Emersons Self-Reliance Essays - Lecturers, Transcendentalism

Emerson's Self-Reliance Essays - Lecturers, Transcendentalism Emerson's Self-Reliance Ralph Emerson wrote many journals and essays dealing with the subject of transcendentalism. One of his most famous works is the essay Self-Reliance. In Self-Reliance, Emerson hit on the idea that the individual should be completely reliant on God, and that every person has been put into their certain life and position by God and that the person needs to trust themselves. He said that God has put the power to handle things, think, and act into each individual and that the individual needs to trust what God has put inside them to do things with their lives. The idea is almost that of predestination, except for the fact that we have the choice of which road to take. Predestination is the idea that a higher power, or God, has planned everything that will happen to a person in their life. Emersons idea is that God has put the choice to us, but he has given us all of our unique gifts for the paths we can choose to take. In Self-Reliance, Emerson wrote, Trust thyself: every heart vibrates t o that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contempararies, the connection of events (Runes 362). Emerson also gave the idea of trusting ourselves through God. He said that you have to trust in God to tell you what to do and what to think. He said that if you do this that God will provide answers (363). Another quote from his popular essay, Self-Reliance, supports this. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; 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 (363). Emerson also had the idea that we need to be ourselves, especially in the things that we say. Again from the popular essay, Self-Reliance, he spoke about how we need to say what we think one day, and then speak what is on your mind the next day, even if you completely contradict what you said in the first day. Then he said that people will definitely not understand you if this happens (365). That goes along with the whole idea above about how transcendentalism was widely misunderstood because even the great minds that thought it up dont fully understand everything about the philosophy. Emerson concludes this thought to say that, To be great is to be misunderstood (365). Emerson is obviously the father of transcendentalism, and his great ideas were conveyed in his brilliant essays, journals, and poems. He helped pass the philosophy on to other philosophers and writers. One of these writers is Thoreau. Thoreau studied under Emerson and also wrote many pieces dealing with the subject of transcendentalism. One of his most popular pieces of writing about transcendentalism is Walden.

Negative Structures in English

Negative Structures in English There are a number of negatives structures in English ranging from basic negative sentences to the more complicated neither ... nor and not ... either. Learn the most common negative structures by following the rules below. Negative Verb Conjugation The most common negative structure in English is the conjugation of the verb in the negative. Verbs can be used in the negative by placing not directly after the auxiliary verb in each conjugation. The combination of the auxiliary verb not is often contracted in English. For example: do not dont, will not wont, has not hasnt, etc. S auxiliary verb not main verb objects She wont come to the party tomorrow.Tom hasnt finished the report.We arent studying Russian this semester. Negative Imperative The imperative form is used to instruct / command others. Use do not plus the verb for all comparative forms. No subject is required for the use of the imperative form. Do not verb objects Do not begin without me.Dont waste any time.Do not touch the glass. Never Never is used to express the idea that something is never done. Note that never is used with positive form of the verb but results in a negative meaning. Its also important to remember that the present simple and past simple do not take an auxiliary verb in the positive form. In other words, use the auxiliary verb for the present perfect, future, etc., but not with the present or past simple. S (auxiliary verb) never verb objects She never takes time off work.Mary has never returned my calls.Peter never walked to school when he was young. Double Negatives in English Double negatives - the use of two no words such as not and nowhere in one sentence - are incorrect in English. When modifying something use either a no word, or any as explained in the following sections. He doesnt like anything. OR He likes nothing.Angela hasnt visited anyone this month. OR Angela has visited no one this month.She isnt going to travel anywhere. OR Shes going to travel nowhere. Use of Any Any and words such as anyone, anybody, anything, etc. are used in negative sentences and questions. S auxiliary verb not main verb any objects He doesnt have any time.Mary isnt going to eat any dinner.Peter hasnt done anything for the past three days. No Words There are a number of no words such as nowhere, nothing, no one, which can be used in place of any words. Note the difference in structure between the two. Any words take the negative verb structure, no words take positive structures. S (auxiliary verb) main verb no word objects I have nothing to say.No more / not ...  any moreThe boys invited no one to their party.Timothy has gone nowhere this summer. Negative Any OR No Word The following sections refer to specific similar structures using either the negative verb form with any or a no word. In each of these cases examples are given for both forms. The forms used have been explained above. I have no more time today. OR I dont have any more time today.She has thought of no more ideas. OR She hasnt thought of any more ideas. Nobody / not ... anybody Note: This has the same meaning as no one / not ... anyone. Susan saw nobody at work today. OR Susan didnt see anyone at work today.Tom bought nobody a present. OR Tom didnt buy anyone a present. No one / not ... anyone Note: This has the same meaning as no body / not ... anybody. Im meeting no one today. OR Im not meeting anyone today.Alice has bought no one presents yet. OR Alice hasnt bought anyone presents yet. Nothing / not ... anything Ive eaten nothing all day. OR I havent eaten anything all done.Doug talks about nothing with his friends. OR Doug doesnt talk about anything with his friends. Nowhere / not ... anywhere Shelly has gone nowhere this year. OR Shelly hasnt gone anywhere this year.Alex has travelled nowhere outside of the USA. OR Alex hasnt travelled anywhere outside of the USA. Neither ... Nor Use the phrase neither ... nor when expressing two negatives together. Note that the verb is inverted after the use of nor. I have neither the time nor have I had the desire to do my work.She has neither the time nor the money to help her friends.Alex has neither the means nor does he have the ability to find a new job.