Emerson; The American Scholar

Introduction This speech was given at the very beginning of school back in 1837. this essay gives a short and fairlyreadable summary of many of Emerson’s ideas.

Questions: Definition Answer the following questions.

1. What "holiday" does Emerson refer to?

What threat does love of letters have?

2. What does America need to do?

What does he mean by "Apprenticeship"?

3. What is the difference between man and Man?

What is the difference between Planter and farmer?

4. What is the first influence on Man Thinking (the Scholar)

What does the intellect do with nature?

What is he really studying when he studies Nature?

What is the parallel to "know thyself"?

5. What is the second influence on Man Thinking?

What are some possible values of books?

What are their pitfalls?

What is the difference between the scholar and the bookworm?

How can books be both the best of things and the worst?

Why are books for the scholars idle times?

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The American Scholar, Continued


6. Complete the quote "one must be an inventor __________________"

Explain.

7. What is the third requirement for man thinking?

Why is Action essential?

What is the difference, to the scholar, of recent actions and past actions?

8. Complete the quote "Colleges and books only copy ____________
______________________________."

Why is Work essential?

Thought Question Describe the ideal school for Emerson.

Part II: Duties Answer the following questions fully.

1. What phrase sums up the totality of the duties of the American scholar?

Explain

2. What are the first of his duties?

How is that different from mere observation?

3. What are the snags that are thrown in his way?

What are the only rewards?

4. How must he reply to the popular cry?

Why?

What will he discover in in the secrets of his own mind?
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The American Scholar, Continued

5. How should he deal with fear?

What sort of Fear is Emerson writing of?

6. How have men been wronged?

Why is a follower such a fly?

7. Complete the quote "no man has ever lived who can ____________"

Explain.

Thought Questions Answer the following questions thoroughly.

o Why is self-trust vital?

o Does Emerson believe than anyone has a truly unique soul?

o What are the most dangerous pitfalls to the scholar?

Part III; The Times Answer the following questions thoroughly.

1. What does Emerson categoprize his time as?

Why does he think that is good?

2. What is the first of his auspicious signs?

Why do you need to use the close to understand the far?

3. What is his second auspicious sign?

4. Why is America the place for this scholar?
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American Scholar, Continued


5. What horrible things have been happenning to young men in America?

Why?

What must the man do to have the world come to him?

6. Instead of having thinking categorized by region, what should our thinking be?

7. When he says "a nation of men" what does he mean?

Thought Question Answer the following questions fully.

o How do Thoreau an Abbey follow the mind of Emerson?

o How do Huxley and Cather ignore him?