Reflections on “The American Scholar”: Words of Inspiration for These Dark Times

The great American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson’s address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society of educators in 1837 is taken up and examined for its relevance for us today. Themes such as the book as teacher; teaching, learning, and leadership; spirituality and materiality; the duties of the scholar; the influences on the scholar; self-reliance; and freedom and democracy are introduced and developed in this paper. Others’ insights into this exceptional oratory—and into that of Walt Whitman, Emerson’s compatriot—are plumbed for their insights. One of the revelations to come from this process is words of wisdom and inspiration to guide us in these dark times for America and American education.

Keywords:

Democracy, freedom, the scholar, literary and historical exegesis dark times in education,

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