Background
This city, where Hooper was born and lived much of her life, was the hub of Transcendentalist thought.
What is Boston, Massachusetts?
This natural element, central to the Transcendentalist philosophy, is a recurring theme.
What is nature?
Was often overshadowed by figures like Emerson and Thoreau despite being regarded as one of the most gifted poets of her time.
Who is Ellen Sturgis Hooper?
“‘Heart, heart, lie still! / Life is fleeting fast, / strife will soon be past.’ / ‘I cannot lie still, / Beat strong I will.’” (Hooper 1-5)
This is the first stanza of a lesser-known poem by Ellen Sturgis Hooper called “The Heart’s Cure.” Reading the entire poem is needed in order to understand the quote, but just by itself, the quote means to live life in harmony with oneself. By how the speaker of the poem calls out for the heart, it is shown how the speaker and the heart’s desires are not the same. The author uses the phrase, “Life is fleeting fast, / strife will soon be past”, to send a message to the reader of not letting current issues bother the heart, which symbolizes the individual since it will eventually come to pass. This quote mainly exemplifies the Transcendentalist ideal of individualism and living life genuinely, as shown by the message sent by this stanza of the poem. Her message that every person can reach their inner truth is clearly shown.
The disease Ellen Sturgis Hooper died at age 36 on November 3, 1848.
Tuberculosis?
Hooper often wrote about this aspect of human existence.
What is the soul?
This critic argues that Hooper’s poetry was overly focused on “stern morality” and lacked creativity, and focused her work more on a religious outlet.
Who is Helen Hennesy?
“‘Heart, heart, lie still! / Joy‘s but joy, and pain‘s but pain, / Either, little loss or gain.’ / ‘I cannot lie still, / Beat strong I will.’” (Hooper 6-10)
It sends the message that the heart will always have those feelings that can cause loss or gain by using personification while mentioning the heart to have less of these feelings. This represents how the individual cannot be lifeless but can be strong if they accept their emotions and process them as demonstrated by the repetition of the recurring line “Heart, heart, lie still”, this shows the importance of emotions in the inner self and transcendentalist ideas as it focuses on emotions and how goodness will prevail as the individual wins over the reality of life like the loss and pain
Ellen Sturgis Hooper was a member of this club.
What is the Transcendentalist Club?
A key theme in her work, this quality aligns with the Transcendentalist emphasis on morality and self-improvement.
What is introspection?
He criticized women writers and did not take their writing as seriously when criticizing them, referring to them as “that damned mob of scribbling women”
Who is Nathien Hawthorne?
“"Heart, heart, lie still! / Heaven is over all, / Rules this earthly ball.” / “I cannot lie still, Beat strong I will.”
In the 4th stanza of the poem, Hooper delves into her internal dichotomy--an enduring tension between the tranquil and celestial order of the universe (“Heaven is over all”) and the greedy, unrelenting impulses of the spirit (“Beat strong I will”). The lines reflect many ideals of the transcendentalist philosophy, such as intuitive understanding, self-sufficiency, and the sacred nature of humanity. Moreover, Hooper reveals the exquisite complexity of the soul, by highlighting its ceaseless, paradoxical struggle to seek understanding, fulfillment, and transcendence. This quote is one of the best examples of Hooper’s Transcendental philosophy as it focuses on the human spirit's innate drive to grow and exert oneself. In the quote, Hooper discusses how despite external calls (such as societal norms) for stableness, the human spirit is adamant to improve. Hence, exemplifying her personal beliefs. Hooper also delves deeper into the importance of self-reliance. This is reflected in the quote as it focuses on trusting its (the human spirit’s) inner energy to act rather than focusing on the passivity of the heart, moreover refusing it.
Hooper’s poetry was often featured in this Transcendentalist journal along with Emerson, Fuller, and Thoreau.
What is The Dial?
Another key theme in her work. This is a topic commonly discussed in Transcendentalist works Transcendentalists stressed the importance of the individual.
What is individualism?
Some have argued that Hooper’s limited body of work reflects the constraints placed on her during the 19th century.
What is a woman?
“‘Heart, hear, lie still! Heaven’s sweet grace alone Can keep in peace its own.’/ ‘Let that me fill, And I am still.’” (Hooper 16-20)
This can connect with something bigger like nature and God through their intuition. In this poem, Hooper is talking about finding peace in a very chaotic world. Hooper writes about how true calmness comes not from us, but from allowing grace to fill our hearts. “Heart, hear, lie still!” This quote probably means to stop worrying or being restless. “Heaven’s sweet grace alone can keep in peace its own.” This quote says only God’s love can truly give us peace.
“Let that me fill, and I am still.” This quote talks about how Strugis realizes that if they let divine grace fill them, they will finally feel calm. This poem talks a lot about trusting something bigger than yourself to bring peace. This is connected to transcendentalism because it focuses on inner peace and spirituality. Transcendentalists believed in creating a bigger meaning. This also highlights the power of intuition and personal experience because instead of following strict religious rules, Sturgis focuses on her spiritual journey.
One of Hooper’s close transcendentalist friends. She wrote many poems for him and her other friends.
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson?
This is her most famous work contributed to The Dial in July 1840. The theme is that life is beautiful and will become like one’s dream even though it may seem like duty at the moment. Topics discussed are individualism and following your dream.
What is the theme in “I Slept, and Dreamed That Life Was Beauty”?
WORK CITED
Works Cited
Campbell, Janice. “Ellen Sturgis Hooper Poetry.” Excellence in Literature by Janice Campbell, 3 Feb. 2021, www.excellence-in-literature.com/ellen-sturgis-hooper-poetry/.
“Ellen Sturgis Hooper (1812-1848).” The Walden Woods Project, www.walden.org/what-we-do/library/the-transcendentalists-their-lives-writings/poems-ellen-sturgis-hooper/.
“Ellen Sturgis Hooper – yet Another Unitarian Universalist.” Www.danielharper.org, www.danielharper.org/yauu/2021/01/ellen-sturgis-hooper/.
Hennessy, Helen. “The Dial: Its Poetry and Poetic Criticism.” The New England Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 1, Mar. 1958, p. 66, https://doi.org/10.2307/362878. Accessed 11 Dec. 2022.
“Poems--Ellen Sturgis Hooper.” Archive.vcu.edu, archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/hooperpoems.html.
“Poem of the Day: “I Slept, and Dreamed That Life Was Beauty.”” The New York Sun, 12 Jan. 2023, www.nysun.com/article/poem-of-the-day-i-slept-and-dreamed-that-life-was-beauty.
“The Dial: A Magazine for Literature, Philosophy, and Religion.” The Walden Woods Project, www.walden.org/what-we-do/library/thoreaus-contributions-to-the-dial/.