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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 are boys sure of in Emerson's example of how boys speak their mind?

2. What is Emerson describing when he states: "In your metaphysics you have denied personality to the Deity: yet when the devout motions of the soul come ... they should clothe God with shape and color"?

3. Why does Emerson say about children's minds?

4. What are "sallies" of will?

5. Which of the following did Emerson NOT say by name is misunderstood?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly explain Emerson's view on how we should handle our relationships with our families.

2. Why does Emerson hold Moses, Plato and Milton in such high regard?

3. In paragraph 13, Emerson says it "seems to be a rule of wisdom never to rely on your memory alone ... but to bring the past for judgment into the thousand-eyed present." What does he mean by the phrase "thousand-eyed present"?

4. At the beginning of paragraph 2, Emerson states: "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that ... no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

5. In paragraph 24, Emerson compares us to children. Explain this comparison.

6. What is Emerson's stance on philanthropy and charity?

7. What does Emerson say about sympathy in paragraph 37?

8. What does Emerson mean when he says (in paragraph 10), "Nature is not slow to equip us in the prison-uniform of the party to which we adhere. We come to wear one cut of face and figure"?

9. In paragraph 7, Emerson writes: "If I am the Devil's child, I will live then from the Devil." What point is he trying to make with this provocative claim?

10. In paragraph 27, Emerson claims that "Nature suffers nothing to remain in her kingdoms which cannot help itself." State briefly whether you agree or disagree and support your point with a couple of examples.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Emerson's use of stylistic elements such as syntax, diction, pace, figurative language, tone, allusions, etc., and explain in which ways his style contributes to the feeling imparted by the essay.

Essay Topic 2

What is Emerson's view of children and youth? Compare this with his view on adults within society.

Essay Topic 3

Explain your view of the role of education in fostering such values as self-reliance. In what ways does formal education have an effect on self-reliance? In what ways does self-reliance have to be fostered outside of formal education?

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