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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Richardson characterize the year 1834 in Emerson's life?
(a) The year of trials.
(b) The year of wonders.
(c) The year of transition.
(d) The turning point.

2. Where did Emerson and Lidian settle down after marrying?
(a) Boston.
(b) Walden Pond.
(c) Cambridge.
(d) Concord.

3. What is the main theme of Nature?
(a) The relation between human beings and nature.
(b) The divinity of human intuition.
(c) The evolution of conscience.
(d) The transcendent nature of God.

4. In what religious sect was Edward Taylor active?
(a) Calvinist.
(b) Baptist.
(c) Unitarian.
(d) Shouting Methodist.

5. How did travel in Italy affect Emerson?
(a) He was rejuvenated.
(b) He felt dwarfed by the history there.
(c) He was overcome with awe.
(d) He became suspicious of Old World philosophy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What publication did Emerson call a "living leaping Logos"?

2. How did the event described in the Prologue change Emerson's life?

3. How does Richardson characterize Emerson as a reader?

4. In what way did Emerson share a faith with Mary Rotch and the Quakers?

5. How did Emerson describe his experience of Ellen's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. What view of Jakob Boehme's did Emerson pick up?

2. Describe Emerson's relationship with Thoreau.

3. What was the Transcendental Club?

4. How did Emerson describe Ellen's death?

5. What was Emerson's relationship with the Abolition movement?

6. How did Emerson support himself after Harvard?

7. What kinds of images does Richardson say dominated Emerson's thinking and writing in 1836?

8. How was Emerson's "American Scholar" talk received?

9. What was Emerson's view of American literature?

10. How does Richardson describe the birth of American Transcendentalism?

(see the answer keys)

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