Poets+-+Ralph+Waldo+Emerson

=Ralph Waldo Emerson - The Poet of the Human Spirit=

The Purpose of Emerson's Poetry
Emerson was a poet that wrote for humans, for the power and individualism that each human has. The Transcendentalism movement that he was a part of was a movement that inspired and encouraged Americans to develop their own writing styles - free of Europe's. Emerson had an idea, as well as a book on "Self Reliance", something that did not match his religious upbringing, but rather inspired people to be the best they can be. Not having to hang onto hopes of either God or man and taking one's life into their own hands was a revolutionary idea. Whether or not someone is religious, the idea of being responsible for one's own destiny certainly simplifies the "big picture" a little bit, as well as taking away the scapegoat for why things have been going bad for someone - they can no longer blame God or other people.

The Audience of Emerson's works
Emerson inspired many young, up and coming philosophers and writers with his works and ideas. The encouragement of developing a new, unique style by a renowned writer really opened younger generations' eyes. broadening their horizons and possibilities as to what they could do. The idea of being the master of one's own fate was also something that hadn't been heard of at this point. Young people's lives were always controlled by their parents or their deity and when that is taken away, quite literally the world was their oyster, the possibilities were endless. Much of how the world is today - for better or for worse - can be attributed to Emerson.

The Impact Emerson had on History
Emerson essentially rewrote what becoming an adult and growing up meant. People no longer felt that they had to continue the family business or do what their religion asked of them. Family life and aspects changed, independent thinkers among the children renounced the family tradition and went on to become whatever they wanted. This was a time where people truly believed dreams could come true - and for some of them it did. In the still-developing land of the free, the pursuit of happiness that the country was built on was finally being realized. Up until this point, America had been just England without a monarch, but this changed everything - a legacy Emerson was undoubtedly proud of.

The Impact Emerson has had on Modern Society
America as it is now would not exist if not for the ideas Emerson and others in the Transcendentalism movement had imposed on society. The complete freedom of the people, the literature and new writing styles that have developed since then would be utterly different. While this cannot be said with any degree of certainty, it might still have been true that careers were passed from father to son(s), and literature was still written in European style without Emerson and the publicity he gave the movement. America would likely have been a completely different place today without the influence of this great poet.

Beauty
 Was never form and never face

So sweet to SEYD as only grace

Which did not slumber like a stone,

But hovered gleaming and was gone.

Beauty chased he everywhere,

In flame, in storm, in clouds of air.

He smote the lake to feed his eye

With the beryl beam of the broken wave;

He flung in pebbles well to hear

The moment's music which they gave.

Oft pealed for him a lofty tone

From nodding pole and belting zone.

He heard a voice none else could hear

From centred and from errant sphere.

The quaking earth did quake in rhyme,

Seas ebbed and flowed in epic chime.

In dens of passion, and pits of woe,

He saw strong Eros struggling through,

To sun the dark and solve the curse,

And beam to the bounds of the universe.

While thus to love he gave his days

In loyal worship, scorning praise,

How spread their lures for him in vain

Thieving Ambition and paltering Gain!

He thought it happier to be dead,

To die for Beauty, than live for bread.

Literary Techniques

Personification - Giving an inanimate object, idea or animal human tendencies to better portray a situation

"Thieving Ambition and paltering Gain!"

While ambition does not literally steal from people and gain does not mess with things, Emerson was artfully and simply portraying what those emotions/mindsets do to people. Ambition can steal one's life away, or that person's money or time. Thieving or stealing was the best way to portray the idea that he was getting at, so he used it.

Imagery - The use of words to describe a situation/event with people to appeal to the physical senses

"The quaking earth did quake in rhyme, Seas ebbed and flowed in epic chime."

While this was not an entirely necessary addition to the poem, it is things like these that set great poets apart - their willingness to put in full effort to make their poems special. Emerson's simple elegance in this imagery and throughout the poem aid to fully immerse his readers in his work.

Simile - Finding similarities between two distinct objects using like or as

" Which did not slumber like a stone,"

Emerson once again goes above and beyond with his poems with his descriptions. The thing in question was described as not sleeping like a stone, which means it wasn't sleeping well. He could have said that in boring, common terms, but his writing style would not allow it. Being anything less than dignified and detailed is something that didn't happen in Emerson's work, and this portrays it well.

Astræ
 Himself it was who wrote

His rank, and quartered his own coat.

There is no king nor sovereign state

That can fix a hero's rate;

Each to all is venerable,

Cap-a-pie invulnerable,

Until he write, where all eyes rest,

Slave or master on his breast.

I saw men go up and down

In the country and the town,

With this prayer upon their neck,

"Judgment and a judge we seek."

Not to monarchs they repair,

Nor to learned jurist's chair,

But they hurry to their peers,

To their kinsfolk and their dears,

Louder than with speech they pray,

What am I? companion; say.

