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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 political contest was becoming serious after Emerson's return from Europe?

2. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's feelings?

3. What did Emerson call his house after he changed how it was used?

4. What objection did Emerson make to Charles Fourier's utopian ideas?

5. What event threw Emerson into despair in 1840?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was Emerson's relationship with abolition?

3. Who was Jones Very?

4. Who was Hafiz and what was his influence on Emerson?

5. How does Richardson describe Emerson's home life in the 1850s?

6. How did Emerson balance writing and editing?

7. How does Richardson characterize the change that took place in Emerson after Waldo's death?

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

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

10. Describe Emerson's son's death and its effect on him.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an evaluative review of The Mind on Fire. What is this book's place in culture? What are its uses? Who is its audience? What are its limitations?

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

How did Emerson distinguish himself from the writers and thinkers around him? What individuality and uniqueness did he call upon to accentuate the difference between himself and Jones Very? Thoreau? His brothers and forefathers? His Aunt Mary? Carlyle?

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