from Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson REVIEW SKILLS As you read this excerpt from Self- Reliance, look for clues to its theme. THEME The main idea about life that a literary work reveals. LITERARY FOCUS: FIGURES OF SPEECH Self-Reliance is an essay that includes some striking figures of speech. Figures of speech are based on unusual comparisons; they are not meant to be taken literally. For example, when Emerson says Society is a joint-stock company, he is comparing society to a business. In a joint-stock company, all of the owners share the company s profits and losses equally. Emerson s comparison points out that society is interested in money and success. Figures of speech include similes, metaphors, and personification. READING SKILLS: RECOGNIZING FIGURES OF SPEECH A figure of speech can help us see something in a new, imaginative way. When you come across a figure of speech, ask yourself these questions: What two things are being compared? What do these two things have in common? Why does the writer create this comparison? How does it affect the text? Use the Skill As you read the selection, pause whenever you notice an unusual comparison. Literary Skills Understand figures of speech, including similes, metaphors, and personification. Reading Skills Interpret difficult figures of speech. Such comparisons may be figures of speech. Underline each figure of speech you find. Ask the questions above to help you understand each comparison. Caricature of Emerson by Christopher Pearce Cranch from Illustrations of the New Philosophy. By permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard University. Review Skills Understand theme. 76 Part 1 Collection 2: American Romanticism
from Ralph Waldo Emerson There is a time in every man s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact makes much impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray. We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate 1 and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope. Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you; the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating 2 in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; Re-read lines 1-6, and underline the four things that Emerson says everyone learns eventually. What does Emerson mean by the metaphor kernel of nourishing corn (lines 4-5)? 10 20 conviction (k n vik n) n.: fixed or strong belief. imparted (im pärt id) v.: revealed. manifest (man fest ) adj.: plain; clear. transcendent (tran sen d nt) adj.: excelling; surpassing. According to Emerson, when is a person relieved and happy (lines 17-19)? 1. proportionate adj.: having a correct relationship between parts; balanced. 2. predominating v. used as adj.: having influence or power. from Self-Reliance 77
Re-read lines 40-41. What is the opposite of or the aversion to self-reliance? integrity (in teg r t ) n.: sound moral principles; honesty. What is sacred to Emerson (lines 44-45)? What is the theme, or message of this essay? (Review Skill) 30 40 50 and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark... These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. 3 It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs. Whoso would be a man must be a non-conformist. He who would gather immortal palms 4 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 5 you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world... A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, 6 and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood... 3. aversion n.: object of intense dislike or opposition. 4. He who... immortal palms: he who would win fame. In ancient times, palm leaves were carried as a symbol of victory or triumph. 5. absolve v.: pronounce free from guilt or blame. 6. Pythagoras... Newton: people whose contributions to scientific, philosophical, and religious thought were ignored or suppressed during their lifetimes. 78 Part 1 Collection 2: American Romanticism
from Self-Reliance Reading Skills: Understanding Figures of Speech The following chart lists passages from Self-Reliance. Within each passage are boldface words and phrases that are figures of speech. Interpret and explain each figure of speech in the space provided to the right. Figure of Speech Interpretation Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string. (line 22) [We are] guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on chaos and the Dark.... (lines 31-33) A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. (lines 47-48) from Self-Reliance 79
from Self-Reliance VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT DIRECTIONS: Write words from the Word Box to complete the paragraph below. Word Box Emerson held the strong (1) that ideas conviction imparted manifest transcendent integrity should be shared and discussed in public. In addition to this belief, he felt that a speaker showed (2) by being honest and straight-forward with an audience. Emerson was well-known for his truthful speeches, which made his ideas (3) and easy to understand. His fascinating thoughts were (4) in the elegant language of his lectures. Some readers found Emerson s words (5), taking them out of their own world and beyond to a new and better one. ANALOGIES: USING SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS In an analogy the words in one pair should relate to each other in the same way as the words in a second pair. The colon (:) should be read as is to ; the double colon (::) should be read as as. ENGINE : AUTOMOBILE :: propeller : airplane To understand an analogy, think of the relationships between the words. This analogy is accurate because both sets of words have the same relationship. An engine is part of an automobile just as a propeller is part of an airplane. DIRECTIONS: Complete each analogy below by circling the letter of the correct entry. Vocabulary Skills Use vocabulary in context. Complete word analogies. 1. BOOK : SCHOLAR :: tool : A mechanic C teacher B metal D implement 2. HONESTY : DECEIT :: courage : F conviction H cowardice G loyalty J intelligence 3. ACORN : TREE :: infant : A baby C crying B adult D offspring 4. HOPE : DESIRE :: plead : F braid H yell G divide J beg 80 Part 1 Collection 2: American Romanticism
Name Class Date Selection: Author: Figures of Speech A figure of speech is a word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and that is not meant to be taken literally. DIRECTIONS: The chart below describes the most common figures of speech. Fill in the chart with examples from the selection. (Not all selections will include all types of figures of speech.) Figure of Speech Example from the Selection Simile: a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, than, as, or resembles for example: She was as graceful as a gazelle. Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing for example: She was a gazelle leaping across the stage. Personification: a figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings or thoughts for example: The stage refused all comfort to the dancers. Symbol: a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself for example: A dove is a symbol of peace. 200 Graphic Organizers
Name Class Date Selection: Author: Imagery Imagery is the use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a place, or an experience. Images appeal to one or more of the five senses sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. DIRECTIONS: Fill in the chart below with examples of images that appeal to the senses. (Not all selections will have images that appeal to all senses.) Sight Imagery that appeals to... Hearing Smell Touch Taste 202 Graphic Organizers