Emerson Nature
Emerson
His opening epigram :
A subtle chain of countless rings The next unto the farthest brings; The eye reads omens where it goes, And speaks all languages the rose; And, striving to be man, the worm Mounts through all the spires of form.
- this gives an outline of what readers can expect in his essay
- relating the “worm” to man
- “striving” and “mounts” as ideas of progess
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Introduction :
- points out that we should not rely on the past generations, but look at the nature of the present
- “Strictly speaking, therefore all that is separate from us, all that which philosophy distinguishes as the NOT ME, that is, both nature and art, all other men and my own body, must be ranked under this name, NATURE” (36).
Nature I :
- explains how nature is taken for granted
- talks about the accessible and inaccessibility of nature; the “stars” - “The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence” (37). - the stars are shining and present, but they are far away
- talks about the landscape
- states that “the poet” and child are able to see nature - “In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature” (39).
- “The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable” (39).
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Commodity II :
- Emerson states how all the benefits of commodity are due to nature.
- what we need physically to survive
- “Under the general name of commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature” (40).
- “A man is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he may work” (41).
Beauty III :
- the beauty of nature serves man
- “A nobler want of man is served by nature, namely the love of Beauty” (42).
His opening epigram :
A subtle chain of countless rings The next unto the farthest brings; The eye reads omens where it goes, And speaks all languages the rose; And, striving to be man, the worm Mounts through all the spires of form.
- this gives an outline of what readers can expect in his essay
- relating the “worm” to man
- “striving” and “mounts” as ideas of progess
-
Introduction :
- points out that we should not rely on the past generations, but look at the nature of the present
- “Strictly speaking, therefore all that is separate from us, all that which philosophy distinguishes as the NOT ME, that is, both nature and art, all other men and my own body, must be ranked under this name, NATURE” (36).
Nature I :
- explains how nature is taken for granted
- talks about the accessible and inaccessibility of nature; the “stars” - “The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence” (37). - the stars are shining and present, but they are far away
- talks about the landscape
- states that “the poet” and child are able to see nature - “In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature” (39).
- “The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable” (39).
-
Commodity II :
- Emerson states how all the benefits of commodity are due to nature.
- what we need physically to survive
- “Under the general name of commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature” (40).
- “A man is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he may work” (41).
Beauty III :
- the beauty of nature serves man
- “A nobler want of man is served by nature, namely the love of Beauty” (42).