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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. Why did Thoreau say most men would never do what Brown did?

2. What did Thoreau say ruined the earth?

3. What did Thoreau say people did wrong when writing the word nature?

4. In 'A Plea for Captain John Brown', who did Thoreau say the political parties were serving?

5. What kind of U.S. territories was Brown most interested in serving in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Thoreau say his walking was a metaphor of?

2. What did Thoreau say about the natural state of the world?

3. What was Thoreau most critical of newspapers for in 'A Plea for Captain John Brown'?

4. What did Thoreau say invalidated all the critics who spoke against Brown?

5. How did Thoreau show his ideal relationship between man and nature?

6. What did Thoreau say were the dangers of cultivation in 'Walking'?

7. Where did Thoreau say most men would walk if given the choice, and why?

8. What did Thoreau say men should try to walk unencumbered by?

9. Why did Thoreau say some people thought Brown was insane?

10. How did Thoreau feel about the violence Brown used, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did nature affect Thoreau, and how did Thoreau display his emphasis on the importance of nature in these essays?

Essay Topic 2

What were some of the key examples of gratitude in this book, and how did these instances affect the essays that included these examples?

Essay Topic 3

Slavery was a very central theme in a number of these essays. How did this theme affect the tone of the essays, and how did slavery affect Thoreau in his life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 618 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample