A Most Beautiful Situation: Reverend William Emerson, Dr. Lewis Beebe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Walt Whitman s Unique Perspective on War

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1 A Most Beautiful Situation: Reverend William Emerson, Dr. Lewis Beebe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Walt Whitman s Unique Perspective on War Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Primary Sources: Quotes from Emerson s letters to his wife, Phebe Krueger, John W. Troop Life at the Champlain Valley Forts during the American Revolution, Bulletin of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum Volume XIV, Number 3 (Summer 1982), 170. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography introduction and journal page of Dr. Lewis Beebe who served in the army Secondary Sources and References for Teacher: Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The Complete Works. New York and Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1904; Bartleby.com, Fuller, Randall. Day Break Gray and Dim: How the Civil War Changed Walt Whitman s Poetry. NEH. Gross, Robert A. The Minutemen and Their World. New York: Hill and Wang, Print. Originally intended for: 10 th grade American Literature part of American Voices: Transcendentalist unit Class size: Private, all-female Catholic school One-to-one laptop program 1

2 Early American Literature Grade 10 Long period (80 minutes) and Short Period (50 minutes) Essential Question: What is the connection between personal conviction and civic duty during the American Revolution and Civil War? Objectives: Students will successfully analyze two primary source documents from the Revolution, an excerpt from a Ralph Waldo Emerson essay on War, and a Walt Whitman poem from the Civil War Key Terms: Point of View, Tone, Synthesis Day 1 Procedure: Before class: o Set up work stations with copies of laminated images o Make copies of Primary Source Analysis document (each student will need 4 copies make double sided) As they come in: Students will respond to the Free Write question on the board: During times of conflict, what inspires a person to enlist in the army or serve his or her country? 10 minutes: Share responses and discuss the following important questions o In what ways could a person serve in the American Revolution or Civil War? o What is a chaplain and what are his responsibilities? o What were doctors and chaplains likely to witness during wartime? 5 minutes: Explain how source analysis stations will work o Split students into 4 groups o Each station will have a laminated copy of the resources (there will be at least two copies so students can share) o Station 1: Excerpts from Reverend Emerson s journal (Appendix 1) o Station 2: Biography and one excerpt from Dr. Beebe s journal (Appendix 2) o Station 3: Walt Whitman s poem (Appendix 3) o Station 4: Ralph Waldo Emerson excerpt from War (Appendix 4) o Each student will have an analysis sheet (Appendix 5) hand out, discuss, review the sheet minutes: Students will spend time at each stations reviewing each source and answering questions. Approximately 8 minutes per station. Leave time for students to move to the next station. o Students are allowed to use their textbooks and class notes to help them find context clues for these sources! 2

3 10 minutes: Share responses o As a class, we will go through each document and share our findings o Collect analysis packets for next class Last 5 minutes: Bring up final reflection on the board o Using your analysis of these documents, think about the unexpected realities of war. How might the aspirations of a soldier or chaplain change from the beginning of a battle or war to the end of it? Assessment: Next class, introduce the synthesis essay! Students will be able to work in partners on Pre-Writing chart (Appendix 6) Using the four sources, students will write a two-page synthesis essay comparing and contrasting the romanticized perception of war versus the stark realities of war time Day 2 Procedure: Before class: o Have copies ready of synthesis essay packet and make sure to share on GoogleDocs and post on Haiku page (Appendix 6) o Bring up primary source image of the day: Thomas Davies painting, View of the Lines at Lake George, 1759 (Appendix 7) o Make at least 8-10 laminated copies of painting As they come in: Students should read the Free Write of the day on the board: Project the image of the Thomas Davies painting; students should write initial responses to image 10 minutes: Primary Source Image Analysis o In pairs, students will analyze the primary source o Students should use the image analysis sheet to response (Appendix 8) 5 minutes: Share responses to the image as a way of introduce the essay assessment 10 minutes: Introduce the synthesis essay 25 minutes: Students will work in pairs on the Pre-Writing chart based on previous class notes 5 minutes: Answer questions about essay Assessment: Students will begin working on Synthesis essay 3

4 Appendix 1: Reverend (Chaplain) William Emerson s journal entries August 24: Chaplain William Emerson* arrives at Fort Ticonderoga and writes his wife Phebe that Ticonderoga is a most beautiful situation, and that the stone barracks are very Fine and as pleasing as the stone buildings at Harvard College. Arnold s fleet sets sail for the north from Crown Point. August 25: The Reverend William Emerson writes to his wife: We have here five fine regiments from the Southern Colonies, Pennslyvania & the Jersey,s dressed in uniform, that appear as well disciplined as the best of the British troops. August 25: The soil seems to be one entire Bed of Clay, the road through a dry time is trod down somooth, [but] when it comes to be wet, nothing is more difficult than to keep from falling either backward or forward. September 1: What pains are [to] violate the Sabbath, and how do they prophane and impious wreek their genius to invent some new Method to shew how they hate God & Religion. September 16: The Reverend Ammi Robbins received letters from home. Hew went with Mr. Breck to visit Rev. Mr. Emerson who is very low. [ ] Chaplain William Emerson, given a medical discharge, dies in Rutland, Vermont, on his way home to Concord, Massachusetts. *Grandfather of writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Saw the beginning of his war on the front lawn of his home at North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. 4

