Name: Period: Date: CLOSE READER: “Self-Reliance” by Emerson p. 44-45.
Due at the end of the period- NO EXCEPTIONS!
1-Ralph Waldo Emerson was part of the ______movement. Transcendentalism was a reaction to the enlightenment. Both movements valued freedom, individuality, and questing conventions (rules) in society, politics, and religion. However, while members of theenlightenment focused on reason, in contrast, the transcendentalists focused on intuition and experience above reason alone. They felt that you needed to experience something to truly understand it and to truly know if it is true or not. Do you agree/disagree? Why?
2-Self-Reliance can be defined as: “Reliance (dependence) on one’s own powers and resources rather than those of others” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2017). What is Self-Reliance to Emerson? How do you think Emerson uses this word and what do you think he means by it? Explain your answer.
What do you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of living with this philosophy?
Advantages of Transcendentalism / Disadvantages of Transcendentalism3-What do you think Emerson means by the following statements:
- Envy is ignorance
- Imitation is suicide
- Do you agree/disagree? Why/why not?
4-What line in the first paragraph on page 44, argues that man (humans) must take responsibility and work hard? (Nothing can come but through…what )?
5-Trust yourself- avoid the critics! In the second paragraph, Emerson argues that great men are the ones that are able to trust themselves. For example, he relates that great men have always trusted themselves and confided themselves to the ______to the ______of their age, ______their ______that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in their being…
6-In the second paragraph, Emerson also relates that God is in control of everything. What does he believe that a person needs to do with this awareness?
7-In paragraph three, Emerson talks about his responses to some of the haters. What does he say to them? Do you think he really means this-or, do you think he is just angry at their criticism? Explain. Have you ever had a similar experience? Explain.
8-Therefore, whoever is really a man, according to Emerson, must be a ______(about line 12). What do you think this means? And, do you agree/disagree? Why/why not?
9-Trust yourself- avoid the critics! Caring too much about what other people think is something that can hurt a person. Emerson believes that people should not listen so much to what other people think. What lines show this? What kinds of things will other people claim to know better than you?
10-What are the dangers of living after the world’s opinion? In contrast, what does Emerson recommend?
11-About line 39, Emerson makes an appeal to pathos when he states: “The other terror that scares us from self-trust [trusting ourselves] is our consistency [conformity in the application of something typically necessary for the sake of logic or fairness]…” when other people judge us according to our past acts. What do you think he means by this and do you agree/disagree with Emerson?Do you think that we are afraid to trust ourselves because we may have made some mistakes in the past? Were you ever afraid to trust yourself because of mistakes that you made in the past?
12-What do you think Emerson means when he states: “A foolish consistency [conformity in the application of something typically that which is necessary for the sake of logic or fairness] is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall.” Explain your answer.
13-About lines 48-51, Emerson makes an appeal to ethos. He is going to push his philosophy as also being “misunderstood” like some of the great thinkers, philosophers, scientists and mathematicians. Therefore, he first takes some time to talk about some important folks that were “misunderstood” (and criticized) by society. For example, What do all of these people have in common?
- Pythagoras- Greek philosopher and mathematician known for the Pythagorean theorem.
- Socrates- Greek philosopher. Mentor to Plato. Plato was mentor to Aristotle. Aristotle to Alexander the great.
- Jesus- Went against the religious leaders at the time. Additionally, many wanted him to bring about a revolt against the Roman tyranny and oppression. He had a higher agenda.
- Luther- Went against the Catholic church at the time for their abuse of indulgences. Leader of the reformation.
- Copernicus- Placed the sun at the center of the universe (not the earth).
- Galileo- Got in trouble for arguing for Heliocentrism- that the planets revolve around the sun.
Therefore, when Emerson states: “To be great is to be misunderstood- Is it so bad to be misunderstood?” How does the reader “feel” about folks that are misunderstood?
14-Do you agree/disagree with Emerson? Do you have to be misunderstood to be great? Explain. Use examples as support.
15-There are three main themes in the reading: Individualism, personal responsibility, and nonconformity. Write at least 3-4 sentences next to each one. Use at least 1 or more examples from the story as support.
Individualism / Personal Responsibility / Nonconformity16-On a separate sheet of paper write an objective summary. Make sure to provide the main point and supporting details. Cite at least one line from the text to support your points. (At least 5-7 sentences or more).
17-On a separate sheet of paper write a strong response to the article. Make sure to provide examples to support your points. (5-7 sentences or more).