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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 does Thoreau say happens when government gets involved in trade and commerce?

2. Who is Thoreau condemning in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

3. How does Thoreau describe slavery in 'Civil Disobedience'?

4. Who did Thoreau say was running the military force in Massachusetts?

5. What city did Thoreau give 'Slavery in Massachusetts' on?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Thoreau when he withdrew his support from the unjust government?

2. How did Thoreau feel about the attack that took place on the Boston Courthouse?

3. How did Thoreau describe his punishment for his own act of 'Civil Disobedience'?

4. What did Thoreau credit for the difference he saw between the cities and the country areas in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

5. What did Thoreau accuse the newspapers of in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

6. What did Thoreau say about laws in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

7. How did Thoreau say decisions in America should be made?

8. What did Thoreau claim not to be in 'Civil Disobedience' and what was his support for this?

9. What did Thoreau say was the responsibility of a just man when it came to slavery?

10. Who did Thoreau say the government saw as their authority, and how did he feel about this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the significance of the title of the first essay, and what role did it play in the meaning of the essay?

Essay Topic 2

Printing and newspapers were a major theme and device in this book. Where did they appear, and how were they used to send Thoreau's messages in a unique way?

Essay Topic 3

Education and the importance of training was a constant theme in this book. Where did this theme appear, and which essays were most affected by it?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 663 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample