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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who sees through appearances and trends to seize life and speak truth?
(a) The artist.
(b) The philosopher.
(c) The academic.
(d) The poet.

2. According to Emerson, what can only be glimpsed but never possessed?
(a) The true purpose of nature.
(b) The true beauties of nature.
(c) God's divine design.
(d) The true purpose of mankind.

3. What does Emerson believe about nature?
(a) It is unchanging.
(b) It can be used as an analogy for all aspects of life.
(c) It is bipolar.
(d) It will be the only thing that lasts.

4. How will society become better, according to Emerson?
(a) With less government.
(b) By giving the government control over personal freedoms.
(c) With more government.
(d) With grass-roots governments.

5. According to "Compensation", by what is mankind defined?
(a) Spirituality.
(b) Dualism.
(c) Singularity.
(d) Pluralism.

6. What is the function of art, according to Emerson?
(a) To raise controversies.
(b) To open our eyes.
(c) To prompt discussions about art.
(d) To reveal inner thoughts of the artist.

7. How is the soul different from the physical body, according to Emerson?
(a) It must conform to the laws of God.
(b) It is lighter than the physical body.
(c) It is not bounded by time or space.
(d) It can fall prey to temptations of the heart, while the human heart can be steeled against pain.

8. Why are nominalists more popular?
(a) They are quieter about their beliefs.
(b) Their general ideas about things are how we intuitively understand the world.
(c) They have been around longer.
(d) They are "louder" in expressing their beliefs.

9. According to "An Address", what subverts the truly moral character of man?
(a) Industry.
(b) European academia.
(c) Christianity.
(d) American politics.

10. According to "Self-Reliance", what can bring you peace?
(a) Nothing but yourself.
(b) Nothing but nature.
(c) Nothing but God.
(d) Nothing but independence.

11. What does Emerson see evidence of everywhere he looks in society?
(a) Decadence.
(b) Loyalty to European traditions.
(c) Defiant reformist mentality.
(d) Lack of desire for independence.

12. Whom does Emerson especially urge to experience their own heroism?
(a) Women.
(b) The downtrodden.
(c) Children.
(d) Religious mystics.

13. At what college did Emerson give "The American Scholar" as an address?
(a) Harvard.
(b) New York University.
(c) Princeton.
(d) Oxford.

14. Why does Emerson say every man is not duplicitous for not only being partialist?
(a) It is simply the way the human mind works.
(b) Emerson says men are duplicitous.
(c) He really is only a partialist, except when in conversation with other philosophers.
(d) He can move between viewpoints, but is not both simultaneously.

15. What right of individuals has never been tried as the foundation of a state?
(a) Employment.
(b) Trust.
(c) Love.
(d) Reverence.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to "Compensation", which of the following is NOT one of the realms mentioned that achieves a balance between positive and negative forces?

2. What example does Emerson use in "Spiritual Laws" to demonstrate the effects of force-feeding children questions and answers of little interest?

3. What does Plato's concept of the dichotomy of the body and soul provide the foundation for, according to Emerson?

4. According to Emerson, who "should see that he can live all history in his own person"?

5. What is the mentality of 1844 based on, according to Emerson?

(see the answer keys)

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