Curated OER
“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Readers not only identify aphorisms in Emerson's "Self Reliance," but also find evidence of transcendental elements contained in the essay. They also demonstrate consistency...
Curated OER
“Self Reliance” Questions
Is consistency foolish? Or is “foolish consistency . . . the hobgoblin of little minds”? Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance” provides readers with an opportunity to reflect on their own musing about being self-reliant and about...
Curated OER
Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism
Tackle Transcendentalist literature with these questions. This resource provides 14 essay questions that cover different works by Thoreau and Emerson. Class members may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the...
Curated OER
Emerson's Essays Quiz
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, learners respond to 12 multiple choice questions about Emerson's Essays. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Finding Self-Reliance
Fourth graders relate what is read to their own experiences and feelings and use active listening to respond to other students' comments. After a lecture/demo, 4th graders utilize an Active Listening Chart imbedded in this plan to gain...
Curated OER
Breaking Free From Conformity: A study in modern day Transcendentalism
Students begin with a journal entry on the topic "Why does Ralph Waldo Emerson advocate self-reliance?" They listen to Gavin Degraw's "I Want to Be." Students write their interpretation of the song. Students write an essay about Liars...
Walden Woods Project
19th Century Lessons for 21st Century Lives
The words of Henry David Thoreau on Civil Disobedience seem particularly relevant today, as are his writings and those of other transcendental thinkers who ask what it mean to live deliberately and what are the responsibilities of...
Curated OER
American Transcendentalism and Buddhism:
High schoolers study American transcendentalism through readings of Emerson and Thoreau. They make cognitive connections to the similarities to Buddhism in these writings. The connection of the literary movement is explained in the art...
Curated OER
Keys' Desert Queen Ranch
Learners complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible field trip to Keys' Desert Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park, east of Los Angeles.
Curated OER
Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum
Henry David Thoreau and Linda Ronstadt? Ann Tyler and Pete Townshend? Joyce Carol Oates and Pearl Jam? This richly detailed plan pairs classic literature with contemporary music and asks learners to analyze how the theme of conformity is...
Curated OER
Anonymous Patriots: Songs of the Revolution
Give your class a deeper understanding of the context and meaning behind early American song lyrics. By reading the lyrics to "Yankee Doodle" and "Revolutionary Tea," high schoolers will practice analysis by examining the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: Individualism in Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self Reliance"
Lesson on Emerson's views about self-reliance and individualism and how embracing those ideas affects society. Contents include teacher notes, vocabulary, background information, text analysis and Close reading questions.
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rwe: The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self Reliance
Read the full text and listen to portions of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance."
CommonLit
Common Lit: Excerpt From "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Transcendentalist movement of the 1820s-1830s promoted the ideas of intuition, independence, and inherent goodness in humans and nature. This excerpt comes from Emerson's most famous essay. "Self-Reliance," which discusses similar...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Transcendentalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson
This lesson from a unit on American Transcendentalism focuses on Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the leading transcendentalists. It features a link to his biography, and to an excerpt from his essay "Self Reliance." It also offers a quiz...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Romanticism: "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Self-Reliance" is an essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes, the need for each individual to avoid...
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: Authors: Ralph Waldo Emerson
This site features the author Ralph Waldo Emerson including the full text of the two essay collections: Essays, 1st Series and Essays, 2nd Series. Included in these essays are "Self Reliance" and "Politics".
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.
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rwe.org: The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson
RWE promotes to a global audience a greater understanding of and appreciation for the life and work of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Works are available in downloadable files and many have audio features.
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...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Transcendentalists in Action
Activity on the religious, philosophical and literary movement of Transcendentalism founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Article outlines the history and main ideas as well as the far-reaching literary and societal impact of Transcendentalist...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Henry David Thoreau
Learn more about the author Henry David Thoreau when you explore this resource. This site provides links to lesson plans and activities for some of his works.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Transcendentalism, an American Philosophy
A good look at the first major American philosophy, transcendentalism. Read about the ideas that transcendentalists believed, and find out the members of the Transcendental Club. Many American authors of the time espoused the ideals of...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coekho
Following omens and the pursuit of his dream, Santiago goes on a journey to find his treasure. Along the way he encounters characters and circumstances that both support or challenge his quest. Selected (5) reading passages (grades 6-11)...