excerpt from “Solitude” by Henry David Thoreau

Question

Henry David Thoreau was a writer and philosopher. He was a major figure in the transcendentalist movement. Transcendentalists feel a deep connection to nature. They believe people connect directly with God and are born with innate goodness. For two years, Thoreau lived in a small cabin he built in the woods. He felt people should live closer to nature instead of relying on material wealth. “Solitude” is an essay from his book Walden; of, Life in the Woods.

This is a delicious evening, when the whole body is one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself. As I walk along the stony shore of the pond in my shirt sleeves, though it is cool as well as cloudy and windy, and I see nothing special to attract me, all the elements are unusually congenial to me. The bullfrogs trump to usher in the night, and the note of the whippoorwill is borne on the rippling wind from over the water. Sympathy with the fluttering alder and poplar leaves almost takes away my breath; yet, like the lake, my serenity is rippled but not ruffled. These small waves raised by the evening wind are as remote from storm as the smooth reflecting surface. Though it is now dark, the wind still blows and roars in the wood, the waves still dash, and some creatures lull the rest with their notes. The repose is never complete. The wildest animals do not repose, but seek their prey now; the fox, and skunk, and rabbit, now roam the fields and woods without fear. They are Nature’s watchmen, —links which connect the days of animated life. . . .

Some of my pleasantest hours were during the long rain storms in the spring or fall, which confined me to the house for the afternoon as well as the forenoon, soothed by their ceaseless roar and pelting; when an early twilight ushered in a long evening in which many thoughts had time to take root and unfold themselves. . . . Men frequently say to me, “I should think you would feel lonesome down there, and want to be nearer to folks, rainy and snowy days and nights especially.” I am tempted to reply to such,—This whole earth which we inhabit is but a point in space. How far apart, think you, dwell the two most distant inhabitants of yonder star, the breadth of whose disk cannot be appreciated by our instruments? Why should I feel lonely? Is not our planet in the Milky Way? This which you put seems to me not to be the most important question. What sort of space is that which separates a man from his fellows and makes him solitary? I have found that no exertion of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another.

Which sentence best expresses the author’s viewpoint about nature in "Solitude"?
Responses

Nature is beautiful, calming, and inspiring.
Nature is beautiful, calming, and inspiring.

Nature is dangerous yet attractive.
Nature is dangerous yet attractive.

Nature is filled with unknowable mysteries.
Nature is filled with unknowable mysteries.

Nature is filled with excitement and adventure.
Nature is filled with excitement and adventure.

Answer 1

The sentence that best expresses the author’s viewpoint about nature in "Solitude" is:

Nature is beautiful, calming, and inspiring.

This is supported by Thoreau's descriptions of the evening in nature, the soothing sounds, and the serene atmosphere he experiences. He emphasizes the joy and peace he finds in the natural world, illustrating a deep appreciation for its beauty and calming effects.

Answer 2

Part A

In "Solitude," what can be inferred about the author's relationship with the natural world?

Responses

He feels that human society has become too cold and impersonal.
He feels that human society has become too cold and impersonal.

He prefers the natural world to the company of other people.
He prefers the natural world to the company of other people.

He is happiest in nature when it is at its most unpleasant.
He is happiest in nature when it is at its most unpleasant.

He feels lonely only when there are no animals around.
He feels lonely only when there are no animals around.
Question 2
Part B - Points depend on a correct response in Part A.

Which sentence best supports the answer in Part A?

Responses

“I have found that no exertion of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another.”
“I have found that no exertion of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another.”

"As I walk along the stony shore of the pond in my shirt sleeves, though it is cool as well as cloudy..."
"As I walk along the stony shore of the pond in my shirt sleeves, though it is cool as well as cloudy..."

“They are Nature’s watchmen,—links which connect the days of animated life.”
“They are Nature’s watchmen,—links which connect the days of animated life.”

“I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself.”
“I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself.”

Answer 3

Part A

Based on the content of "Solitude," the best inference about the author's relationship with the natural world is:

He prefers the natural world to the company of other people.

Part B

The sentence that best supports this answer is:

“I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself.”

This sentence highlights Thoreau’s deep connection to nature and suggests that he feels more at home and free in the natural world than in human society.

Answer 4

Read this excerpt from “Solitude” by Henry David Thoreau.

What sort of space is that which separates a man from his fellows and makes him solitary? I have found that no exertion of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another.

How does Thoreau distinguish between being alone and being alienated from others?

Responses

He differentiates between physical nearness and mental nearness in combating loneliness.
He differentiates between physical nearness and mental nearness in combating loneliness.

He differentiates between being alone and suffering from loneliness in the company of others.
He differentiates between being alone and suffering from loneliness in the company of others.

He notes that neither physical distance nor nearness impacts the mental connections people have with one another.
He notes that neither physical distance nor nearness impacts the mental connections people have with one another.

He notes that being physically active is not the same as being fully alive if one is not connecting with others.

Answer 5

The best response to how Thoreau distinguishes between being alone and being alienated from others is:

He differentiates between physical nearness and mental nearness in combating loneliness.

This reflects Thoreau’s observation that merely being close to others does not necessarily create a meaningful connection, while true companionship involves a deeper mental and emotional engagement.