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 many lectures did Emerson give over five months, in "Fame?"

2. How did Emerson portray great men?

3. What did Emerson witness in Europe?

4. How did Andrews Norton review Emerson's Dartmouth lecture?

5. What did Jones Very claim to be?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. To what use does Emerson put great men in Representative Men?

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

8. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's fame?

9. How did Emerson balance writing and editing?

10. How does Richardson characterize the importance of Emerson's friendships after his return from Europe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a character sketch of the author based on his style and content. What values does he hold dear? What are his hopes and fears? What kind of person do you think he is? Anchor your sketch in passages in the book.

Essay Topic 2

What do you think the nature of Emerson's relationship with Margaret Fuller was? Were they romantically interested in each other, or were they platonic friends?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 774 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample