Final answer:
Coleridge influenced Emerson to embrace transcendentalism in his writing, focusing on self-reliance, and nature as pathways to spiritual enlightenment. Emerson's essays and speeches articulated these principles, which were also echoed in Whitman's poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Samuel Taylor Coleridge encouraged Ralph Waldo Emerson to espouse transcendental beliefs in his poetry. Coleridge, an English poet and philosopher, played a pivotal role in the Romantic movement and influenced American transcendentalists with his critiques against 18th-century rationalism and his views advocating a 'transcendental' experience beyond reason. This impact extended to Emerson, who became a central figure in the movement, stressing the importance of self-reliance, connection with nature, and individual freedom in one's creative expression.
Emerson and other transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau believed that living a life connected to nature and reliant on personal intuition could transcend the boundaries of empirical understanding and allow a deeper spiritual connection to flourish. In works like 'Nature,' 'Self-Reliance,' and 'The American Scholar,' Emerson articulated the principles of transcendentalism, encouraging a generation of writers to explore these themes. Walt Whitman also contributed to the transcendentalist movement, especially with his poem 'Song of Myself' from the collection 'Leaves of Grass,' which celebrated individuality as a component of the universal spirit.