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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. How does Richardson characterize Sufism?

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

3. To what cause does Richardson attribute Emerson's moodiness in advance of his trip to Europe?

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

5. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's works after he turned forty?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Richardson say was Emerson's last characteristic book?

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

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

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

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

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

7. What was the significance of Emerson's first daughter's name?

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

9. How does Richardson characterize Emerson's fame?

10. Describe the effect Margaret Fuller Ossoli's death had on Emerson.

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

Richardson says that Emerson was surprised by his reaction to Lincoln. Where else did Emerson surprise himself, and what value did he attach to being surprised? Was it something he sought out, or something he protected himself against? How did he do each of these things?

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