In the mid-nineteenth century, shortly following the loss of his young wife to tuberculosis, and having abruptly abandoned his pastoral position at Boston’s Second Church, a 31-year-old Ralph Waldo Emerson moved to the small town of Concord, Massachusetts, to live in the house his father had built, which would later be known as “The Old Manse.” Here, he and his widowed mother made a home with his step-grandfather, Dr. Ezra Ripley, for a short year, until he managed to purchase his own home, what he called the “Coolidge Castle,” now known simply as the “Ralph Waldo Emerson House,” located on the Cambridge and Concord Turnpike.
The town of Concord lay seventeen miles west of the city of Boston, adorned in a landscape chock full of beautiful and picturesque ponds, rivers, rolling hills and cliffs, and forests-full of white pines. An already well-established market town with a rich and proud cultural history, Concord’s impeccable farmland and utter simplistic beauty seemed to attract and anchor Emerson, who, albeit not a true native, nonetheless quickly managed to establish himself as one of the town’s most prominent citizens. In addition to the town’s simplicity that he so-often relished in, Emerson also had the added benefit of having just about every one of his family members within an approximate thirty-five mile radius surrounding Concord, the central hub of Emerson family history.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Presence and Influence of Concord, Mass. in Transcendentalist Writings and the Ties That Bound Such Writers
- Emerson's Roots in Concord
- Concord as the Hub of the Transcendentalist Movement
- Emerson's Influence on Concord and its Culture
- Concord as a Source of Inspiration for Transcendentalist Writers
- The Role of Concord in Emerson's Writings
- Emerson's Vision for a Literary Community in Concord
- Thoreau's Inspiration from Emerson and Concord
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the deep and influential connection between the town of Concord, Massachusetts, and the Transcendentalist movement, particularly the prominent writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. It examines the ways in which Concord served as a source of inspiration and influence for both Emerson and other Transcendentalist writers who gravitated toward the town.- Emerson's deep personal connection to Concord and its historical significance
- The role of Concord in shaping the development of the Transcendentalist movement
- Concord as a place of intellectual and artistic ferment
- The influence of Concord on the writings of Emerson and other Transcendentalist authors
- The vision of a literary community in Concord and the writers who joined it
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The Presence and Influence of Concord, Mass. in Transcendentalist Writings and the Ties That Bound Such Writers: This chapter begins by introducing Ralph Waldo Emerson's personal ties to Concord, tracing his family history in the town and detailing his early experiences there. It then delves into Concord's significance as the birthplace of the Transcendentalist movement, highlighting the influence of Emerson and other writers on the town's cultural landscape.
- Emerson's Roots in Concord: This section focuses on Emerson's connection to Concord through his family and his early years in the town. It highlights his father's love for Concord and Emerson's own early writings that reveal his affinity for the place. It also describes the role of his step-grandfather, Ezra Ripley, in shaping his understanding of Concord's history.
- Concord as the Hub of the Transcendentalist Movement: This section examines how Concord became a central gathering place for Transcendentalist writers and thinkers. It explores the role of Emerson in attracting other prominent individuals to the town and discusses the influence of Concord's cultural environment on their work.
- Emerson's Influence on Concord and its Culture: This section focuses on Emerson's impact on Concord through his writing and public life. It highlights his influential "Historical Discourse" and "Concord Hymn," which contributed to his status as a respected resident and cemented Concord's historical and literary significance.
- Concord as a Source of Inspiration for Transcendentalist Writers: This section explores how Concord inspired various Transcendentalist writers, including Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Fuller. It describes how the town's natural beauty, history, and community fostered their creativity and intellectual exploration.
- The Role of Concord in Emerson's Writings: This section examines how Concord appears as a recurring theme in Emerson's writings, including his poems and essays. It highlights the role of the town's landscape, history, and people in inspiring his work.
- Emerson's Vision for a Literary Community in Concord: This section explores Emerson's desire to create a community of writers and thinkers in Concord. It highlights his aspirations for a vibrant intellectual environment and the individuals he envisioned as part of this community.
- Thoreau's Inspiration from Emerson and Concord: This section explores how Thoreau, a native of Concord, was inspired by both Emerson and the town's environment. It highlights his own writings that reflect Concord's influence and his connection to the Transcendentalist movement.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text explores key concepts like Transcendentalism, literary influence, community, and the impact of place on writing. It focuses on the town of Concord, Massachusetts, and its historical significance as a center for the Transcendentalist movement. Key figures include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Fuller, highlighting their connections to Concord and their contributions to the Transcendentalist literary tradition.- Arbeit zitieren
- Ashley Levinstone (Autor:in), 2012, The Presence and Influence of Concord, Massachusetts in Transcendentalist Writings, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286398
