Pre-reading for Self-Reliance

Transcription

1 Name Date Hour Pre-reading for Self-Reliance Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. 1. Paraphrase this quote: 2. In what ways do you agree with this quote? In what ways do you disagree? Agree Disagree nonconformist (n.) importune (v.) titular (adj.) ephemeral (adj.) capitulate (v.) philanthropy (n.) pule (v.) lintels (n.) Vocabulary Preview somebody who does not conform to an accepted pattern of behavior to ask somebody continually, repeatedly, or forcefully for something, especially in a troublesome way in name only; having a particular title, rank, or position, but not possessing the power or exercising the functions usually associated with it short-lived; lasting for only a short period of time and leaving no permanent trace to surrender, especially under agreed conditions a desire to improve the material, social, and spiritual welfare of humanity, especially through charitable activities to whine, whimper, or cry plaintively a horizontal beam that supports the weight of the wall above a window or door

2 COMPREHENSION 1. Explain what Emerson is saying in your own words. 2. Ask questions. 3. Circle and define unknown vocabulary. Excerpt from Self-Reliance Ralph Waldo Emerson A Nonconformist AGREE or DISAGREE? 1. Evaluate what Emerson is saying. Do you agree or disagree with him? Why? (minimum of 3 comments) (minimum of 3 comments) Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. I remember an answer which when quite young I was prompted to make to a valued adviser, who was wont to importune me with the dear old doctrines of the church. On my saying, What have I to do with the sacredness of traditions, if I live wholly from within? my friend suggested, "But these impulses may be from below, not from above." I replied, "They do not seem to me to be such; but if I am the Devil's child, I will live then from the Devil." No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition, as if every thing were titular and ephemeral but he. I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions. Every decent and well-spoken individual affects and sways me more than is right. I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways. If malice and vanity wear the coat of philanthropy, shall that pass? If an angry bigot assumes this bountiful cause of Abolition, and comes to me with his last news from Barbadoes, why should I not say to him, 'Go love thy infant; love thy wood-chopper: be good-natured and modest: have that grace; and never varnish your hard, uncharitable ambition with this incredible tenderness for black folk a thousand miles off. Thy love afar is spite at home.' Rough and graceless would be such greeting, but truth is handsomer than the affectation of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none. The doctrine of hatred must be preached as the counteraction of the doctrine of love when that pules and whines. I shun father and mother and wife and brother, when my genius calls me. I would write on the lintels of the door-post,whim. I hope it is somewhat better than whim at last, but we cannot

3 spend the day in explanation. Expect me not to show cause why I seek or why I exclude company. Then, again, do not tell me, as a good man did to-day, of my obligation to put all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent, I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong. There is a class of persons to whom by all spiritual affinity I am bought and sold; for them I will go to prison, if need be; but your miscellaneous popular charities; the education at college of fools; the building of meeting-houses to the vain end to which many now stand; alms to sots; and the thousandfold Relief Societies; though I confess with shame I sometimes succumb and give the dollar, it is a wicked dollar which by and by I shall have the manhood to withhold. EFFORT SCORE for CLOSE READING: / 4 Looking Back, Rereading, and Answering Questions 1. What, according to the third sentence in "A Nonconformist," is the only sacred thing? a. the soul b. our thoughts and internal desires c. your relationship with nature d. the integrity of one's mind 2. What advice does Emerson give to the angry bigot? a. Don't pretend to care about the slaves in Barbados. Actually show love and grace toward those who are nearby. b. Stop supporting the institution of slavery. c. Love your own family. Stop worrying about the problems facing outsiders. d. Support the cause of abolition and stop worrying about the spoiled people who live nearby. 3. Emerson told a friend of his that he had no need to follow church traditions because he was living wholly from within. Which of the following statements summarizes the response given by Emerson s valued advisor? a. You are the spawn of Satan. b. It is fine to rely on your conscience most of the time. c. The impulses you follow might be from the Devil, not from within. d. Relying on impulse doesn t work. 4. Emerson says that he is ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions. In the context of the essay, the phrase badges and names most nearly refers to a. established authority and acknowledged power. b. police men and government officials. c. the rule of law. d. the Oversoul and his rules.

4 PERSONAL RESPONSE: Emerson, as a radical individualist, seems to reject both the idea of capitulat[ing] to badges and names and the idea of giving to miscellaneous popular charities. Why does he think this way? Do you agree or disagree with his attitude toward authority and charity? Why or why not? WC=

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