Exploring Emerson and Thoreau

Who is considered the central figure of the American Transcendentalist movement?

• Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Walt Whitman

• Edgar Allan Poe

Which essay by Henry David Thoreau advocates for individual resistance to civil government?

• "Nature"

• "Self-Reliance"

• "Civil Disobedience"

• "The American Scholar"

Transcendentalism is most closely associated with which century?

• 16th century

• 17th century

• 18th century

• 19th century

Which of the following best describes a core belief of Transcendentalism?

• The importance of strict religious doctrine

• The inherent goodness of people and nature

• The superiority of urban life

• The necessity of government control

Which of the following is an example of how Thoreau put Transcendentalist beliefs into practice?

• He became a politician

• He lived alone at Walden Pond

• He wrote detective novels

• He traveled to Europe

If a person believes in the value of self-reliance and intuition over conformity, which Transcendentalist writer’s philosophy are they most closely following?

• Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Henry David Thoreau

• Emily Dickinson

• Herman Melville

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the Transcendentalist idea of the "Oversoul"?

• A person memorizing historical facts

• A group of people meditating in nature and feeling spiritually connected

• A scientist conducting a laboratory experiment

• A student following strict classroom rules

How did Transcendentalist writers like Emerson and Thoreau influence later social movements in the United States?

• By promoting industrialization

• By encouraging passive acceptance of authority

• By inspiring movements for civil rights and environmentalism

• By discouraging individual action

Imagine you are living in the 19th century and disagree with a government policy you believe is unjust. Using Thoreau’s ideas from "Civil Disobedience," what action might you take, and why?

• Obey the law to avoid trouble

• Write a letter to a friend

• Refuse to pay taxes that support the policy, as a form of protest

• Move to another country

Analyze how Emerson’s essay "Self-Reliance" might challenge a student to think differently about their education and personal growth.

• By encouraging students to memorize more facts

• By urging students to trust their own thoughts and experiences rather than conforming to others’ expectations

• By suggesting students should never question authority

• By recommending students avoid all social interaction