Transcendentalist Poetry
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During The New England Renaissance, Transcendentalism was fueled by a spirit of individuality. Transcendentalism, which focused on the philosophies of Kant, Plato, and Pascal, centered on the belief in finding truths lying outside the senses, thus located in the universal presence called the "Over-soul" (257). This God, or "Over-soul", was believed by transcendentalists to be known to men only through mysticism in nature and surroundings, thus leaving them changed, self-reliant, and cleansed of everyday worries (257). Therefore, the transcendentalists of nineteenth century New England focused on individuality and self-reliance. Through poetry, many transcendentalists got their point across; writing about how rewarding individuality was, and criticizing society for its unthinking conformity. Emily Dickinson's "How Happy is the Little Stone" and "God Gave a Loaf to Every Bird", and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance discuss the transcendentalist notion of independence, and each includes the simple theme of how inviduality brings happiness. Through these three literary works, individuality is seen as bringing freedom and spiritual cleansing, thus leading to a joy that the outside society cannot obtain.
The Transcendentalist mentality that individuality brings happiness is first seen through Emily Dickinson's "How Happy is the Little Stone." Transcendentalists believed in a simple lifestyle which was obtained through independence. This simple independence is clearly evident in the first line of the poem, saying "How happy is the little stone / That
rambles in the road alone"(392)...