UNIT: BRIGHT ROMANTICISM: AMERICAN INDIVIDUALISM

How do the authors of "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" use different images to illustrate their themes?

"Psalm" contains primarily images of battle and human interactions, while "Auspex" focuses on natural imagery.

How do "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" differ in how they describe the concept of time?

"Psalm" suggests that the passage of time cannot defeat the soul, while "Auspex" indicates that it can.

And when 100 or 1,000,000 people enter into a free government, they do not barter away their natural rights; they simply pledge themselves to protect each other in the enjoyment of them, through prescribed judicial and legislative tribunals. Which quotation correctly uses ellipsis to shorten Anthony's words?

And when . . . people enter into a free government, they do not barter away their natural rights; they simply pledge themselves to protect each other in the enjoyment of them, through prescribed judicial and legislative tribunals.

WRONG:Which statement best describes the theme of "Song of Myself"?

Belief in one's self should be the ultimate goal of one's life.

How are the speakers of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" similar?

Both are forthright and confident.

How are the speakers of "Auspex" and "A Psalm of Life" similar?

Both contemplate a kind of loss.

What imagery do "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" have in common?

Both poems make reference to the heart.

How are the speakers' attitudes toward God and Death similar in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" and "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"?

Both speakers appear confident and accepting.

Which statement best describes the imagery in Chapter I of Nature and in Society and Solitude?

Both use a majority of natural images.

Quiz 6:

Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling

What is the purpose of the third stanza of "Auspex"?

It contrasts the image of the birds from the first stanza.

Quiz 5:

Emily Dickinson's Poetry

Quiz 1

Fireside Poets

What is the most likely reason the author chose a free verse structure for "Song of Myself"?

Free verse allowed for the expression of expansive ideas.

How is the concept of friendship portrayed in both Society and Solitude and Chapter I of Nature?

Friendship is considered to be valuable but not necessarily vital.

What is Thoreau's first thought upon being imprisoned in "Civil Disobedience"?

He considers the prison a foolish institution.

Based on Thoreau's opinion about the Mexican-American War and slavery in the United States, why did he most likely refuse to pay the poll taxes, as described in "Civil Disobedience"?

He disagreed with the government's actions.

When Emerson states, "It by no means follows that we are not fit for society, because soirees are tedious," in Society and Solitude, how does he support his statement?

He suggests that a person has one conception of one's self when in a group and another when with just one other person.

In "Civil Disobedience," what is Thoreau's last thought about the state before he loses respect for it?

He thinks the state can't tell its friends from its enemies.

Based on "Civil Disobedience," what statement did Thoreau, like his modern-day successors, hope to make with his imprisonment?

He wanted to suggest that one should be willing to go to great lengths for a belief.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,And filter and fibre your blood. Why does Whitman use such a simple phrase as "who I am or what I mean"?

He wants to communicate directly with readers.

Quiz 3:

Henry David Thoreau - "Civil Disobedience"

Solitude is impracticable, and society fatal. We must keep our head in the one and our hands in the other. The conditions are met, if we keep our independence, yet do not lose our sympathy. Which best describes Emerson's argument in this excerpt?

In order to balance society and solitude, one must maintain both independence and sympathy for others.

The sections of "Song of Myself" approach one subject from several different angles. How does this technique reflect the main theme of the poem?

It corresponds to the idea that the self is all-encompassing.

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.What is the effect of the word "atom" in this line and later in the poem?

It emphasizes the narrator's belief that every parcel of the Earth belongs to everyone.

Woe's me, I shall be lonely When I can feel no longer The impatience of their wings! Which best describes the effect of the expression "Woe's me"?

It heightens the sense of loss in the poem.

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice -I just wear my Wings -And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,Our little Sexton - sings. What is the effect of the word "surplice," which is a garment worn by the clergy, in this stanza?

It reinforces the difference between the natural things the speaker holds dear and the rituals of the church.

What is the effect of the repetition of the word "dead" in this line?

It reinforces the idea that one should live in the present, not in the past

I tramp a perpetual journey, (come listen all!) How does the word "tramp" affect the meaning of this line?

It suggests the determination of the speaker.

Based on evidence of his personality in "Civil Disobedience," what effect would a longer jail stay most likely have had on Thoreau?

It would have hardened his resolve to assert his rights.

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the general structure of the poem?

Just as the poem has a loose, open structure, these lines display personal freedom.

Which best states how the concept of trust is portrayed in Chapter I of Nature and in Society and Solitude?

Nature implies suspicion of others but does not state it, while Society and Solitude states directly that suspicion of others is natural.

Which statement best summarizes the final two paragraphs of Chapter I of Nature?

The power in nature that one perceives is due both to nature and to one's own intelligence.

Which statement best describes the rhythm of "Song of Myself"?

The rhythm is very similar to the rhythm of everyday speech.

Which statement would be included in a summary of the first paragraph of Chapter I of Nature?

The stars at night are beautiful but sometimes unappreciated.

Quiz 2:

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Which statement best describes Emerson's opinion of communities, according to the first paragraph of Society and Solitude?

Regardless of how tightly bound communities may seem, each person is ultimately alone.

What does the first stanza of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" suggest about the speaker's view of religious customs?

She participates in religious customs in an unconventional way.

Which statement would be included in a summary of paragraph one of Society and Solitude?

Solitude is an inner concept rather than an outward one.

How is the concept of solitude portrayed in both Society and Solitude and Chapter I of Nature?

Solitude is viewed as a source of strength.

How are the moods of "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" and "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" different?

The former has a serious mood, while the latter has a lighter mood.

Which statement best describes the purpose of the horse-drawn carriage imagery in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death."

