been answered throughout the paper.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Emerson & the Transcendentalism
- The Transcendentalism – a short overview
- Ralph Waldo Emerson – his role and beliefs in Transcendentalism
- The animadversion on Transcendentalism and Emerson
- Analysis I: „Give All To Love“ by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Analysis of „Give All To Love“
- Typical elements of Transcendentalism in the poem
- Analysis II: „The Fall of the House of Usher“ by Edgar Allan Poe
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper examines the typical elements of Transcendentalism in Emerson's poetry and how these are satirized by Edgar Allan Poe. It focuses on comparing Emerson's poem "Give All To Love" with Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" to highlight contrasting approaches to the movement.
- Transcendentalism as a philosophical and literary movement
- Ralph Waldo Emerson's role and beliefs within Transcendentalism
- Critical responses to Transcendentalism, particularly from Edgar Allan Poe
- Analysis of Transcendental themes in Emerson's "Give All To Love"
- Analysis of satirical elements related to Transcendentalism in Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher"
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question: What are the typical elements of Transcendentalism in Emerson's Poetry and how are they ridiculed by Edgar Allan Poe? The paper's methodology is outlined, focusing on the chosen texts ("Give All To Love" and "The Fall of the House of Usher") and the use of a combination of classic and contemporary sources to establish the ongoing relevance of the topic. The chapter concludes with a brief overview of the structure of the paper, previewing the analysis of Emerson's poem and Poe's short story.
Emerson & the Transcendentalism: This section provides background information on Transcendentalism, its origins in reaction to 18th-century rationalism, and its key influences from Kant, Fichte, Goethe, Novalis, Plato, Confucius, and Buddhism. Emerson's significant role as a founder of the Transcendental Club and author of key texts is discussed, highlighting his optimistic worldview and belief in inherent divinity. The chapter concludes by addressing criticisms of Transcendentalism from authors like Poe, Melville, and Hawthorne, emphasizing Poe's particular dislike for Transcendentalist rhetoric and euphemisms.
Analysis I: „Give All To Love“ by Ralph Waldo Emerson: This chapter offers a detailed analysis of Emerson's poem "Give All To Love," examining its structure, rhyme scheme, and thematic content. The analysis explores how the poem's advice to give everything for love and loved ones exemplifies core Transcendentalist beliefs. Key aspects are examined to reveal the poem's embodiment of Transcendental ideals and its stylistic choices.
Keywords
Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allan Poe, "Give All To Love," "The Fall of the House of Usher," American Romanticism, literary criticism, satire, optimism, individualism, divinity.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Transcendentalism in Emerson and Poe
What is the main topic of this term paper?
This term paper examines the typical elements of Transcendentalism in Emerson's poetry and how these are satirized by Edgar Allan Poe. It focuses on comparing Emerson's poem "Give All To Love" with Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" to highlight contrasting approaches to the movement.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include Transcendentalism as a philosophical and literary movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson's role and beliefs within Transcendentalism; critical responses to Transcendentalism, particularly from Edgar Allan Poe; analysis of Transcendental themes in Emerson's "Give All To Love"; and analysis of satirical elements related to Transcendentalism in Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher".
What texts are analyzed in this paper?
The paper primarily analyzes Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem "Give All To Love" and Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher".
What is the methodology used in this paper?
The paper uses a comparative analysis approach, examining the chosen texts ("Give All To Love" and "The Fall of the House of Usher") and utilizing a combination of classic and contemporary sources to establish the ongoing relevance of the topic.
What is the research question addressed in the paper?
The central research question is: What are the typical elements of Transcendentalism in Emerson's poetry and how are they ridiculed by Edgar Allan Poe?
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a section on Emerson and Transcendentalism, an analysis of "Give All To Love," and an analysis of "The Fall of the House of Usher".
What background information is provided on Transcendentalism?
The paper provides background on Transcendentalism's origins, its key influences (Kant, Fichte, Goethe, Novalis, Plato, Confucius, and Buddhism), and Emerson's significant role as a founder of the Transcendental Club. It also discusses criticisms of Transcendentalism from authors like Poe, Melville, and Hawthorne.
How does the paper analyze Emerson's "Give All To Love"?
The analysis of "Give All To Love" examines its structure, rhyme scheme, and thematic content, exploring how the poem exemplifies core Transcendentalist beliefs.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allan Poe, "Give All To Love," "The Fall of the House of Usher," American Romanticism, literary criticism, satire, optimism, individualism, divinity.
- Quote paper
- Jenny Beyen (Author), 2010, The Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson and his critic Edgar Allan Poe, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/148231
