Brief Questions The American Scholar Premium Premium Content This content is available for premium subscribers only. Login or Subscribe to access premium content. Brief Questions: The American Scholar In which form was “The American Scholar” first delivered? Ans: It was first delivered as a public lecture. Where and when was “The American Scholar” delivered? Ans: It was delivered at Harvard College to the Phi Beta Kappa Society on August 31, 1837. What philosophy does the essay embody? Ans: It expresses Emerson’s idea of what an American scholar should be — a complete “One Man” with various duties. What does Emerson mean by “the sere remains of foreign harvests”? Ans: He means the worn-out knowledge borrowed from Europe. What does Emerson compare American poetry with? Ans: He compares it with Vega, a bright star that will shine in American literature for ages. What is the concept of One Man derived from? Ans: It is derived from an old fable about the gods dividing one man into many. What happens in a divided social state? Ans: The duties of different professions are divided among individuals. What happens to a tradesman in such a society? Ans: He becomes a slave to money and routine work. What is a scholar in a degenerate society? Ans: He becomes a mere imitator or the parrot of others’ thinking. What is the root of both Nature and the human mind? Ans: The soul is the common root of both. How does “Man Thinking” differ from a bookworm? Ans: A bookworm copies old ideas, but “Man Thinking” creates new ones for his time. Why is the pleasure from books remarkable? Ans: Because books make us feel that one nature writes and the same nature reads. What is the traditional view of a scholar? Ans: He is seen as a weak, inactive recluse, unfit for real work. What does the term “dumb abyss” mean? Ans: It means the silent, vast world around us. Who gains the richest wisdom? Ans: The man who works with full strength and purpose. What is the principle of Undulation in Nature? Ans: It is the law of opposites like day and night or ebb and flow. What is the popular name for this principle? Ans: It is commonly called “Polarity.” Who are Flamsteed and Herschel? Ans: They were famous British astronomers. What should be a shame to the scholar? Ans: It should shame him to stay calm only because he feels safe while others suffer. What notion is called mischievous? Ans: The belief that nature’s work was finished long ago. Who are called the kings of the world? Ans: Those whose thoughts and actions influence their age and future generations. What do men naturally seek? Ans: Men naturally seek money or power. What is a man’s private life compared to? Ans: It is compared to a small kingdom in history. What is our age bewailed as? Ans: It is called an age of introversion and self-absorption. What is meant by a great stride? Ans: Turning literature from uncommon to ordinary, real-life subjects. What is Emerson’s comment on Swedenborg? Ans: He calls Swedenborg very imaginative yet precise, blending philosophy with religion. How does Emerson assess Swedenborg’s philosophy? Ans: He says Swedenborg showed the link between moral evil and ugly material forms. What is the condition of young Americans? Ans: Many lose hope, hate business life, and even die of despair or suicide. What is the remedy for this condition? Ans: The young must stand firm on their own beliefs and act bravely. On what occasion was “The American Scholar” delivered? Ans: It was given at the start of Harvard’s new academic year. What is classification according to Emerson? Ans: It is seeing order and law in nature’s objects. What is a scholar in the right state of society? Ans: He is “Man Thinking,” not a follower. What does Emerson mean by “the Other Me”? Ans: The outer world around us is the “Other Me.” What is Neoclassicism? Ans: It is an art and literary movement inspired by ancient Greek and Roman classics. What must the scholar read? Ans: He must read history and science carefully. What is the fable of One Man? Ans: The gods divided man into many parts, like a hand into fingers, to make him useful. Who is “one man of genius” according to Emerson? Ans: He refers to Emanuel Swedenborg. What is the duty of the scholar? Ans: His duty is to cheer, raise, and guide others toward truth. What is man’s natural tendency? Ans: Man naturally runs after wealth and power. Why can books be dangerous? Ans: They may stop the scholar from thinking for himself. What is our dictionary according to Emerson? Ans: Life itself is our true dictionary. What does “Man Thinking” mean? Ans: It means a scholar who uses his own mind and judgment. What is the main job of an American Scholar? Ans: To guide and inspire men by showing truth through facts. Who hopes and who creates, according to Emerson? Ans: The “Man Thinking,” or true scholar, hopes and creates from his own ideas. What is pre-established harmony? Ans: It is Leibniz’s idea that God created harmony among all beings from the start. Continue Reading Subscribe to access the full content Upgrade to Premium