Ralph Waldo Emerson Practice Questions

Correct answer: A transparent eyeball

Emerson uses the 'transparent eyeball' metaphor to describe a state where the individual ego vanishes and one becomes part of the universal current. In this state, the observer sees all and is circulated through by the 'currents of the Universal Being'.

Correct answer: American thinkers must cultivate a national identity independent of European traditions

Often called America's 'Intellectual Declaration of Independence,' this speech urged American scholars to find inspiration in their own experiences and nature. Emerson argued against the 'courtly muses of Europe' in favor of original American thought.

Correct answer: Nonconformist

Emerson argues that individuals must trust their own inner voice above the pressures of society. He believes that following one's own truth is the highest form of integrity, even if it contradicts social norms.

Correct answer: The Over-Soul

The 'Over-Soul' is the unifying spirit that Emerson believes resides within every individual and connects them to the cosmos. It suggests that there is no hierarchy between the individual soul and the divine.

Correct answer: Administering the Lord's Supper

Emerson found the formal administration of the Eucharist to be a hollow, superstitious tradition that hindered direct spiritual experience. His refusal to administer the sacrament led to his departure from the ministry in 1832.

Correct answer: hobgoblin

Emerson uses the term 'hobgoblin' to mock the idea that an individual must always act in accordance with their past statements. He encourages people to be willing to change their minds as they grow and encounter new truths.

Correct answer: Nature

Emerson ranks nature as the most important influence on the mind, followed by books (the 'mind of the Past') and action. He believes nature provides the raw material for spiritual and intellectual development.

Correct answer: The eternal expansion of the soul and human thought

For Emerson, every achieved goal or thought becomes a 'circle' that should be broken to form a larger one. The circle represents the limitless potential of human consciousness to expand beyond its current limits.

Correct answer: The completion of the battle monument at the Old North Bridge

The poem commemorates the 'shot heard 'round the world' at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It reflects Emerson's deep connection to his New England heritage and his belief in the spirit of liberty.

Correct answer: To be great is to be misunderstood

Emerson argues that many of history's greatest figures (Socrates, Jesus, Newton) were misunderstood by their contemporaries. He uses this to encourage the individual to embrace their unique perspective despite social backlash.

Correct answer: The death of his young son, Waldo

The death of five-year-old Waldo profoundly affected Emerson's optimism. In 'Experience', he grapples with the 'evanescence and lubricity' of life and the difficulty of truly connecting with others or even one's own grief.

Correct answer: Intuition

Emerson distinguishes between 'Understanding' (rational, sensory data) and 'Reason' (the intuitive, spiritual faculty). He views intuition as the direct path to the Over-Soul and universal truth.

Correct answer: Denied the necessity of historical Christianity's miracles and doctrines

Emerson argued that the 'intuition of the moral sentiment' was more important than biblical miracles or historical doctrines. This led to a backlash from the Harvard faculty, and he was not invited back for thirty years.

Correct answer: The Me and the Not-Me

Emerson defines the 'Not-Me' as everything external to the soul—nature, art, other men, and even one's own body. This distinction helps him explore how the soul interacts with the physical world.

Correct answer: The Poet

In 'The Poet', Emerson calls for an American poet who can capture the unique spirit of the nation. He argues that the poet is the 'sayer' and 'namer' who translates the divine symbols of nature into language.

Correct answer: Conformity

Emerson believes society acts as a 'joint-stock company' that demands conformity for the sake of its own stability. He posits that self-reliance is the direct aversion of this demand.

Correct answer: They can reduce a creative thinker to a mere bookworm

While Emerson values books as 'the best of things, well used,' he warns that they are 'the worst of things, abused.' He believes scholars should use books only for inspiration, not as a substitute for original thought.

Correct answer: Corresponding gain

In the essay 'Compensation', Emerson argues that the universe is governed by a system of checks and balances. He believes that every defect in one area is balanced by an advantage in another, maintaining cosmic equilibrium.

Correct answer: Because 'Beauty is its own excuse for being'

The poem rejects the idea that nature must be 'useful' to be valuable. Emerson asserts that beauty has an intrinsic spiritual purpose that justifies its existence, regardless of whether anyone sees it.

Correct answer: Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau was Emerson's most famous student. He put Emerson's ideas of self-reliance and nature into practice by living at Walden Pond, land which actually belonged to Emerson.