The imagery introduces the idea that death is a natural and ordinary part of one's journey through life.

Which statement best describes the rhyme scheme in "A Psalm of Life"?

The poem adheres to a strict ABAB rhyme scheme throughout each stanza.

And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,Our little Sexton - sings. What is the most likely reason for the poet to oppose the phrases "tolling the Bell" and "sings" in these lines?

The poet is expressing her belief that the second, more natural option is far more desirable than the first option.

According to the third paragraph of Chapter I of Nature, how does Emerson define the poet's view of nature?

The poet sees something in nature that cannot be quantified.

To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature.Which sentence from Nature best supports Emerson's claim?

The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child.

And I had put away My labor and my leisure too,For His Civility What is the purpose of the words "labor" and "leisure"?

They are aspects of life that the speaker is leaving.

Considering "Civil Disobedience," which best describes how Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. both felt about acts of civil disobedience?

They both believed that individuals have the right and the responsibility to protest unjust laws.

I loafe and invite my soul,I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. How do these lines reflect the poet's general style?

They show the poem's relaxed, candid tone.

Which statement best describes the way the sections in the excerpt from "Song of Myself" are constructed?

They show unique sides of a universal worldview.

What is the main idea of the first stanza of "Auspex"?

Though I cannot slow myself down right now, one day my heart will stop beating so quickly, and I will slow down.

Which is the best summary of paragraph six of Chapter I of Nature?

To experience nature at its fullest requires mental effort.

Which statement best summarizes the fourth paragraph of Chapter I of Nature?

Truly experiencing and absorbing the beauty of nature can have a healing effect on the mind and body.

WRONG: Which statement best describes the theme of "Song of Myself"?

WRONG Belief in one's self should be the ultimate goal of one's life.

WRONG: Which best summarizes the role of conversation expressed in Society and Solitude?

WRONG: Conversation is a way for two people who are strangers to find out if they can share the same community.

WRONG: Which best describes one way in which "Civil Disobedience" impacted people and events later in history?

WRONG: It acted as a catalyst for rapid political change.

WRONG: How does the relationship between "man and vegetable" described in paragraph five of Chapter I of Nature support the piece's central idea?

WRONG: It indicates that a better relationship with the natural world would help improve human society. WRONG: It suggests that humans don't spend nearly enough time thinking about or studying nature.

WRONG: Why is the image of the setting sun most likely not described in great detail in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"?

WRONG: It is not meant to be seen as an important symbol within the poem.

WRONG: How does the second stanza of "Auspex" tie the first and third stanzas together?

WRONG: It offers a break in thought from the subject matter of the first and third stanzas. WRONG: It prepares the reader for the seriousness that only appears in the third stanza.

WRONG: Which best describes the tone shared by "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex"?

WRONG: MOURNFUL

WRONG: Long enough have you dream'd contemptible dreams,Now I wash the gum from your eyes,You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life.Long have you timidly waded holding a plank by the shore,Now I will you to be a bold swimmer,To jump off in the midst of the sea, rise again, nod to me, shout, and laughinglydash with your hair. What theme is suggested by this excerpt?

WRONG: People should be lighthearted and carefree and avoid taking life too seriously.

WRONG: A clergyman is an official leader within an organized religion. Why does Dickinson call God "a noted Clergyman" in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"?

WRONG: She is trying to convince readers of the seriousness of her worship.

WRONG: Which is the best summary of Emerson's view of solitude expressed in Society and Solitude?

WRONG: Spending time in solitude is preferable to spending time in society, and it is ultimately more beneficial.

WRONG: What does "Civil Disobedience" suggest about the public opinion of tax evasion in Thoreau's time?

WRONG: The evasion of taxes was considered highly disrespectful to the state.

WRONG: I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

WRONG: They create a mood of mystery in the line.

WRONG: I have no chair, no church, no philosophy ,I lead no man to a dinner-table, library, exchange, But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll, My left hand hooking you round the waist, My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and the public road. Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the theme of the poem?

WRONG: They suggest that Whitman views all individuals as equals who should communicate with each other as such. WRONG: They reflect Whitman's desire to share his love of the wilderness.

WRONG: How do the themes of "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" differ?

WRONG: While "Psalm" urges us to enjoy life, "Auspex" portrays life as nothing but pain.

WRONG: It is not far, it is within reach,Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land.Shoulder your duds dear son, and I will mine, and let us hasten forth,Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go. What does this suggest about Whitman's overall style in the poem?

WRONG: that Whitman does not have a distinctive style as a poet

WRONG: I celebrate myself, and sing myself,And what I assume you shall assume,For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Which statement best explains why Whitman chose the phrase "every atom" for the last line?

WRONG: to suggest attention to detail, heightening trustworthiness

WRONG: I know I have the best of time and space, and was never measured and never will be measured. How does this line support the theme of the poem?

WRONG:It reflects Whitman's exceedingly high opinion of himself.] WRONG:It indicates Whitman's perception that he is above others' judgment.

Quiz 4:

Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"

Read the lines from "A Psalm of Life." Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time. The imagery in the lines suggests that

great deeds are remembered in history.

Based on Thoreau's beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," he most likely decided not to pay poll tax because

he disagreed with the idea of it

Which best describes the tone that the first stanza of "A Psalm of Life" sets for the rest of the poem?

hopeful and determined

The rider tugged on the _______ of her horse to make him slow down.

reins

Which characteristic makes "Song of Myself" a free verse poem?

the absence of a consistent rhythmic structure

In "Civil Disobedience," what does Thoreau think about right after he wonders if he could have been of service to his community?

the significance of the wall between himself and others