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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Emerson's "The Over-Soul", which of the following is NOT the essence of the over-soul?
(a) Intellectual discussion.
(b) Human consciousness.
(c) Spirituality.
(d) An indwelling sense of God.

2. What happens when you greatly admire or revere someone?
(a) You raise them to perfection in your mind.
(b) You resent them.
(c) You emulate them.
(d) You become jealous of them.

3. How are eccentricities dealt with in people who are otherwise fit to enter a mannered upper class?
(a) They become a matter of amusement.
(b) They become ammunition for expulsion from that upper class.
(c) They are molded into good manners.
(d) They are politely ignored.

4. What is bereft of models of heroism, according to Emerson's "Heroism"?
(a) Contemporary literature.
(b) Historical folklore.
(c) Secular society.
(d) Public education.

5. What is the function of art, according to Emerson?
(a) To reveal inner thoughts of the artist.
(b) To raise controversies.
(c) To prompt discussions about art.
(d) To open our eyes.

6. Who was Plato's teacher?
(a) Socrates.
(b) Confucius.
(c) Immanuel Kant.
(d) He was self-taught.

7. How is a new experience of reality evidenced, according to "Art"?
(a) The artist's childhood experiences.
(b) The artist's work.
(c) The artist's personality.
(d) The artist's intellect.

8. Into how many categories does prudence manifest itself, according to Emerson?
(a) One.
(b) At least five.
(c) Four.
(d) Three.

9. What kind of friendship does Emerson prefer?
(a) An intellectual friendship.
(b) A rough kind of friendship.
(c) A long-distance friendship.
(d) A friendship that is "evenly matched."

10. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the best gift, according to "Gifts"?
(a) Something that acknowledges an essential truth about the receiver.
(b) Something that comes directly from the giver.
(c) Something that reflects the giver.
(d) Something that acknowledges an essential truth about the giver.

11. According to Emerson, it is the challenge of American scholars to foster and support the development of truly American ______ and ______.
(a) Thought; language.
(b) Language; literature.
(c) Thought; culture.
(d) Culture; literature.

12. According to Emerson, what do realists have on their side?
(a) Reason.
(b) Emotion.
(c) Heart.
(d) Faith.

13. What does Emerson link with transcendentalism in "The Transcendentalist"?
(a) Islam.
(b) Christianity.
(c) Native American practices.
(d) Buddhism.

14. How will society become better, according to Emerson?
(a) With grass-roots governments.
(b) With less government.
(c) By giving the government control over personal freedoms.
(d) With more government.

15. What is another phrase for the over-soul, according to Emerson?
(a) Universal consciousness.
(b) The true being.
(c) The innocence of childhood faith.
(d) A manifestation of God.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Emerson believe about nature?

2. Who can too often judge and categorize art and literature, according to "The Poet"?

3. In what style is "Selected Writings" written?

4. What word or phrase means a belief that God's grace allows an individual to ignore all laws, divine and terrestrial?

5. What is the ultimate effect of two lovers drawing closer to each other spiritually?

(see the answer keys)

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