Unit 2 Study Guide for Transcendentalists and Dark Romantics
Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self-Reliance”
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What is Emerson’s meaning of the word “nature” in “Nature”?
According to his essay “Nature” what is Emerson’s attitude toward society?
What is Emerson’s purpose for writing “Nature?”
Understand the “kernel of corn” metaphor in “Self-Reliance.”
Know what Emerson means by the “divine idea which each one of us represents.”
Know the meaning of the metaphor, “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
Know the meaning of the metaphor, “Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
Understand the quote, “speak what you think now in hard words…”
Thoreau’s “Walden”
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Why does Thoreau want to live at Walden?
How does Thoreau feel about progress (railroads, etc…)
Know and understand what the ants symbolize in “Brute Neighbors.”
Understand what Thoreau means by “I wanted to live deep and suck the marrow out of life.”
What is Thoreau’s attitude towards individuality and conformity.
Be able to distinguish between a metaphor and a simile.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
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How does the veil change Reverend Hooper’s personality according to the town?
Why won’t anyone ask Mr. Hooper about the veil?
How does the veil affect the sermon Rev. Hooper gives?
Why won’t Reverend Hooper let Mr. Clark remove the black veil.
Why would this story be labeled a parable? Know what a parable is.
Know what the black veil is a symbol of.
After his conversation with Elizabeth what can we conclude about the rest of Rev. Hooper’s life?
What is meant when Reverend Hooper says, “There is a hour to come…when all of us shall cast
aside our veils.”
23. Why won’t anyone walk alongside Rev. Hooper after the church service?
24. Understand why it is fitting that the main character is a minister.