Transcendentalist Exam

In “Song of Myself,” when the speaker says “I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin, / Hoping to cease not till death,” what do you think he is beginning? 

writing poetry

What can you infer about the poet’s attitude from these lines in “Song of Myself”?

"These are really the thoughts of all men in all ages and lands, they are not original with me, / If they are not yours as much mine they are nothing, or next to nothing.

Whitman believes that his observations are. in some sense, universally shared.

From the details in “A Noiseless Patient Spider,” you can infer that Whitman admires the spider for its ability to

use its body to explore its surroundings

Which of the following was not a prime reason why Whitman chose to write in free verse?

to imitate earlier poets he admired

What does the speaker in “Song of Myself” mean when he says that he holds “creeds and schools in abeyance”?

He has temporarily let go of philosophies he learned in school.

Which statements about Transcendentalism are accurate?

I. Transcendentalism was an intellectual movement

II. Transcendentalism was a largely European movement

III. Transcendentalists were interested in the human spirit

IV. Transcendentalists thought that an exploration of nature helped people understand universal truths.

I, III, and IV only

Which view of nature does Emerson take?

Nature can inspire the human spirit.

Which of these quotations reflects a key idea of Transcendentalism?

“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”

Which of these statements best characterizes the central idea of Self-Reliance?

Rely on your own instincts

Which of these statements best reflects Thoreau’s philosophy as expressed in Walden?

Living a simple life close to nature lets a person concentrate on important things.

What aspect of his philosophy does Thoreau express in the following statement?

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

Individualism

What is Thoreau’s main point about time in the paragraph beginning “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in”?

Time is shallow, but eternity remains.

What does Thoreau hope to convey with the description of the path his feet had worn to the pond side within a week?

Human beings fall into dull routines all too readily.

What is the central idea of Civil Disobedience?

Citizens should be willing to act on their opinions

In Civil Disobedience, how does Thoreau support his view that the government is abused by powerful individuals?

He cites the examples of an unpopular war

Thoreau’s view of the war with Mexico is best described as

critical

Based on Civil Disobedience, what can you infer about Thoreau’s political philosophy?

He believes that people are politically responsible for themselves

In “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died—,” why is there a stillness in the room?

The people are waiting for the speaker’s final moment

In “Because I could not stop for Death—,” Death is personified as

a polite gentleman

Of the three transcendentalist writers we studied, who is the least radical?

Emerson