And the friend not hesitates

To assign just place and mates,

Answers not in word or letter,

Yet is understood the better;—

Is to his friend a looking-glass,

Reflects his figure that doth pass.

Every wayfarer he meets

What himself declared, repeats;

What himself confessed, records;

Sentences him in his words,

The form is his own corporal form,

And his thought the penal worm.

Yet shine for ever virgin minds,

Loved by stars and purest winds,

Which, o'er passion throned sedate,

Have not hazarded their state,

Disconcert the searching spy,

Rendering to a curious eye

The durance of a granite ledge

To those who gaze from the sea's edge.

It is there for benefit,

It is there for purging light,

There for purifying storms,

And its depths reflect all forms;

It cannot parley with the mean,

Pure by impure is not seen.

For there's no sequestered grot,

Lone mountain tam, or isle forgot,

But justice journeying in the sphere

Daily stoops to harbor there.

Literary Devices:

Metaphor - Drawing a similarity between two different objects

" Yet is understood the better;— Is to his friend a looking-glass, Reflects his figure that doth pass."

Emerson is comparing a man's companion to a mirror, someone who will reflect who that person is. Friendship is seldom thought of this way, but Emerson realized it and added it to a poem of his. Understanding the whole meaning of this requires critical analysis and deeper levels of thinking, something that Emerson likely intentionally added as he kept company with scholars and philosophers.

Imagery - Painting a picture with words to allow the readers to better understand what is going on

" For there's no sequestered grot, Lone mountain tam, or isle forgot,"

He is using imagery to allow readers to understand that nothing, not anything from the smallest isle to hidden grotto will be forgotten. Using this instead of saying "nothing will be forgotten" allows the reader to picture just what he means, and by this better understand the full idea he was trying to portray. Without the use of this technique, many of his descriptions would be really vague - something writers and philosophers need to steer clear of.

Personification - Giving an inhuman object or creature human qualities

" Rendering to a curious eye.."

An eye in itself does not have the capacity to be curious. Emerson described it as curious to portray the intention of the owner of the eye, specifying for the reader's sake why the eye was searching. If it had not specified this, the readers would miss the importance of it being a curious eye - if left to the reader's imagination, it could be a malicious eye or a watchful and loving eye.

Celestial Love
 Higher far,

Upward, into the pure realm,

Over sun or star,

Over the flickering Dæmon film,

Thou must mount for love,—

Into vision which all form

In one only form dissolves;

In a region where the wheel,

On which all beings ride,

Visibly revolves;

Where the starred eternal worm

Girds the world with bound and term;

Where unlike things are like,

When good and ill,

And joy and moan,

Melt into one.

There Past, Present, Future, shoot

Triple blossoms from one root

Substances at base divided

In their summits are united,

There the holy Essence rolls,

One through separated souls,

And the sunny &Aelig;on sleeps

Folding nature in its deeps,

And every fair and every good

Known in part or known impure

To men below,

In their archetypes endure.

The race of gods,

Or those we erring own,

Are shadows flitting up and down

In the still abodes.

The circles of that sea are laws,

Which publish and which hide the Cause.

Pray for a beam

Out of that sphere

Thee to guide and to redeem.

O what a load

Of care and toil

By lying Use bestowed,

From his shoulders falls, who sees

The true astronomy,

The period of peace!

Counsel which the ages kept,

Shall the well-born soul accept.

As the overhanging trees

Fill the lake with images,

As garment draws the garment's hem

Men their fortunes bring with them;

By right or wrong,

Lands and goods go to the strong;

Property will brutely draw

Still to the proprietor,

Silver to silver creep and wind,

And kind to kind,

Nor less the eternal poles

Of tendency distribute souls.

There need no vows to bind

Whom not each other seek but find.

They give and take no pledge or oath,

Nature is the bond of both.

No prayer persuades, no flattery fawns,

Their noble meanings are their pawns.

Plain and cold is their address,

Power have they for tenderness,

And so thoroughly is known

Each others' purpose by his own,

They can parley without meeting,

Need is none of forms of greeting,

They can well communicate

In their innermost estate;

When each the other shall avoid,

Shall each by each be most enjoyed.

Not with scarfs or perfumed gloves

Do these celebrate their loves,

Not by jewels, feasts, and savors,

Not by ribbons or by favors,

But by the sun-spark on the sea,

And the cloud-shadow on the lea,

The soothing lapse of morn to mirk,

And the cheerful round of work.

Their cords of love so public are,

They intertwine the farthest star.

The throbbing sea, the quaking earth,

Yield sympathy and signs of mirth;

Is none so high, so mean is none,

But feels and seals this union.

Even the tell Furies are appeased,

The good applaud, the lost are eased.

Love's hearts are faithful, but not fond,

Bound for the just, but not beyond;

Not glad, as the low-loving herd,

Of self in others still preferred,

But they have heartily designed

The benefit of broad mankind.

