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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 were Emerson's religious beliefs tending toward, at the time of his ordination?

2. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's relationship with his brothers?

3. How does Richardson characterize the development of Emerson's writing in 1834?

4. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's exterior personality?

5. What was the Transcendental Club?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Emerson's intellectual interest changed by Ellen's illness and decline?

2. What was Emerson's relation with Hume?

3. How does Richardson describe Emerson as a child?

4. Why did Emerson break with the church?

5. How was Emerson's "American Scholar" talk received?

6. Describe Emerson's relationship with Thoreau.

7. What was Emerson's relationship with Carlyle?

8. How did travel change Emerson's intellectual interests?

9. What kinds of images does Richardson say dominated Emerson's thinking and writing in 1836?

10. How does Richardson describe Emerson as a student?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role or importance of women in Emerson's life? What contribution did they make, and do you think that there is enough recognition of their contribution to his fame and reputation?

Essay Topic 2

How did Emerson overcome the grief and loss he experienced so many times? What counterbalanced the sorrow and misery? What emotional, spiritual or personal reserves did he draw on?

Essay Topic 3

Which writer or intellectual do you think had the greatest influence on Emerson? Hegel? Hume? Taylor? Fuller? Thoreau? Make an argument based on the text.

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