Ralph Waldo Emerson "Nature" and "Self-Reliance"

Ralph Waldo Emerson "Nature" and "Self-Reliance"

Continuation of Transcendentalism

Open Ended

Warm-Up: Do you think it is more important to be self-reliant or to be able to rely on others? Explain in at least 2-3 complete sentences.

Standards

LAFS.1112.RI.1.2 - Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis; provide an objective summary of the text. 

LAFS.1112.RI.2.4- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).   

Multiple Select

Select our objectives for today! Hint: It is all of them!

• Determine two or more central ideas while analyzing how they develop

• Provide accurate objective summaries

• Analyze how words impact the meaning/tone of a text

Essential Question

In what ways does Ralph Walden Emerson help to develop his central ideas throughout the text? Which words and phrases help clue readers and support these ideas?

Agenda 1/13/21

1. Warm-Up/Welcome!

2. Review/Hk

3. Essays by Emerson

4. I do/We do

5. You Do

6. Essential Question

As we read

Pay close attention to the central ideas. How soon into each essay does Emerson introduce his first Central Idea?

Figurative language hunt

Open Ended

Reread lines 5-15. How is a man "always a child" in the woods? Which sentence acts as a central idea and best supports this metaphor?

Open Ended

As you read lines 21-35,

1. Identify the topic sentence Emerson uses to introduce each paragraph.

2. Explain what the "colors of the spirit" refers to (line 32).

3. Provide 2 examples of personification

Open Ended

Reread these lines again with a partner or individually. What is Emerson referring to when he alludes to the relationship between "man and the vegetable"?

"Nature" breaking down central idea

• Central idea: One feels perpetually young in the woods

• Detail 1: One casts off one's years in the woods as a snake sloughs off its skin.

• Detail 2: One is always a child when in the woods.

• Detail 3: One returns to reason and faith in the woods, fundamental ways of thinking

Open Ended

We do: Provide an objective summary of the essay. Restate the central idea in your own words. Do not include personal opinions about the essay.

Open Ended

Reread lines 12-24 and restate the central idea! <3

Open Ended

As you read lines 25-28:

Identify the topic sentence in each paragraph.

Explain common reactions to non-conformists.

Cite evidence!

Open Ended

State the central idea of lines 25-38.

Answer to previous slide

The central idea is that it does not matter what others think of you, but nonconformists are viewed by others with displeasure and resistance because they do not follow the crowd.

Open Ended

According to the text, why are we reluctant to trust ourselves?

Open Ended

Reread lines 39-51. Which sentence best summarizes the central idea of this part of the essay?

Answer key

The central idea in lines 39-51 is that it is "great to be misunderstood" (line 51). This is supported by examples of famous thinkers, like Galileo and Newton, whose views caused public distruct and distain (lines 46-51). This statement explains Emerson's idea about disregarding public opinion.

Open Ended

Exit-Ticket:

Select one text and provide an objective summary. In your objective summary, you should restate the central idea and provide at least three key details from the text that support that idea.

Great work!

Happy to have another English III Class!