And they serve men austerely,

After their own genius, clearly,

Without a false humility;

For this is love's nobility,

Not to scatter bread and gold,

Goods and raiment bought and sold,

But to hold fast his simple sense,

And speak the speech of innocence,

And with hand, and body, and blood,

To make his bosom-counsel good:

For he that feeds men, serveth few,

He serves all, who dares be true.

Literary Devices:

Personification - Giving non-human objects or animals human qualities for the sake of a description

" There Past, Present, Future, shoot Triple blossoms"

Relative time does not have the ability to shoot something, but Emerson's description of such really captures a picture he's trying to paint. While the idea itself is still abstract, the readers can understand the physical/visual part of it, which helps them better understand the concept. There are very few ways to express the idea that he was, and the way he chose to do it was both artful and logical - helping everybody to understand it better.

Imagery - Describing a scene with descriptions about location, height and other details that appeal to the physical senses

"There the holy Essence rolls, One through separated souls,"

Describing an abstract idea with imagery is a great way to get reader's to understand what is being talked about. As this poem was not meant to be relevant to some, but to all, Emerson used this imagery to make it universal. When that sentence is read, everybody will picture something different, and in that way makes the poem unique to them. While being a great technique to make sure the poem is good for all people, it also makes a special connections between the reader and the poem, something that many poets failed to even try to do.

Simile - Drawing similarities between two things using "like" or "as"

"As garment draws the garment's hem Men their fortunes bring with them;"

Emerson uses a more direct way of communicating the point he is trying to make with the use of a simile. He is essentially saying "this thing does this just like this thing does this". While usually done with more colorful words and deeper meanings, Emerson was just as effective in his description with the use of a simile. He accurately and abruptly describes how one thing is like another, which works nicely for the text and in getting his idea across.

Similar Songs
 Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I? Well I see trees of green and red roses too, I'll watch them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Well I see skies of blue and clouds of white and the brightness of day I like the dark and I think to myself, what a wonderful world The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people passing by I see friends shaking hands saying, How do you do? They're really saying, I a..." I love you I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, They'll learn much more than we'll know And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me Somewhere over the rainbow way up high And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?

The poetic word choice and quiet evaluation of nature and humanity that is present in both artists' styles is obvious. Both analyze the world from quiet, casual bystander perspective while just listing, however artfully, what they see and what they think about things as they go on. Both use imagery heavily - in the song:"I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, and in Emerson's work "The quaking earth did quake in rhyme, Seas ebbed and flowed in epic chime."

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah

I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you She tied you to a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you. I've seen your flag on the marble arch Love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above But all I’ve ever learned from love Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you It’s not a cry you can hear at night It’s not somebody who has seen the light It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well, really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you And even though it all went wrong I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah

Both pieces of work have incredible amounts of poetic words and deeper meanings than what is first noticed. Emerson is always excellent at describing things in detail, but this song almost one-ups that. The lyrics are composed in such a way that one almost feels immediately connected with the author, almost as if they're right behind him while he is singing it. Emerson always uses lots of imagery in his poems, and the song does as well: "For there's no sequestered grot, Lone mountain tam, or isle forgot," and "There's a blaze of light in every word."

Bon Jovi - Bed of Roses

Sitting here wasted and wounded At this old piano Trying hard to capture The moment this morning I don't know 'Cause a bottle of vodka Is still lodged in my head And some blonde gave me nightmares I think that she's still in my bed As I dream about movies They won't make of me when I'm dead

With an ironclad fist I wake up and French kiss the morning While some marching band keeps Its own beat in my head While we're talking About all of the things that I long to believe About love and the truth and What you mean to me And the truth is baby you're all that I need

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on a bed of roses

Well I'm so far away That each step that I take is on my way home A king's ransom in dimes I'd given each night Just to see through this payphone Still I run out of time Or it's hard to get through Till the bird on the wire flies me back to you I'll just close my eyes and whisper, Baby blind love is true

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on a bed of roses

The hotel bar hangover whiskey's gone dry The barkeeper's wig's crooked And she's giving me the eye I might have said yeah But I laughed so hard I think I died

Now as you close your eyes Know I'll be thinking about you While my mistress she calls me To stand in her spotlight again Tonight I won't be alone But you know that don't Mean I'm not lonely I've got nothing to prove For it's you that I'd die to defend

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is And lay you down on a bed of roses

Both pieces of writing tackle deep topics. Emerson is not know for writing negative poems about bad times, but that isn't to say he didn't do it - however seldomly. Emerson will also briefly reference supernatural beings briefly in some of his works, as dos Bon Jovi in this song. Metaphors are used in both to better describe a situation, event or person: "To stand in her spotlight again," and "Yet is understood the better;— Is to his friend a looking-glass, Reflects his figure that doth pass."

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph W. "Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson - All Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

"Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

Woodlief, Ann. "Ralph Waldo Emerson." Ralph Waldo Emerson. American Transcendentalism Web, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.