Transcendentalism Study Guide
The speaker of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) Clarity of purpose and a determined approach will bring success in life
The narrator's tone towards the pickerel can mostly likely be described as:
(A) Fascinated and Appreciative
How does this paragraph show Thoreau's style of writing:
(A) It shows a descriptive style through metaphors and observations that frequently occur
The purpose of the second paragraph (lines 6-11) is to do all of the following EXCEPT
(A) explore negative consequences of pursuing nonconformity
By "my next excursion" Thoreau suggests his
(A) movement to a spiritual afterlife
The extended metaphor in lines 3-5 ("no kernel . . . till") BEST serves to
(A) reinforce the idea that individuality must be nurtured and tended
Which of the following sentences best represents the author's main point in the passage?
(B) "A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best . . ." (lines 24-26)
2. Which of the following best describes the function of the first paragraph ("There is a time . . . till")?
(B) It establishes the main idea, which is developed through the passage.
How does the use of parallelism in the sentence "They are not green like the pines, nor gray like the stones..." affect the paragraph?
(B) It makes the point of how original the color of the pickerel at Walden pond are
Thoreau's poetic voice uses animals as a symbol within his piece. He says, "My head is hands and feet..." What is Thoreau implying within this small passage?
(B) Thoreau believes his head is the most valuable; understanding of the environment gives him an epiphany
For what purpose does this paragraph have in this chapter?
(B) To describe the life he had learned to live while at Walden Pond
Which best describes the syntax of line 6 ("Trust . . . string")?
(D) one independent clause that elaborates upon another
In lines 24-27, the writer indicates that individuals find happiness when
(D) they pursue their creative and intellectual impulses with enthusiasm
Thoreau develops an antithesis in each of the following pairs from para 1 EXCEPT
(E) "genuine meanness" and "strange uncertainty"
What is the antecedent of "it" and "It lives too fast" (middle of paragraph 2)?
(E) "nation itself"
Para 3 contains each of the following EXCEPT
(E) Simile
What tone does Thoreau have towards the men he speaks about in this paragraph?
(E) optimistic
1. In the passage, the writer's overall attitude toward the concept of nonconformity can be described as
(E) supportive and enthusiastic
What does Thoreau use as a metaphor for government?
A machine
Which does Thoreau say is more important: the need to be an honest individual or the need to be a responsible citizen?
A person should be an individual first and a citizen second.
Three ways to serve the state
Bodies (army) Heads (politics) Conscience ("average joe")
According to Thoreau, what should be respected more than law:
Conscience Justice
(INFERENCE) Why does Thoreau say it costs him less to disobey the law than to obey it?
He would feel ashamed if he became rich under an unjust state.
What are a person's duties regarding injustice, according to Thoreau?
One must refuse to support something that is wrong.
What kind of a state does Thoreau imagine at the end of his essay?
One that respects the individual and will even allow people to live independently of the state
What was Thoreau's primary act of civil disobedience in his own life?
Refusal to pay taxes
Transcendental Connections:
Self reliance/intuition Importance of nature Free thought and expression Importance of individuality/nonconformity Confidence
What was Thoreau's opinion on the "right" to rebel against one's government?
There is a right to revolution against injustice, and this revolution would be acceptable against the contemporary United States.
(INFERENCE) Why doesn't Thoreau value voting?
Voting leaves justice to the chance of a majority vote.
In context, "dear" (para 1) means
(B) precious
3. The stylistic feature most evident in the first paragraph is the use of
(B) repeated syntactical patterns
What words help to create the tone of this passage?
(C) "Pail with wonder"
The first paragraph contains which of the following?
(C) A cumulative sentence (that's it)
It can be inferred by the phrase "You look into his pail with wonder as into a summer pond, as if he kept summer locked up at home, or knew where she had retreated." that Thoreau:
(C) Is fascinated that the men can get fish at that time
How does his paragraph add to the purpose of the whole chapter?
(C) It shows Thoreau's appreciation of the men
Which line contains an example of parallelism?
(C) Line 10
This paragraph contains which of the following?
(C) Simile and Polysyndeton
In the 2nd para, Thoreau employs a play on words with which of the following
(C) Sleepers
The effect of the repetition in lines 42-44 ("Speak . . . today") is to stress that
(C) great thinkers are willing to revisit and re-evaluate their positions
The effectiveness of the final paragraph is primarily a result of its use of
(C) specific examples
