I’ve always loved Emerson, but I’ve only recently stumbled upon Frederick Douglass’s writings and have been blown away. Our history books pigeon-hole him as solely a “Black scholar,” who wrote about his time in slavery and abolitionism, when in reality he was a polymath and wrote eloquently about a whole range of topics. His views on so many things were also far ahead of his time.
1 year ago
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Love this! Maybe include some of the articles from John Muir in Yosemite. He ran in the same social circles as Emerson and met him a couple times. He shared his love of nature in Yosemite and the conservation needed to protect its’s ancient trees!
1 year ago
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Looking forward to it ! Thank you ! I’ve been studying the American Renaissance so this is most useful !
1 year ago
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Definitely will like to take part, looking forward to it.
1 year ago
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As you're aware, F.O. Matthiessen coined the "American Renaissance" around a very tightly defined date range (1850-1855) and set of five socially and thematically interlinked authors (Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, Whitman). I note that in Norton and elsewhere the term now simply means "great American authors and works of the 19th century." Your canon videos usually use strict criteria for defining terms and lists. Is there a system to who and what you include in your version of an "American Renaissance" or do you mean it in the broader Norton-ish sense?
1 year ago
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Adam Walker - Close Reading Poetry
Study the great works of the American Renaissance with me! At Harvard this fall, I'm teaching an undergraduate course on American Transcendentalism. Based on that course, my Patreon will host a beginner-friendly version that will encourage careful readings of the writings of the American Renaissance, a pivotal moment in which America discovered its distinct literary voice.
We'll read the monumental essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson; explore the sprawling genius of Walt Whitman's verse; encounter the profoundly introspective poetry of Emily Dickinson; plumb the depths of Henry David Thoreau's "Walden"; and read the eloquent jeremiads of Frederick Douglass. Other poets, such as Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville, are also included in our readings.
First-time and veteran readers are all warmly welcomed! This is an opportunity for a quality educational experience without pretension or elitism.
We will meet Monday nights 6-8pm EST for a seminar-style class with lecture and guided discussion.
Stay posted for more information or sign up for the lectures at Patreon.com/CloseReadingPoetry
To get access, sign up for the Student-Sponsor Tier on Patreon for $10/month
1 year ago | [YT] | 153