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 does Richardson characterize Emerson's internal state in 1837?

2. The Mind on Fire is the story of what?

3. What was Emerson reading of Bronson Alcott's, after settling down with Lidian?

4. What does Richardson say his book illustrates in Emerson's life?

5. Who does Richardson credit with the birth of American Transcendentalism?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Emerson's view of American literature?

2. What was Emerson's relation with Hume?

3. What was Emerson's relationship with Carlyle?

4. What view of Jakob Boehme's did Emerson pick up?

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

6. How close was the Emerson family after Emerson's return from Europe?

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

8. What was Emerson's relationship with tuberculosis?

9. What was the 'immovable anchor' in Emerson's thinking, according to Richardson?

10. What was Emerson's relationship with the Abolition movement?

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

Which of Emerson's friendships had the greatest influence on him? Thoreau? Fuller? His brothers? Channing? Make an argument based on the text.

Essay Topic 3

In what way or to what extent is Emerson a Northern or New England writer or intellectual? How much does his region affect his legacy? Are there aspects of America he was not representing?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 610 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample