WorksheetsTranscendentalism: Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, & Dickinson (Ferg)
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 35mins
Transcendentalism is...
a love of people
an ideal way of life
a way to transcend the way we garden
a philosophy to love nature and trust emotions rather than reason
Transcendentalism was an offshoot of...
Romanticism
Dark Gothic
Nature Study
Mentalism
What are the three essential characteristics or principles of Transcendntalism?
People are inherently evil and nature deceives.
Material things will lead you to want more and nature will not.
The good in this earth is in good people and the most colorful flowers of nature.
Individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature are essential.
Transcendentalists believed that the way to discover spirituality is:
to openly trust what people told you to believe.
to look inwards and connect to nature to discover self.
to always follow the rules of life.
to read often, discover what others think, then decide your own thoughts.
A Transcendentalist might suggest that:
By contemplating ________,
the individual can _________
the world and discover their _________.
transcendence, forget, intuition
true freedom, embrace, destiny
nature, transcend, divine truth
god, escape, true nature
According to the SIX TENETS we reviewed, Transcendentalists believed that what was the highest form of the soul?
human intuition
human individuality
natural experience
simplification
Humans who study nature...
can never know everything about it
will eventually learn all of its secrets
have a better appreciation for all beauty
understand how small humans' influence is
Who is considered the "father" of Transcendentalism?
Henry David Thoreau
Margaret Fuller
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Robin Williams
How does Emerson feel about the ownership of nature?
he thinks that it is wrong for men to attempt to own nature by owning land
He thinks that people can enjoy nature but never truly posses it
He is envious of the men who can afford to own a portion of nature by owning land
He thinks that the only true owners of nature are poets as they understand nature
What did Emerson value?
Emerson valued individualism, self-worth, and embracing one's strengths and instincts.
Emerson valued his house, wife, and children.
Emerson valued the thoughts of others.
Emerson valued what the literature of his day revealed.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's most known essay was...
"School of Thought"
"A Collection of Wisdom"
"Self-Reliance"
"A Field of Dreams"
What must everyone realize at some point in life?
that our education will help us realize that the universe is good
that the power of nature is not anything new at all
that being ignorant of others will lead to a great deal of envy
that we can never know our true potential until we test ourselves
According to "Self Reliance", the best way to live is by…
putting our heart and soul into everything we do
trying to discover new inventions
attempting to understand the divine idea that God created
living a happy and calm life with friends that are geniuses
According to Emerson in "Self Reliance" how should we live our lives?
by accepting that great men are always betrayed
by refusing to flee from a revolution
by accepting our circumstances and trusting ourselves
by trying to imitate the childlike geniuses of our age
What is self-reliance?
a reliance on names and customs
a refusal to conform to society's expectations
a conspiracy against the manhood of society
a request for conformity by everyone in society
Self-reliance is put into practice by…
thinking for yourself, no matter what anyone else believes
fighting for universal suffrage
refusing to contradict yourself, even if you are wrong
reading the teaching of Socrates, Jesus, Luther, and Copernicus
What was the main idea of Thoreau's Walden?
"... extravagance is not the key in life."
"...people don't need a ton of material things."
"...to find the meaning of life."
"...keep it simple and not too complicated."
How does nature affect humans?
it can make them want to better themselves
it can make them feel small and insignificant
it can help them better appreciate what they have
it can improve their mood and bring them joy
In Walden, Thoreau is advocating for...
simple, structured living
more social freedom
less individuality
attention to detail
Thoreau states, "We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us." Which of the following statements explains the figurative language used in this quote?
Thoreau predicts the end of small business craftsmanship in the face of an increasingly industrialized world represented by the train.
Thoreau grieves for those whom the railroad industry has taken advantage of, specifically those who died while building it.
Thoreau comments on how aspects of modern life, such as the train control the lives of the people who use them rather than the other way around.
Thoreau denounces the use of public transportation, arguing that it is pointless if one cannot take one exactly where one chooses.
Why does Thoreau state that he dislikes the railroad in Walden?
people buy train tickets as a superficial sign of their wealth
the railroad is too fast and dangerous for his tastes
people put more effort and value into it than their own lives
they are destroying the natural scenery of the countryside
"Civil Disobedience" is an essay by Thoreau that inspired:
passive resistance
Mahatma Gandhi
Martin Luther King Jr.
All three
According to Thoreau we should...
make sure that we always fully support our government
make sure we do not indirectly support unjust governments
remain peaceful as we tolerate unjust governments
always remain loyal and fight for our governments
Transcendentalists believe that ___________ , humanity, and nature share a universal soul.
God
Animals
Literature
Government
Transcendentalists believed all people are inherently:
good
evil
neutral
bad
Who or what should every person trust?
"every heart"
"thyself"
"society"
"contemporaries"
What type of person was Emily Dickinson?
Social and Outgoing
Traveled a lot
Gregarious
Private and Shy
The difference between Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson poetry is
Walt wrote short simple poetry, while Emily was more wordy and lengthy
They had similar writing styles
Dickinson wrote simple short poetry; Whitman wrote long, wordy descriptions
There was no difference
Dickinson used slant rhymes. What is slant rhyme?
Which author's poetry focused more on celebrating life?
Walt Whitman
Emily Dickinson
Which author's poetry focused more on isolation and death?
Walt Whitman
Emily Dickinson
Who wrote the collection 'Leaves of Grass'?
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Walt Whitman
Emily Dickinson
Henry David Thoreau
