View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How do the English feel about the Civil War?

2. In Chapter 10, who said: "The world can absorb only doses of truth. Too much would kill it"?

3. In "Eccentricity", how does Henry Adams describe Bright?

4. What does Henry Adams do to learn German in "Berlin"?

5. In "The Battle of the Rams", how is C.F. Adams' relationship with Lord Russell described?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henry Adams define the role of the church and what it condemned in "A Dynamic Theory of History"?

2. In "Twenty Years After", how does Henry Adams describe Washington, DC?

3. How is Henry Adams involved in the battle between the Supreme Court and Executive Branch in "Free Fight"?

4. Why did Henry Adams take an interest in statistics?

5. Why does Henry Adams feel his education went backwards in England and Germany?

6. What makes Henry Adams feel that no art authority knows more than he does?

7. In "The Abyss of Ignorance" what does Henry Adams say about force?

8. What happens when Henry Adams goes on the Fortieth Parallel Survey?

9. In "Twilight", what makes Henry Adams feel that his generation seems to be ending?

10. Why is Henry Adams unimpressed with what is scientifically published in 1903?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Henry Adams admits to have a Puritan background and he often reflects on centuries that have past. How does Adams' Puritan background impact his life, education and theories? What about Puritanism and past centuries attracts Henry Adams and how does this help develop his character?

Essay Topic 2

Progress and complexity were always at the core of Henry Adams' theories. Describe Henry Adams' beliefs and feelings about progress and complexity. How did they drive the times he lived in? How did they play into his theories?

Essay Topic 3

Much of "The Education of Henry Adams" takes place in Washington, DC. Henry Adams often states that nothing changes in Washington, DC. How is he correct in this statement? How is he incorrect? Analyze the development of Washington, DC throughout Henry Adams' life.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 758 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample