How can the scholar arm himself for the betterment of America?
The American Scholar is a notable literary work by Ralph Waldo Emerson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The American Scholar.
Answer
How can the scholar arm himself for the betterment of America? [2016] ✪✪✪
Or, What are the three main influences on the American Scholar, and how do they work?
In “The American Scholar” (1837), Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) describes the three significant influences that shape a scholar’s mind. They are Nature, Books, and Action. These influences guide the scholar’s growth and prepare him to serve society. Emerson believes that a true scholar must learn from life and not depend blindly on tradition. He must study Nature with love, read Books with wisdom, and unite Thought with Action to become a complete “Man Thinking.”
Influence of Nature: Emerson calls Nature the first and most powerful teacher. He says,
“Nature is the opposite of the soul, answering to it part for part.”
The scholar learns harmony, order, and truth by observing Nature. The sunrise teaches hope, the seasons teach change, and the sky teaches infinity. When the scholar studies Nature, he understands his own spirit. For Emerson, Nature connects man with God. It opens the mind to wisdom and fills the heart with divine inspiration.
Influence of Books: The second great influence is Books, or what Emerson calls “the mind of the past.” Books preserve the thoughts of great men and inspire the present age. Emerson says,
“Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst.”
A true scholar reads books not to copy but to awaken his own thinking. He accepts only what is true and rejects what is false. Books give knowledge, but they must serve as a guide, not as a master.
Right Use of Books: Emerson warns against the blind worship of books. He says that people often love the book more than the truth inside it. They become “the parrot of other men’s thinking.” The scholar must read with freedom and originality. He must think for himself and write for his own time. Emerson adds,
“Each age, it is found,
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