2. Ralph Waldo Emerson “The American Spirit” Denise Coffee Professor Elizabeth M. Owens English 1102 XTIJ 25 February 2009

3. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Self-Reliance from Essays: First Series (1841) Ralph Waldo Emerson "Ne te quaesiveris extra." "Man is his own star; and the soul that can Render an honest and a perfect man, Commands all light, all influence, all fate; Nothing to him falls early or too late. Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still." Epilogue to Beaumont and Fletcher's Honest Man's Fortune Cast the bantling on the rocks, Suckle him with the she-wolf's teat; Wintered with the hawk and fox, Power and speed be hands and feet.

5. Emerson traveled to Europe and came back inspired.

6. Nature from Essays: Second Series (1844) The rounded world is fair to see, Nine times folded in mystery: Though baffled seers cannot impart The secret of its laboring heart, Throb thine with Nature's throbbing breast, And all is clear from east to west. Spirit that lurks each form within Beckons to spirit of its kin; Self-kindled every atom glows, And hints the future which it owes.