Who delivered the "American Scholar" speech in 1837, urging Americans to create their own art and culture?

Who delivered the "American Scholar" speech in 1837, urging Americans to create their own art and culture?

• A. Henry David Thoreau
• B. Mark Twain
• C. Ralph Waldo Emerson
• D. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Answer: (C)

Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered the "American Scholar" speech in 1837 during a meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard University. In this influential address, Emerson called for a distinctive American culture, encouraging individuals to break free from European influences and develop their own artistic and intellectual identity. He emphasized the importance of self-reliance, intuition, and the relationship between nature and the human spirit, urging Americans to embrace their unique perspectives and experiences. This speech is significant in the context of American transcendentalism and marks a pivotal moment in the country's cultural development, as Emerson inspired future generations to pursue a distinctly American path in literature and the arts.

Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered the "American Scholar" speech in 1837 during a meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard University. In this influential address, Emerson called for a distinctive American culture, encouraging individuals to break free from European influences and develop their own artistic and intellectual identity. He emphasized the importance of self-reliance, intuition, and the relationship between nature and the human spirit, urging Americans to embrace their unique perspectives and experiences. This speech is significant in the context of American transcendentalism and marks a pivotal moment in the country's cultural development, as Emerson inspired future generations to pursue a distinctly American path in literature and the arts.