others ideas Emerson offers a spiritual and moral perspective on education He wants the scholar to lead society with truth courage and wisdom Thus his purpose is both intellectual and national Influence of Nature Emerson gives the first and greatest place to Nature He believes that Nature is the best teacher of man When the scholar observes the beauty and order of Nature he feels a sense of unity with the universe Nature shapes his spirit and makes him creative Emerson says that by studying Nature a scholar learns about his own soul The rhythm of day and night or heat and cold teaches him balance Use of Books The second influence on the scholar is that of Books Emerson gives a clear warning here He says Books are the best of things well used abused among the worst Books contain the wisdom of the past but they should not enslave the reader The scholar must read books for inspiration not blind imitation Need of Action The third influence on the scholar is Action Emerson believes that thought becomes truth only through action He says that action gives the raw material from which the intellect builds wisdom The scholar must work and face life to gain real experience He must not live in books alone but mix with the ordinary people Through activity and struggle he finds truth Action unites him with society and makes him more human and wise Duties of the Scholar Emerson also explains the responsibilities of the scholar He calls the scholar the world s eye and the world s heart His duty is as Emerson says to cheer to raise and to guide men by showing them facts amidst appearances The scholar must have self-trust courage and independence He should be ready to suffer poverty or loneliness for the truth Emerson writes Not he is great who can alter matter but he who can alter my state of mind Thus the scholar s task is moral and spiritual leadership Style of The Essay Emerson s style in The American Scholar is unique and powerful His prose often sounds like poetry His sentences are concise direct and rich in meaning His ideas are deep but expressed in simple language Like Bacon his sentences are aphoristic and memorable Sometimes his thoughts seem loosely connected but a single idea and a consistent rhythm unite them He employs imagery comparison and moral tone to elevate the reader s mind The style shows beauty energy and faith in the human spirit In short The American Scholar is both a philosophy and a call to action It teaches that a scholar must learn from Nature Books and Action and then serve mankind with truth and courage Emerson s language is rich rhythmic and full of poetic beauty His essay builds a new vision of America