Name
Date
Hour
“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
English 11
Read the handout “Self Reliance”.
While you read: summarize Emerson’s main ideas in a few sentences on the back of this packet.
To summarize is to state the main ideas briefly in your own words, leaving out less important
details. Here’s some steps to follow to help you write your summary:
 In each paragraph, identify the one or two most important phrases or statements.
 Write a sentence of your own to express the main idea of each statement you
identified.
 Pull your sentences together into a single summary.
After you read: answer the questions below and complete the analysis chart on the last page.
1. What do you think? What
kind of impact did this essay
have on you?
2. Which does Emerson value
more – original thought or
traditional wisdom? How do
you know?
3. According to Emerson, which
virtue does society demand
most – truth, conformity,
creativity, or self-reliance?
How do you know?
4. What is the only law that
Emerson says can be sacred to
him?
5. How did you summarize
Emerson’s main ideas in this
essay? (there’s more space on
the next page for you to write
your summary)
Name
6. Describe situations or aspects
of your own life in which
Emerson’s ideas about the
importance of the individual
might apply:
 his idea that all people
should be nonconformists
 his disregard for
consistency in thought and
deed
 peer pressures to conform
to certain standards of
appearance or behavior
7. If you had heard this essay as
a public lecture, what
questions would you have
liked to ask Emerson directly
about his philosophy (must
write at least two)?
8. “Self-Reliance” contains a
number of memorable sayings
or aphorisms – brief
statements, usually one
sentence long, that express a
general principle or truth
about life. An example is “A
foolish consistency is the
hobgoblin of little minds.”
Identify at least two other
aphorisms from this essay.
Date
Hour
Name
Date
Hour
English 11
Transcendentalist Literature Analysis Chart
“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Transcendentalist Element
Self-reliance/intuition
• Understanding comes from within
individual, rather than being learned.
• Individual capable of making own
decisions without the help/guidance of
society.
Importance of nature
• “Nature” means both the earth and…
• human nature (inherently good)
• In both aspects, nature is the ultimate
guide and sustainer.
• found the divine in nature.
• viewed the earth/nature as a spiritual
place.
Free thought and expression
• society should not silence the
individual
• each person should be free to express
him/herself without fear.
The individual is important/nonconformity
• individual conscience more important
as guide than the law, government and
community.
• Society corrupts people, who are good
to begin with
Confidence
• individual should rely on his/her own
knowledge rather than living by
society’s norms
• Americans could form their own
identity and didn’t need to imitate
Europeans
Evidence in this Work