Other
Biography: Ralph Waldo Emerson
This website from a professor at Brandeis University provides a biography on Ralph Waldo Emerson in which his childhood, writing career, and his transcendentalist views are discussed. Included are links to related essays and a list of...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson
This features a brief biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an optimistic Transcendentalist author who's personal life was filled with tragedy. See "Ralph Waldo Emerson Activities" for related materials.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Migrant Struggle: Henry David Thoreau
A proponent of social and environmental rights, Henry David Thoreau is featured in this brief biography highlighting his contributions to literature. See Teaching Tips and Author Questions for discussion ideas.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature and Composition: Transcendentalism
This is an introduction to the Transcendentalism period (1836-1860) in American Literature. It focuses on the beliefs and characteristics of transcendentalism and its leading authors: Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson and...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Transcendentalism: Key Terms
This lesson from a unit on American Transcendentalism focuses on key literary terms that fit the writings of the period and an interactive crossword puzzle using the terms and their definitions.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Transcendentalism: Civil Disobedience
This lesson from a unit on American Transcendentalism focuses on civil disobedience using "Essay on Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau and "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King Jr. Links are provided to each of the...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature: Transcendentalism: Emily Dickinson
This lesson from a unit on American Transcendentalism focuses on Emily Dickinson and her poetry. It includes links to a Discovery Education video: "Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886: An Overview of Her Work" (registration required) and four of...
Eserver
E Server: The Thoreau Reader: Annotated Works of Henry David Thoreau
This website provides an introduction to and the the text of some of Thoreau's most famous works.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Louisa May Alcott: Transcendentalism
Explore the impact of transcendentalism on the life of Louisa May Alcott and American society in this video [4:00] from the American Masters film Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind 'Little Women.' Emphasizing self-reliance, civil...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Culture of Common Man: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Excerpts From "Self Reliance"
Emerson's famous essay emerging from the Transcendentalist period that celebrates unfettered individualism.
Other
Blupete: Thoughts on Thoreau and "Walden"
This site presents a summary of each chapter of Thoreau's book "Walden" along with some quotes from each chapter of the book and commentary by Peter Landry.
Eserver
E Server: The Thoreau Reader: Introduction to the Works of Thoreau
An excellent article detailing the major events of the life and works of Henry David Thoreau. Complete with links to Thoreau's most famous works and interesting details about his life.
Eserver
E Server: The Thoreau Reader: What Did Henry Look Like?
Two online photos of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862 CE). Also provides commentary and quotes on the man's physical nature and appearance.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Examining Transcendentalism
Interactive instructional activity that allows learners to view the works and ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau through the popular culture of their time. Students use multiple genres to grasp the concepts of...
PBS
Pbs: American Novel: Literary Timeline: Literary Movements: Transcendentalism
Background on the literary, religious, and philosophical movement known as Transcendentalism, including central beliefs and writers important to the movement.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Henry Thoreau
A nice biography on Henry David Thoreau's life, centering mostly on his literary skills.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University: American Romanticism: Reading Walden
This Virginia Commonwealth University site discusses the language and rhetoric used in Walden, accompanied by questions about how to interpret it.
Texas A&M University
American Transcendentalism Web: Walden Study Text
This Virginia Commonwealth University site contains study notes that explain the text to each chapter of Thoreau's "Walden."
Texas A&M University
American Transcendentalism Web
A scholarly site with many articles about American transcendental authors, their work, and philosophy.
Stanford University
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Ralph Waldo Emerson
At this website, read about the significant events in Emerson's life and learn about the major themes present in his writing.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: The Second Great Awakening and Transcendentalism
This article focuses on the Second Great Awakening and Transcendentalism in America. It looks at the relationship between religion and politics.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Literary Movements: American Transcendentalism
A site from Washington State University detailing the emergence of transcendentalism, and quotes from major authors of the time.
Digital History
Digital History: American Transcendentalism
A detailed look at the philosophy behind American Transcendalism, and a discussion of many of those who practiced it.
Virginia Commonwealth University
American Transcendentalism Web: Ralph Waldo Emerson
This resource includes a short biography of Emerson and links to related sites.