American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Which of these writers was a transcendentalist?

1. Ernest Hemingway

2. Charles Dickens

3. Henry David Thoreau

4. Mark Twain

The correct answer is: Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was a famous American transcendentalist writer who is known for his influential works such as "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience". Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement in the mid-19th century that focused on the belief in the inherent goodness of humans and nature, and the power of self-reliance and individualism. Option A, Ernest Hemingway, was a renowned American modernist writer, known for his sparse and direct writing style that differed from the transcendentalist belief in the importance of nature and self-reflection. Option B, Charles Dickens, was a British author during the Victorian era who wrote about societal issues and had a more realistic and critical view of the world, rather than the transcendentalist emphasis on spiritual and idealistic elements of life. Option D, Mark Twain, was an American