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Destiny

From Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an American essayist, lecturer and poet, and a central figure in the Transcendentalist movement. 'Destiny' and 'Guy' were published in his collected Poems in the mid-nineteenth century. The poem articulates a provocative thesis: that success flows not from virtue or effort but from an inborn, unteachable quality — a talisman or 'untaught strain' that Fortune favours. This vision challenges Enlightenment meritocracy and Judeo-Christian morality, and it remains a contentious text in the history of American thought. It is worth reading because it forces the question: is success earned, given, or something else entirely? This text reflects its era.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1363 words in 3 sections · 1 picture

Source

Poems, Ralph Waldo Emerson

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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