Parallels, Comparisons, and Contrasts of Emerson's "Nature" and Carlyle's "Signs of the Times"

Anglo-American Transcendentalism

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2013 , 19 Pages , Grade: 1,0

American Studies - Literature

Many literary scholars are currently handling the issue of the influence of British Romanticism on American Transcendentalism, and have found many clear connections which the two nations’ philosophies have in common. In this respect, they regard Carlyle’s influence upon Emerson’s writings as noteworthy. Both writers became significant representatives of the Victorian Age due to their numerous achievements in literature at the time. While Carlyle attained great success in New England and became “the leader and spokesman of New England Transcendentalists” (Thompson 452), Emerson was “America’s great philosopher-psychologist-poet of the Self” (Mott 61). Both of them came to hold a dominant presence in the still developing culture of a new age and gained significant notoriety within literary circles.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Replacing the Book of God

3. Approaching Nature
3.1 Nature and Man
3.2 Nature and Spirit
3.3 Nature and Mind

4. Appealing to the Reader

5. Conclusion

Works Cited

• College: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Course: Transatlantic Romanticism
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Alina Müller (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 19
• Catalog Number: V213204
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656414032
• ISBN (Book): 9783656414803
• Language: English
• Tags: parallels, comparisons, contrasts, emerson, nature, carlyle, signs, times, anglo-american, transcendentalism