Ralph Waldo Emerson Answers

4 verified answers4 views
1
Free Preview

How do Emerson's central ideas about solitude and nature reflect transcendentalism?

A
Emerson’s ideas urge people to seek organized religion for guidance communing with the divine.
B
Emerson’s ideas stress that human beings are one with both nature and the divine.
C
Emerson’s ideas emphasize that conformity is the only way for society to function smoothly.
D
Emerson’s ideas recommend that people isolate themselves and never go out into society.
2
Free Preview

Based on Emerson’s central ideas, draw conclusions about what he was trying to convince readers to think or do. What was Emerson trying to convince the reader to think or do? Check all of the boxes that apply.

A
go out into nature and commune with the divine
B
experience real solitude to truly perceive nature
C
take walks rarely in order not to tire of nature
D
realize that individuals are meant to learn from nature and transcend it
E
view nature on sunny days and avoid it on overcast days
F
think of nature as a symbol of the divine
3

Write a well-formed paragraph that summarizes the central ideas from the excerpt of Emerson’s essay Nature. Your paragraph should have at least four sentences and contain key details.

Answer:

In Nature, Emerson shows that the natural world can help people recognize their connection to the divine. Since nature surrounds us, its spiritual meaning can go unnoticed. Emerson asks people to really observe nature instead of seeing it only as familiar scenery they already know because it’s around them all the time. By doing this, people can feel connected to the Universal Being and see that nature and human beings are both part of the divine.

4

Which of these central ideas did you include in your summary? Check all of the boxes that apply.

A
People should strive to really see nature and use it to make a connection to the Universal Being.
B
Both nature and human beings are part of the divine.
C
Nature doesn’t exist for its own sake; it is just a symbol of the spiritual world.
D
The fact that nature is accessible every day causes people to overlook its spiritual dimensions.

Did you find these answers helpful?