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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What seldom-acknowledged factor in coloring people's experience is a large part of everyone's life?

2. What kind of friendship does Emerson prefer?

3. What does Emerson link with transcendentalism in "The Transcendentalist"?

4. What happens when you greatly admire or revere someone?

5. What does Plato's concept of the dichotomy of the body and soul provide the foundation for, according to Emerson?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to "Compensation", how does nature maintain balance? How can one maintain balance on earth?

2. What two problems with communion does Emerson explain at the end of "The Lord's Supper"?

3. How was Plato's dichotomy of the body and soul relevant to Emerson's time?

4. What are the categories Emerson divides the world into in his essay "Nature"?

5. What are the differences between materialism and idealism, according to "The Transcendentalist"?

6. What do the nominalists and realists each have on their sides, according to Emerson?

7. According to "The Lord's Supper", what does Emerson say is the purpose of the Lord's Supper in Christian ritual? What does he say should be the focus?

8. What does Emerson say about private enterprise in "New England Reformers"? Based on "New England Reformers", what political party is parallel to Emerson's views?

9. According to "Art", from where does all art evolve? What is its purpose?

10. What does Emerson think of Plato, according to "Plato; or, the Philosopher"? What indicates this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the role of solitude and society in the lives of thinkers.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of English romantic poetry on Emerson's writing, including a definition of romantic poetry in your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the relationship between Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 741 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample