Topics in American Lit: Transcendentalism
Period 2
Hartshorne room 11
"...beware of all enterprises that require new clothes"

Transcendentalism is one of the essential elements of America's cultural heritage. This religious, literary, and cultural movement began in Europe but reached its peak in America in the middle of the 1800's. In this one-semester course we will look at some of the major Transcendentalists and their writings in an effort to understand not only their roots and beliefs but their - and Transcendentalism's - influence, especially on American history and culture.

Required texts:
Walden, Civil Disobedience and Other Writings (Thoreau)
The Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne)
Leaves of Grass (Whitman)
handouts: (Emerson)

Course Syllabus
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Extra Reading, Links, Etc.