Deck 15: Nature

Question 1

Someone living a hermit's life far from society is most likely to be a(n)

A) transcendentalist.
B) naturalist.
C) environmentalist.
D) urbanist.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The famous work by an American naturalist containing the line, "The mass of men lead
Lives of quiet desperation," is entitled

A) "Nature."
B) Heart of Darkness.
C) On the Nature of Things.
D) Walden.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The tragic attempt to control or manipulate nature is central to the book

A) Heart of Darkness.
B) Silent Spring.
C) Walden.
D) Frankenstein.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A work of art or sculpture designed to work with its natural surroundings is

A) site-specific art.
B) environmentalism.
C) carbon footprint.
D) transcendental art.

Question 5

Brahman, the Tao, and the Dharma are terms from different Asian-origin religions for

A) the destructive power of nature.
B) nature.
C) human arrogance in the face of nature.
D) human responsibility to the natural world.

Question 6

Emerson's work of American transcendentalism is entitled

A) "Nature."
B) Walden.
C) "Song of Myself."
D) Pomp and Circumstance.

Question 7

The Romantics' stance of equating nature with freedom is the

A) force behind Manifest Destiny.
B) origin of modern environmentalism.
C) foundation of natural rights.
D) cause of modern degradation of nature.

Question 8

The artistic movement that urged awe and fear in response to nature is

A) transcendentalism.
B) romanticism.
C) environmentalism.
D) naturalism.

Question 9

A broad term for ecosystems and the systems of laws governing the universe is

A) nature.
B) naturalism.
C) transcendentalism.
D) environmentalism.

Question 10

A classic work that warns of the power of nature is entitled

A) Walden.
B) