The questions on this page will help you review this lesson's key ideas and prepare for the lesson quiz. Read the feedback for each question carefully to make sure you understand why the correct answer is correct.
Which writer led the transcendentalist movement?
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Washington Irving
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Henry David Thoreau
Emerson launched the transcendentalist movement with the publication of his book Nature.
Emerson launched the transcendentalist movement with the publication of his book Nature.
Emerson launched the transcendentalist movement with the publication of his book Nature.
Emerson launched the transcendentalist movement with the publication of his book Nature.
What is the main focus of Emerson's essay Nature?
- the relationship between nature and beauty
- the relationship between nature and art
- the ways that people use nature to make progress
- the ways that nature fulfills and uplifts human beings
Emerson's main focus is the relationship between nature and human needs and aspirations.
Emerson's main focus is the relationship between nature and human needs and aspirations.
Emerson's main focus is the relationship between nature and human needs and aspirations.
Emerson's main focus is the relationship between nature and human needs and aspirations.
Read the passage from "Self-Reliance" below and identify the main point.
But why should you keep your head over your shoulder? Why drag about this corpse of your memory, lest you contradict somewhat you have stated in this or that public place? Suppose you should contradict yourself; what then? It seems to be a rule of wisdom never to rely on your memory alone, scarcely even in acts of pure memory, but to bring the past for judgment into the thousand-eyed present, and live ever in a new day....
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day.— 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' —Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
What is Emerson's main point in this passage?
- It is important to be consistent; however, we must not be foolishly so.
- Consistency is not important in itself; we must dare to change our minds.
- You should make a point of contradicting today what you said yesterday.
- Great thinkers have always been misunderstood.
Emerson's main point is that "a great soul" learns and changes and, therefore, must be willing to express new views.
Emerson's main point is that "a great soul" learns and changes and, therefore, must be willing to express new views.
Emerson's main point is that "a great soul" learns and changes and, therefore, must be willing to express new views.
Emerson's main point is that "a great soul" learns and changes and, therefore, must be willing to express new views.
Read the passage below and decide what Emerson is saying here.
Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. No man yet knows what it is, nor can, till that person has exhibited it. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? Every great man is a unique.
What is Emerson trying to say?
- Imitation is theft of another person's talent.
- Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
- Each person is capable of the same kind of genius as Shakespeare.
- Each person should discover their own unique genius.
Emerson is saying that each person's talents are unique and known only to that person. If we try to imitate someone else, we will miss discovering our own genius.
Emerson is saying that each person's talents are unique and known only to that person. If we try to imitate someone else, we will miss discovering our own genius.
Emerson is saying that each person's talents are unique and known only to that person. If we try to imitate someone else, we will miss discovering our own genius.
Emerson is saying that each person's talents are unique and known only to that person. If we try to imitate someone else, we will miss discovering our own genius.
As you read the passage below, think about how Emerson illustrates his main idea.
Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. No man yet knows what it is, nor can, till that person has exhibited it. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? Every great man is a unique.
How does Emerson illustrate his point in this passage?
- by comparing the average person to Shakespeare
- by comparing imitators of artists to the real geniuses
- with examples of famous people who had a natural genius
- with examples of people who imitated others' talents
Emerson gives examples of famous people who could not have been taught by anyone else to create their works of genius.
Emerson gives examples of famous people who could not have been taught by anyone else to create their works of genius.
Emerson gives examples of famous people who could not have been taught by anyone else to create their works of genius.
Emerson gives examples of famous people who could not have been taught by anyone else to create their works of genius.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
