愛默生 Ralph Waldo Emerson（課堂PPT）

1、1 Transcendentalism(1)v In New England, an intellectual movement In New England, an intellectual movement known as transcendentalism developed as an known as transcendentalism developed as an American version of Romanticism.American version of Romanticism.vThe movement began among an influential set

2、 The movement began among an influential set of authors based in Concord, Massachusetts, of authors based in Concord, Massachusetts, and was led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, like and was led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, like romanticism, transcendentalism rejected both romanticism, transcendentalism rejected

3、both 1818thth-century rationalism and established religion,-century rationalism and established religion,2v Transcendentalists celebrated the power of Transcendentalists celebrated the power of human imagination to commune with the universe human imagination to commune with the universe and transcen

4、d the limitations of the material and transcend the limitations of the material world. The transcendentalists found their chief world. The transcendentalists found their chief source of inspiration in nature.source of inspiration in nature.3Major features of New England TranscendentalismMajor featur

5、es of New England Transcendentalism Emphasis on spirit, or the Oversoul, as the Emphasis on spirit, or the Oversoul, as the most important thing in the universe. The most important thing in the universe. The Oversoul was an all-pervading power for Oversoul was an all-pervading power for goodness, om

6、nipresent and omnipotent, goodness, omnipresent and omnipotent, from which all things came and of which all from which all things came and of which all were a part. It existed in nature and man were a part. It existed in nature and man alike and constituted the chief element of alike and constituted

7、 the chief element of the universe. the universe. 4 Emphasis on the importance of the individual. To Emphasis on the importance of the individual. To them the individual was the most important them the individual was the most important element of society. As the regeneration of society element of so

8、ciety. As the regeneration of society could only come about through the regeneration of could only come about through the regeneration of the individual, his perfection, his self-culture and the individual, his perfection, his self-culture and self-improvement, and not the frenzied effort to self-im

9、provement, and not the frenzied effort to get rich, should become the first concern of his life. get rich, should become the first concern of his life. The ideal type man was the self-reliant individual.The ideal type man was the self-reliant individual.5 Offered a fresh perception of nature as symb

10、olic of the Spirit or God. Nature was, to them, not purely matter. It was alive, filled with Gods overwhelming presence. It was the garment of the oversoul. Therefore it could exercise a healthy and restorative influence on the human mind. What the transcendentalists seemed to be saying was, “Go bac

11、k to nature, sink yourself back into its influence, and youll become spiritually whole again.” The natural tended to become symbolic, and the physical world was a symbol of the spiritual. 6 Emersons essay Nature(1836) was the first major document of the transcendental school and stated the ideas tha

12、t were to remain central to it. His other key transcendentalist works include The American Scholar (1837), a volume in which he addressed the intellectuals duty to culture, and Self-Reliance (1841), an essay in which he asserted the importance of being true to ones own nature.7The major features Fir

13、stly, they placed emphasis on spirit, or the Over soul, as the most important thing in the Universe. 首先，超驗主義者強調(diào)精神，或超靈，認(rèn)為這是宇宙至為首先，超驗主義者強調(diào)精神，或超靈，認(rèn)為這是宇宙至為重要的存在因素。重要的存在因素。8 Secondly, they stressed the importance of the individual. To them, the individual was the most important element of society. 其二，超驗主

14、義者強調(diào)個人的重要性。他們認(rèn)為個人是社會其二，超驗主義者強調(diào)個人的重要性。他們認(rèn)為個人是社會的最重要的組成部分。的最重要的組成部分。The major features 9 Thirdly, they offered a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the Spirit or God. Nature was, to them, alive, filled with Gods overwhelming presence. 其三，超驗主義者以全新的目光看待自然，認(rèn)為自其三，超驗主義者以全新的目光看待自然，認(rèn)為自然界是超靈或上帝的象征。在他們看

15、來，自然界不只然界是超靈或上帝的象征。在他們看來，自然界不只是物質(zhì)而已。是物質(zhì)而已。The major features10Main requires： 1.至善至善 【absolute good】 2.純潔無暇純潔無暇 【unspotted innocence of nature】 3.人具有神性人具有神性 【humanity was godlike and that evil was nonexistent appeared to be an optimistic folly 】 We will work with our own hands. We will speak our own

16、minds. We will walk with our own feet. -Ralph Waldo Emerson12 Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)American philosopher, poet and essayistThe most eloquent spokesman of New EnglandTranscendentalism.13Life Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on the same street as the birth home of Benjamin Fran

17、klin. His father was a famous minister who encouraged young Ralph to pursue philosophy at a young age. His father passed away when he was 8 and Emerson is left to support his four other brothers. Ralph was asked to share a coat with his brother Edward to save finances. Despite the hardships, all the

18、 Emerson boys, except one, graduated from Harvard University.14life After graduation, Emerson became a school teacher in suburban Boston. In 1823, he graduated from seminary school and became a priest神父 to follow in the footsteps of his father.15wEssays:n Nature 1836n American Scholar 1837n Divinity

19、 School Address 1838n Essay (two series) 1841 1844n Representative Men 1850n English Traits 18567. The Conduct of Life 18608. Society and Solitude 1870nLetters and Social Aims 1876 n Self-Reliance 184116Poems:1.Poems 18472.May Day 18673.Concord Hymn 18374.The Rhodora 18465.The Humble Bee 18476.Days1

20、7The scholar is that man who must take up into The scholar is that man who must take up into himself all the ability of the time, all the himself all the ability of the time, all the contributions of the past, all the hopes of the contributions of the past, all the hopes of the future, he must be an

21、 university of knowledgefuture, he must be an university of knowledge. . In the woods, we return to reason and faith, there I In the woods, we return to reason and faith, there I feel that nothing can befall me in life-no feel that nothing can befall me in life-no disgrace, no calamity, which nature

22、 cannot repairdisgrace, no calamity, which nature cannot repair. 你若是愛千古，你應(yīng)該愛現(xiàn)在；昨日不能喚回來，明日還是你若是愛千古，你應(yīng)該愛現(xiàn)在；昨日不能喚回來，明日還是不實在；你能確有把握的，只有今日的現(xiàn)在。不實在；你能確有把握的，只有今日的現(xiàn)在。 -Ralph Waldo Emerson18 NatureIntroduction:Introduction:In the “Introduction”, Emerson pronounces In the “Introduction”, Emerson pronounces the

23、 fundamental premise about Nature in the fundamental premise about Nature in Transcendentalism, that is, Nature is not Transcendentalism, that is, Nature is not simply the Not-Me but also the universal mind simply the Not-Me but also the universal mind whose signs, or symbols, are visible for the wh

24、ose signs, or symbols, are visible for the individual to read, with eyes, heart and mind. individual to read, with eyes, heart and mind. The Introduction” is followed by eight The Introduction” is followed by eight sections, each of which develops a general sections, each of which develops a general

25、 thesis: “Nature”; “Commodity”; “Beauty”; thesis: “Nature”; “Commodity”; “Beauty”; “Language”; “Discipline”; “Idealism”; “Language”; “Discipline”; “Idealism”; “Spirit” and “Prospects”.“Spirit” and “Prospects”.19 Questions for reading NatureQuestions for reading NatureAccording to Para 2, why does Em

26、erson believe that the stars awaken a reverence in people?When do natural objects make a similar impression of reverence?How does Emerson describe the lover of nature?What does Emerson mean when he says, “In the woods too, a man casts off his years”?Why does Emerson say, “ I am part particle of God”

27、?20 Comment on Nature (1)Comment on Nature (1)論自然無論是作為教義, 還是神秘思想,無論是從哲學(xué)角度去審視它,還是用詩人的思維去欣賞它, 都是蘊涵深刻的作品。vEmerson advocates man should go back nature and the primeval land where man can regain self-confidence to exert the potentiality for nature is the only infinite spring of mans inspiration and power

28、.vNature advocates not to follow the beaten track and be confined by history. Man should directly look upon the exuberant nature with the brand-new eye because there is the new heaven and earth, new man and new thoughts here. 21. vEmerson holds the universe consists of nature and spirit. Nature alwa

29、ys wears the colors of the spirit , which is the symbol of the spirit.vOnly the spirit and nature are melted into wholeness of harmony can engender the real pleasures.22vOnly man stand aloof from the hubbubs and solitary and gaze the nature with the pure spirit of infancy, can his spirit commune wit

30、h the nature . For this, man can mystically commune with the nature and feel the profound thoughts and perfect emotions and was therefore part or particle of God.23 Emersons diary(1)Diary of May 24, 1847The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant friendly party, but they

31、 say nothing, and if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them as silently away-Becomes the poem Days, which is one of his best:24 Nature discusses the love of nature, the uses of nature, the idealist philosophy in relation to nature, evidence of spirit in the material universe, and the po

32、tential expansion of human souls and works that will result from a general return to direct, immediate contact with the natural environment. In the essay Emerson clearly expresses the main principles of his Transcendentalist pursuit and his love for nature. In expressing his belief in the mystical “

33、unity of nature”, Emerson develops his concept of the “over-soul” or “Universal Mind”. In the selection Emersons famous metaphor of “a transparent eyeball” is employed to illustrate philosophical discussion.25Daughters of time, the hypocritic Days,Muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes,And marchin

34、g single in an endless file,Bring diadems and fagots in their hands,To each they offer gifts after his will,Bread, kingdoms, stars, and sky that holds them all.I, in my pleached garden, watched the pomp,Forgot my morning wishes, hastilyTook a few herbs and apples, and the DayTurned and departed sile

35、nt. I, too late,Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn.26Features of Emersons works Elegant style of essay, a kind of ability of expressing thoughts with freshness, vividness and broad vistas-娓娓道來, 親切生動, 其中點綴著聯(lián)系松散的隨想、格言、箴言、諺語、寓言,被人認(rèn)為是與孔子、陪根等人的”智慧文學(xué)”的一脈相承。他闡述思想的能力無人能及。他行文的最大特色是洗練，格言式的警句，他的散文有時被描繪成一串珠寶

36、，每顆寶石都光彩奪目，每個句子都代表涵蓋著所有真理的洞察力，是全部真理的縮影。他在文章中表達(dá)的哲學(xué)思想有一種獨特的力量，構(gòu)成了有機的統(tǒng)一，具有很大的啟發(fā)性，抓住了他同時代人的想象力，迎合了當(dāng)時美國人樂觀向上的精神。skillfully using rhetorics and rebuilds grotesque image for fully stressing the theme.：-s27Features of Emersons works Elegant style of essay, a kind of ability of expressing thoughts with fresh

37、ness, vividness and broad vistas娓娓道來, 親切生動, 其中點綴著聯(lián)系松散的隨想、格言、箴言、諺語、寓言,被人認(rèn)為是與孔子、陪根等人的”智慧文學(xué)”的一脈相承。他闡述思想的能力無人能及。他行文的最大特色是洗練，格言式的警句，他的散文有時被描繪成一串珠寶，每顆寶石都光彩奪目，每個句子都代表涵蓋著所有真理的洞察力，是全部真理的縮影。他在文章中表達(dá)的哲學(xué)思想有一種獨特的力量，構(gòu)成了有機的統(tǒng)一，具有很大的啟發(fā)性，抓住了他同時代人的想象力，迎合了當(dāng)時美國人樂觀向上的精神。skillfully using rhetorics and rebuilds grotesque im

38、age for fully stressing the theme.In writing skill, he reconstructs certain common literary image and confers his works with new spirit or esthetic implication.28三個重要觀點：信心、 獨立、 個性首先，愛默生認(rèn)為一個人應(yīng)該相信自己。最后, 人應(yīng)該有他的個性, 是個自力更生的人。其次，一個人應(yīng)該獨立行事, 不能總是依賴其他人。 論自助29 1、 不久前有一天，我讀了一位杰出的畫家寫的幾首詩，它們立意新奇，不落窠臼。先別管詩的題材如何，靈魂總是從字里行間聽到一種告誡。這些詩句所灌輸?shù)那楦斜人鼈儼娜魏嗡枷敫袃r值。相信你自己的思想，相信你內(nèi)心深處認(rèn)為對你適用的東西對一切人都適用這就是天才。如果把你隱藏的信念說出來，它一定會成為普遍的感受；因為最內(nèi)在