Ralph Waldo Emerson: Nature

[Skip Breadcrumb Navigation]

Home

Student Resources

Possibilities for Writing

This activity contains 3 questions.

Using summary and paraphrase, explain what Emerson means by “nature” and what he regards as the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Noting that Emerson writes in a formal and highly complex style characteristic of the 19th century, cast your essay as much as possible in your own language, that is, language familiar to contemporary readers.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

If you have spent much time, as Emerson writes about, enjoying the solitary pleasures of nature, how closely have your experiences resembled his? In your essay, use clear description to convey your encounters as specifically as possible.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

There is considerable debate today among those who wish to see the government set aside what wilderness is left in the United States to preserve it as pristine and those who believe that such lands should be open to development and easy accessibility. Where do you fall in this debate? Use Emerson’s ideas to support your own or as a point of refutation.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

The Submit Answers for Grading feature requires scripting to function. Your browser either does not support scripting or you have turned scripting off.

So, the Submit Answers for Grading button below will not work.

The following Submit Answers for Grading button is provided in its place and will clear your answers:
The Clear Answers and Start Over feature requires scripting to function. Your browser either does not support scripting or you have turned scripting off.

So, the Clear Answers and Start Over button below will not work.

The following Clear Answers button is provided in its place and will clear your answers: