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=Transcendentalism Research Wiki Page=

Group Members:

 * Aleia H.
 * Shelby M.
 * Tyler W.

Research Questions:

 * What characteristics define the Transcendentalism time period?
 * What were Emerson's major themes throughout his poem "Nature?"
 * Why is Emerson important to the Transcendentalist Era and what were his contributions?
 * What makes Emerson a literary leader in Transcendentalism?
 * What important topics of his time did Emerson address in his works?

 Dear Reader,

Our Group knew the very basics of the Transcendentalist movement when we began this paper and project. Our knowledge consisted of how the movement was defined and the basic beliefs and practices. However, we knew very little about the writers of the time period or their themes throughout their writings. In addition, we knew even less about the historical time period surrounding the Transcendentalist movement. Therefore, the research mainly consisted of the historical background of Transcendentalism and our author, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Our group’s primary resources were books, reference books, and online databases. The databases were most helpful when researching the questions concerning Emerson and his themes. Reference books and books on Transcendentalism proved most helpful when researching the overall topic of the Transcendentalist movement and its characteristics. When researching the questions relating to Emerson’s “Nature” and the historical critique, literary essays and critiques were most helpful. These critiques were found both within books and on the online databases.  Overall, our group learned the most about the historical background of the Transcendentalist movement. There were multiple social movements occurring at the time of the Transcendentalist Era. These social injustices and fights for rights were some of the main concerns in the writings of Emerson and other major writers of the time. The Transcendentalist Era also followed the Great Awakening and formed as a rejection of the popular and traditional beliefs of the Awakening. In addition, our group learned about Emerson and the common themes throughout his works, which include the divinity within nature, social injustices, and the rejection for the need of organized religion. Our knowledge of the time period was definitely extended through our personal research.  Sincerely, Aleia H, Shelby M, Tyler W.