5 Appendix 2: Journal of Lewis Beebe 5

6 6

7 Appendix 3: Walt Whitman Poem A Sight in Camp in the Daybreak Gray and Dim Poem by Walt Whitman 7

8 Appendix 4: 2 As far as history has preserved to us the slow unfoldings of any savage tribe, it is not easy to see how war could be avoided by such wild, passionate, needy, ungoverned, strong-bodied creatures. For in the infancy of society, when a thin population and improvidence make the supply of food and of shelter insufficient and very precarious, and when hunger, thirst, ague and frozen limbs universally take precedence of the wants of the mind and the heart, the necessities of the strong will certainly be satisfied at the cost of the weak, at whatever peril of future revenge. It is plain, too, that in the first dawnings of the religious sentiment, that blends itself with their passions and is oil to the fire. Not only every tribe has war-gods, religious festivals in victory, but religious wars. The student of history acquiesces the more readily in this copious bloodshed of the early annals, bloodshed in God s name too, when he learns that it is a temporary and preparatory state, and does actively forward the culture of man. War educates the senses, calls into action the will, perfects the physical constitution, brings men into such swift and close collision in critical moments that man measures man. On its own scale, on the virtues it loves, it endures no counterfeit, but shakes the whole society until every atom falls into the place its specific gravity assigns it. Ralph Waldo Emerson, excerpt from essay on War 8

9 Appendix 5: Primary Source Analysis Worksheet 9

10 Appendix 6: Assessment Name: Purpose: The primary sources of Reverend William Emerson, Dr. Lewis Beebe (and his biography), and the poem by Walt Whitman discuss personal reactions to war in America. Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Emerson s grandson (and a Transcendentalist), also shares a well-known, critical perspective on war itself. Some of these American s experiences take place a half century apart. However, we can compare and contrast their purpose for being in war, the conditions they faced, and human suffering they witness. Historical perspectives like this help us to discuss the romanticized version of war versus the stark reality of serving in or witnessing war. Consider how the experiences of these men differ from their initial thoughts about war. Assignment: Write two-page essay in which you compare and contrast the different sources. Feel free to also use examples from other texts we ve read this year to supplement your main idea. I strongly encourage you to use evidence and quotes in your writing. I also encourage to use any current, relevant stories of service from a reputable media source! Texts: William Emerson information and journal entries Dr. Lewis Beebe biography and journal entries Ralph Waldo Emerson s excerpt from his essay War Walt Whitman s poem Day Break Gray and Dim: How the Civil War Changed Walt Whitman s Poetry HINT: Be engaging and detailed use evidence from the excerpts! Here are some essential questions to help you begin your brainstorming: Why are these men serving in war? What are they observing about war? What role does religion serve in war? In these documents, what harsh realities do the chaplain, doctor, and soldier face? How might these be different from their initial expectations of war? Example basic thesis statement: Though two reflect on the conditions of life during the American Revolution and one documents the Civil War, each of the primary sources from Reverend William Emerson, Dr. Lewis Beebe, and poet Walt Whitman reveal the harsh realities of wartime. 10

11 Two-page, five paragraph essay format: Introduction: (5-8 sentences engage your reader try a quote - your thesis is your last sentence) Body Paragraph One: (5-8 sentences - topic sentence - discuss your first point using at least one example that you explain - finish with a transition to the next paragraph) Body Paragraph Two: (5-8sentences - topic sentence - discuss your second point using at least one example that you explain - finish with a transition to the next paragraph) Body Paragraph Three: (5-8 sentences - topic sentence - discuss your third point using at least one example that you explain - finish with a transition to the next paragraph) Conclusion: (5-8 sentences - reiterate your thesis but do not repeat it - wrap up your arguments/ discussion can even have a quote here as well!) Also remember: Use MLA format: use the MLA heading and include all group member names Write about literature in the present tense Do not use contractions Italicize the title of novels Put short story titles and essay titles in quotes Cite author and page number when using quotes Introduce and explain all quotes Pre-writing Chart Copy and paste the chart into GoogleDocs so you do not lose your work. Working with a partner, fill out the chart. Find at least 3 examples for each box! You will use these examples to create your essay. Author Why: How did each of these authors come to be in their current situation/purpose for writing? 1 example of purpose for being in war 1-2 examples of struggle, survival, reality of war Any references to religion William Emerson Lewis Beebe Walt Whitman Ralph Waldo Emerson 11

12 Example Outline Format (you can adapt this or organize a different way) I. Introduction A. Hook B. Quote to engage the reader C. Thesis statement II. William Emerson III. Lewis Beebe IV. Walt Whitman V. Conclusion (include Ralph Waldo Emerson) A. Do NOT repeat the thesis engage the reader again with an interesting fact B. Revisit main ideas answer a big picture question why is it important to understand the theme in these texts? What role does religion play in war? C. Interesting quote to leave reader with a final thought 12

13 Appendix 7: Thomas Davies painting 13

14 Appendix 8: Primary Source Image Analysis Responding to Art Background Information: Title: View of the Lines at Lake George, 1759 Artist: Thomas Davies Date: 1774 Medium: oil on canvas MAKE OBSERVATIONS: What is happening in the painting? What time of year do you think it is? What do you see along the water? Describe the landscape. What is the tone of the painting? MAKE INTERPRETATION: Why do you think the artist creates a scene about war in such a beautiful landscape? How does this differ from the subject matter? MAKE A NARRATIVE: Imagine you are a chaplain, soldier, or doctor observing this scene. What will your day be like? What things will you see today? Source: Fort Ticonderoga: Using Art to Learn About History 14