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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the subject of Emerson's speech at Dartmouth?
(a) The inadequacy of American creativity.
(b) The superiority of American literature to British poetry.
(c) The danger of contamination by British thought.
(d) The debt Americans owed to Britain.

2. What did Emerson witness in Europe?
(a) Severe economic crisis.
(b) Modern warfare.
(c) Famine and poverty.
(d) Revolutions in England and France.

3. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's fame?
(a) Momentary.
(b) Semi-divine.
(c) Moderate.
(d) Almost dangerous.

4. In what way did many of Emerson's friends affect him in the 1860s and 70s?
(a) By leaving him over time.
(b) By celebrating his accomplishments.
(c) By introducing him to new friends.
(d) By dying before him.

5. In what realization of Pythagoras' was Emerson interested?
(a) That all things are made of material.
(b) That change was the only constant.
(c) That everything is spirit.
(d) That not everything was in flux.

Short Answer Questions

1. What took Emerson to New York?

2. How does Richardson characterize 1844 in Emerson's life?

3. What world literature did Emerson include in "The Dial?"

4. In what cause did Emerson involve himself?

5. In what way did Emerson try to form a commune?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why, according to Richardson, was Emerson's mood dark while he was preparing for his lecture tour in England?

2. Describe Emerson's lecturing career.

3. What was Emerson's response to the invitation to join Brook Farm?

4. In what ways did Emerson differ from his friends' opinions?

5. What were Emerson's impressions of England when he traveled there in 1848?

6. How was Emerson's work changing as he reached his fortieth birthday, in Richardson's account?

7. How does Richardson describe Emerson's friendship with Thoreau after returning from England?

8. What political events did Emerson witness during his trip to Europe?

9. What was Hegel's importance to Emerson's thinking?

10. How did Emerson balance writing and editing?

(see the answer keys)

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