Abstract

The present study is an analysis of some of the poems of the thinker and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson in the light of his own philosophy. The study investigates the poems in terms of Emerson’s concepts of ‘unity’, ‘individuality’ and ‘microcosm’. Actually, this study explores a new identity for the human being and other creatures in the world; the new identity that gives a broader view of the universe, God and man. Through the analysis of the poems in light of the notion of ‘unity’, it is discussed that the reality of the creatures of the universe is one essence that is ‘the Over-Soul’. Moreover, it is explained that there is interrelation among the objects of the world and also a connection between each creature and ‘the universal soul’ that Emerson names ‘the Over-Soul’. The poems also illustrate another concept i.e., ‘individuality’. It states that each person should make a personal relation to ‘the universal soul’ and finds the meaning of life and the reality of everything individually. Consequently, everyone through this relation realizes that ‘the Over-Soul’ is the essence of everything. Also, the poems reveal that the entire world is present in each creature and especially man, what Emerson names “microcosm”. Finally, the concepts through the poems bring a new identity to everything in the world as they have the overtone of the united spirit of the world or ‘the Over-Soul’ as the true identity of everything. This novel view toward everything and especially that of the human being helps him to have a broader and deeper view of life.

 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Chapter One: Introduction…………………………………………………………………6

1.1. General Background………………………………………………………………………7

1.2. Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………………………………….9

1.3. Objectives and Significance of the study………………………………………………………………….9

1.3.1. Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………….………..10

1.3.2. Significance of the Study……………………………………………………….……..10

1.3.3. Purpose of the Study …………………………………………………………….……..11

1.3.4. Research Questions……………………………………………………………………11

1.4. Review of Literature………………………………………………………………………12

1.5. Materials and Methodology………………………………………………………………16

1.5.1. Definition of Key Terms………………………………………………………………16

1.5.2. Motivation and Delimitation……………………………………………………………19

1.6. Thesis Outline……………………………………………………………………………………………………..20

Chapter Two: Emerson’s Philosophy……..…………………….…………………22

2.1. Emerson’s Philosophy……………………………………………………………………23

2.1.1. Unity in Emerson’s philosophy………….……….……………………………….……25

Abstract

The present study is an analysis of some of the poems of the thinker and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson in the light of his own philosophy. The study investigates the poems in terms of Emerson’s concepts of ‘unity’, ‘individuality’ and ‘microcosm’. Actually, this study explores a new identity for the human being and other creatures in the world; the new identity that gives a broader view of the universe, God and man. Through the analysis of the poems in light of the notion of ‘unity’, it is discussed that the reality of the creatures of the universe is one essence that is ‘the Over-Soul’. Moreover, it is explained that there is interrelation among the objects of the world and also a connection between each creature and ‘the universal soul’ that Emerson names ‘the Over-Soul’. The poems also illustrate another concept i.e., ‘individuality’. It states that each person should make a personal relation to ‘the universal soul’ and finds the meaning of life and the reality of everything individually. Consequently, everyone through this relation realizes that ‘the Over-Soul’ is the essence of everything. Also, the poems reveal that the entire world is present in each creature and especially man, what Emerson names “microcosm”. Finally, the concepts through the poems bring a new identity to everything in the world as they have the overtone of the united spirit of the world or ‘the Over-Soul’ as the true identity of everything. This novel view toward everything and especially that of the human being helps him to have a broader and deeper view of life.

 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Chapter One: Introduction…………………………………………………………………6

1.1. General Background………………………………………………………………………7

1.2. Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………………………………….9

1.3. Objectives and Significance of the study………………………………………………………………….9

1.3.1. Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………….………..10

1.3.2. Significance of the Study……………………………………………………….……..10

1.3.3. Purpose of the Study …………………………………………………………….……..11

1.3.4. Research Questions……………………………………………………………………11

1.4. Review of Literature………………………………………………………………………12

1.5. Materials and Methodology………………………………………………………………16

1.5.1. Definition of Key Terms………………………………………………………………16

1.5.2. Motivation and Delimitation……………………………………………………………19

1.6. Thesis Outline……………………………………………………………………………………………………..20

Chapter Two: Emerson’s Philosophy……..…………………….…………………22

2.1. Emerson’s Philosophy……………………………………………………………………23

2.1.1. Unity in Emerson’s philosophy………….……….……………………………….……25

2.1.2. Individuality in Emerson’s philosophy……………………………………………………………… 32

2.1.3. Microcosm in Emerson’s philosophy……………………………………………………….38

Chapter Three: New Identity in Emerson’s Selected Poems………………….45

3.1. Unity in Emerson’s Philosophy………………………………………………………….47

3.1.1. Unity in “Each and All”……………………………………………………………….47

3.1.1.1. The Relation of Each and All to shape a unity……………………………………….48

3.1.1.2. Interrelatedness of all Things in the World …………………………………………48

3.1.1.3. To find the Truth through Beauty……………………………………………………52

3.1.1.4. Man is the Universal Reality…………………………………………………………53

3.1.1.5. The Foundation of a united Spirit……………………………………………………54

3.2.2. Unity in “The Sphinx”………………………………………………………………….55

3.2.2.1. Variety leads to Unity………………………………………………………………..56

3.2.2.2. Exploration of Universal truth through Intuition……………………………………58

3.2.2.3. Man is the answer to the question……………………………………………………59

3.2.2.4. Opposite notions find the same essence……………………………………………..61

3.2.3. Unity in “Xenophanes”………………………………………………………………..62

3.2.3.1. Variety Resolves into Unity…………………………………………………………..63

3.2.3.2. Each Element Introduces another One………………………………………………..64

3.2.4. Unity in “Brahma”…………………………………………………………………..…66

3.2.4.1. All Things as One Reality……………………………………………………….…..68

3.2.5. Unity in “Wood-notes I, II”……………………………………………………………..70

3.2.5.1. The Existence of Universal Truth Everywhere………………………………….…..70

3.2.6. Unity in “The World-Soul” ……………………………………………………………73

3.2.7. Unity in “Unity”………………………………………………………………….……76

Chapter Four: New Identity in Emerson’s Selected Poems ………………….81

4.1. Individuality in Emerson’s Philosophy………………………………………………….82

4. 2. Individuality in “The Sphinx”……………………………………………………………83

4.2.1. The Answer is the Universal Reality…….……………………….……………………84

4.2. 2. “Man is a Transparent Eyeball”……………………………………………………….85

4.2.3. Individuality in “Each and All”………………………………………………..………86

4.2. 4. Man should Leave Egotism …………………………………………………………….86

4.3. Individuality in “Brahma”………………………………………………………….……88

4.3.1. “Turn Thy back on Heaven”…………………………………………………………….88

4.3.4. Individuality in “Unity”………………………………………………………………..88

4.3.5. Individuality in “The World-Soul”…………………………………………….……….90

4.4. Microcosm in Emerson’s Philosophy……………………………………………………91

4.4.1. Microcosm in “Wood-notes”…………………………………….……………….…….91

4.4.1. 1. Everything will be discovered in Man …………………………………………………………….91

4.3.2. Microcosm in the Sphinx…………………………………………..………………….94

Chapter Five……………………………………………………………………………………..100

5.1. Summing Up……………………………………………………………………………101

5.2. Findings…………………………………………………………………………………103

5.3. Suggestions for Further Research………………………………………………………112

Work Cited……………………………………………………………….……115

Work Consulted…………………………………………………………………..….…118

Electronic Texts…………………………………………………………………………………………………119

Chapter One

 Introduction      

1.1. General Background

Lecturer and writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was the intellectual center of American Transcendentalism and one of the great thinkers and writers of American literary history. As a prolific writer and thinker in religious, literary and social subjects, Emerson embodied the Transcendentalist movement’s self-reliance and originality of understanding that in this study is referred to as individuality. Emerson spent a

 

2.1.2. Individuality in Emerson’s philosophy……………………………………………………………… 32

2.1.3. Microcosm in Emerson’s philosophy……………………………………………………….38

Chapter Three: New Identity in Emerson’s Selected Poems………………….45

3.1. Unity in Emerson’s Philosophy………………………………………………………….47

3.1.1. Unity in “Each and All”……………………………………………………………….47

3.1.1.1. The Relation of Each and All to shape a unity……………………………………….48

3.1.1.2. Interrelatedness of all Things in the World …………………………………………48

3.1.1.3. To find the Truth through Beauty……………………………………………………52

3.1.1.4. Man is the Universal Reality…………………………………………………………53

3.1.1.5. The Foundation of a united Spirit……………………………………………………54

3.2.2. Unity in “The Sphinx”………………………………………………………………….55

3.2.2.1. Variety leads to Unity………………………………………………………………..56

3.2.2.2. Exploration of Universal truth through Intuition……………………………………58

3.2.2.3. Man is the answer to the question……………………………………………………59

3.2.2.4. Opposite notions find the same essence……………………………………………..61

3.2.3. Unity in “Xenophanes”………………………………………………………………..62

3.2.3.1. Variety Resolves into Unity…………………………………………………………..63

3.2.3.2. Each Element Introduces another One………………………………………………..64

3.2.4. Unity in “Brahma”…………………………………………………………………..…66

3.2.4.1. All Things as One Reality……………………………………………………….…..68

3.2.5. Unity in “Wood-notes I, II”……………………………………………………………..70

3.2.5.1. The Existence of Universal Truth Everywhere………………………………….…..70

3.2.6. Unity in “The World-Soul” ……………………………………………………………73

3.2.7. Unity in “Unity”………………………………………………………………….……76

Chapter Four: New Identity in Emerson’s Selected Poems ………………….81

4.1. Individuality in Emerson’s Philosophy………………………………………………….82

4. 2. Individuality in “The Sphinx”……………………………………………………………83

4.2.1. The Answer is the Universal Reality…….……………………….……………………84

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4.2. 2. “Man is a Transparent Eyeball”……………………………………………………….85

4.2.3. Individuality in “Each and All”………………………………………………..………86

4.2. 4. Man should Leave Egotism …………………………………………………………….86

4.3. Individuality in “Brahma”………………………………………………………….……88

4.3.1. “Turn Thy back on Heaven”…………………………………………………………….88

4.3.4. Individuality in “Unity”………………………………………………………………..88

4.3.5. Individuality in “The World-Soul”…………………………………………….……….90

4.4. Microcosm in Emerson’s Philosophy……………………………………………………91

4.4.1. Microcosm in “Wood-notes”…………………………………….……………….…….91

4.4.1. 1. Everything will be discovered in Man …………………………………………………………….91

4.3.2. Microcosm in the Sphinx…………………………………………..………………….94

Chapter Five……………………………………………………………………………………..100

5.1. Summing Up……………………………………………………………………………101

5.2. Findings…………………………………………………………………………………103

5.3. Suggestions for Further Research………………………………………………………112

Work Cited……………………………………………………………….……115

Work Consulted…………………………………………………………………..….…118

Electronic Texts…………………………………………………………………………………………………119

Chapter One

 Introduction      

1.1. General Background

Lecturer and writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was the intellectual center of American Transcendentalism and one of the great thinkers and writers of American literary history. As a prolific writer and thinker in religious, literary and social subjects, Emerson embodied the Transcendentalist movement’s self-reliance and originality of understanding that in this study is referred to as individuality. Emerson spent a