View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Emerson claim "statesmen and philosophers and divines" adore?
(a) Foolish magnanimity.
(b) Foolish consistency.
(c) Foolish misunderstanding.
(d) Foolish contradiction.

2. What does Emerson say he does not need in talking about virtuous action?
(a) The assurance of philanthropists.
(b) Courage and charity.
(c) Consent to do good.
(d) The assurance of his fellows.

3. What is "Himmaleh"?
(a) An imaginary creature.
(b) A place like heaven.
(c) A great ship.
(d) The Himalayan mountain range.

4. What does conformity explain?
(a) Itself.
(b) Nothing.
(c) One's fear.
(d) Everything.

5. What does Emerson say no man can violate?
(a) His nature.
(b) The laws of nature.
(c) The laws of God.
(d) The laws of society.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Emerson say is the lesson great works of art teach us?

2. What does Emerson say he will do if he is the Devil's child?

3. What does Emerson say a man must know how to estimate in talking about society and nonconformity?

4. Who or what does Emerson say he is living his life for?

5. What are "sallies" of will?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the beginning of paragraph 2, Emerson states: "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that ... no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

2. What do you know about Ralph Waldo Emerson?

3. Who are Alfred, Scanderbeg and Gustavus, referred to in paragraph 19?

4. Explain Emerson's example of "boys who are sure of a dinner" from paragraph 5.

5. In paragraph 33, Emerson says, "We are become timorous, desponding whimperers." Explain what he means by this.

6. Explain Emerson's problem with "the phraseology of some old mouldered nation in another country" as detailed in paragraph 22.

7. Emerson describes insightfully in paragraph 9 when it is easy to live according to his philosophy and when it is difficult. Explain this insight.

8. What does Emerson mean in saying, "Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned to you."?

9. What does Emerson mean in paragraph 17 when he says, "An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man."?

10. In paragraph 4, Emerson claims that nature has given us something specific to remind us of nonconformity. What is it? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,047 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample