Thursday, February 16, 2006
more webbing!
I've done a little bit more research since I last wrote about webbing, though I did post on my comments. I'll admit I forgot how to post a new article. It took a little bit of navigating Blogger to figure it out! I'm no technological wizard, that's for sure!
I followed the advice from Annette in Webbing and looked in the encyclopedias at the topic of transcendentalism, Kant, Emerson, and Thoreau. This was useful as it gave a brief overview of all the topics and forced me to re-evaluate where I was going with the research. I did find it was interesting when using the 2006 World Book that John Clendenning had written all of the articles I had looked at about the men. He must be the expert on Transcendentalist men!
In the local public library I also had great success in finding a lot of sources from which I will be able to glean the information I want.
An especially interesting book for me is American Romanticism which is edited by Jennifer A. Hurley. Now at first it may appear that Romanticism is off my topic, but this would not be the case. One has to first learn about Romanticism to understand that Transcendentalism is part of that era. This book has been really helpful in teaching me more about both topics. Plus, it explores Thoreau's and Emerson's most famous works and offers criticism. When the book defines Transcendentalism it quotes Emerson directly from his editorial introduction from the first issue of THE DIAL, the Transcendentalist newspaper that he and Margaret Fuller edited. Here is an excerpt of his description of the Transcendentalists:
Those who share in [Transcendentalism] have no external organization, no badge, no creed, no name. They do not vote, or print, or even meet together. They do not know each other's faces or names. They are united only in a common love of truth and love of its work. They are of all conditions and constitutions. Of these acolytes, if some are happily born and well-bred, many are no doubt ill-dressed, ill-placed, ill-made, with as many scars of hereditary vice as other men. Without pomp, without trumpet, in lonely and obscure places, in solitude, in servitude, in compunctions and privations, trudging beside the team in the dusty road or drudging a hireling in other men's cornfields, schoolmasters, who teach a few children the rudiments for a pittance, ministers of small parishes of the obscurer sects, lone women in dependent condition, matrons and young maidens, rich and poor, beautiful and hard-favored, without concert or proclamation of any kind, they have silently given in their several adherence to a new hope, and in all companies do signify a greater trust in the nature and resources of man, than the laws or the popular opinions will well allow. (taken from American Romanticism p. 19)
I read this passage and could not help but appreciate Emerson's prose. It is so rhythmic. I like how he uses repetition and alliteration to beautifully portray the many different people who subscribe to Transcendentalism, though how does he really know is anyone else is even a Transcendentalist if they don't meet, know each other's names or faces? Hmmm... that's a good question... But, his prose sounds really good!
In addition to this book, I found a lot of books of Thoreaus' works, though not so many on Emerson. Thoreau was a much more prolific writer, filling volumes, with Emerson writing more essays and speeches.
One of the fun things that I found on my library search were a few books from the children's section. Mark Graham has illustrated Emerson's poem "Father, We Thank You." In the author paragraph in the back, it does not mention his role in American Transcendentalism, rather it concentrates on his role as one of country's first environmental advocates. I thought that was interesting. Does he think kids can't handle the word?
My favorite collection of children's books that I will be using in my classroom is the Henry collection by D.B. Johnson. I was first introduced to these books in L533 by Carol Tilley. The main character is a bear whose name is Henry. He is based on Henry David Thoreau and he participates in activities that espouse Transcendentalist views. Titles are "Henry Climbs a Mountain," "Henry Builds a Cabin," Henry Hikes to Fitchburg," and "Henry Works." These books would be a fun introduction to a discussion of Thoreau, Transcendentalism, the message the book is promoting, and ways to be like a Thoreau in the world today. I know it would bring up some great discussion, especially "Henry Hikes to Fitchburg."
Today has been a much better day psychologically from the inquiry process. I commented on a previous post that I was in the throes of all the emotions that Kuhlthau had described, but finally, I think the apprehension is gone. I am enjoying the learning curve and going with the flow. How much more can I learn? I need to talk with Lena and Catherine to get a unique perspective from real live Transcendentalists! I can't wait until they read this post to hear from them! Let's Student Chat, girls!
I followed the advice from Annette in Webbing and looked in the encyclopedias at the topic of transcendentalism, Kant, Emerson, and Thoreau. This was useful as it gave a brief overview of all the topics and forced me to re-evaluate where I was going with the research. I did find it was interesting when using the 2006 World Book that John Clendenning had written all of the articles I had looked at about the men. He must be the expert on Transcendentalist men!
In the local public library I also had great success in finding a lot of sources from which I will be able to glean the information I want.
An especially interesting book for me is American Romanticism which is edited by Jennifer A. Hurley. Now at first it may appear that Romanticism is off my topic, but this would not be the case. One has to first learn about Romanticism to understand that Transcendentalism is part of that era. This book has been really helpful in teaching me more about both topics. Plus, it explores Thoreau's and Emerson's most famous works and offers criticism. When the book defines Transcendentalism it quotes Emerson directly from his editorial introduction from the first issue of THE DIAL, the Transcendentalist newspaper that he and Margaret Fuller edited. Here is an excerpt of his description of the Transcendentalists:
Those who share in [Transcendentalism] have no external organization, no badge, no creed, no name. They do not vote, or print, or even meet together. They do not know each other's faces or names. They are united only in a common love of truth and love of its work. They are of all conditions and constitutions. Of these acolytes, if some are happily born and well-bred, many are no doubt ill-dressed, ill-placed, ill-made, with as many scars of hereditary vice as other men. Without pomp, without trumpet, in lonely and obscure places, in solitude, in servitude, in compunctions and privations, trudging beside the team in the dusty road or drudging a hireling in other men's cornfields, schoolmasters, who teach a few children the rudiments for a pittance, ministers of small parishes of the obscurer sects, lone women in dependent condition, matrons and young maidens, rich and poor, beautiful and hard-favored, without concert or proclamation of any kind, they have silently given in their several adherence to a new hope, and in all companies do signify a greater trust in the nature and resources of man, than the laws or the popular opinions will well allow. (taken from American Romanticism p. 19)
I read this passage and could not help but appreciate Emerson's prose. It is so rhythmic. I like how he uses repetition and alliteration to beautifully portray the many different people who subscribe to Transcendentalism, though how does he really know is anyone else is even a Transcendentalist if they don't meet, know each other's names or faces? Hmmm... that's a good question... But, his prose sounds really good!
In addition to this book, I found a lot of books of Thoreaus' works, though not so many on Emerson. Thoreau was a much more prolific writer, filling volumes, with Emerson writing more essays and speeches.
One of the fun things that I found on my library search were a few books from the children's section. Mark Graham has illustrated Emerson's poem "Father, We Thank You." In the author paragraph in the back, it does not mention his role in American Transcendentalism, rather it concentrates on his role as one of country's first environmental advocates. I thought that was interesting. Does he think kids can't handle the word?
My favorite collection of children's books that I will be using in my classroom is the Henry collection by D.B. Johnson. I was first introduced to these books in L533 by Carol Tilley. The main character is a bear whose name is Henry. He is based on Henry David Thoreau and he participates in activities that espouse Transcendentalist views. Titles are "Henry Climbs a Mountain," "Henry Builds a Cabin," Henry Hikes to Fitchburg," and "Henry Works." These books would be a fun introduction to a discussion of Thoreau, Transcendentalism, the message the book is promoting, and ways to be like a Thoreau in the world today. I know it would bring up some great discussion, especially "Henry Hikes to Fitchburg."
Today has been a much better day psychologically from the inquiry process. I commented on a previous post that I was in the throes of all the emotions that Kuhlthau had described, but finally, I think the apprehension is gone. I am enjoying the learning curve and going with the flow. How much more can I learn? I need to talk with Lena and Catherine to get a unique perspective from real live Transcendentalists! I can't wait until they read this post to hear from them! Let's Student Chat, girls!
# posted by YourMediaSpecialist @ 1:30 PM 
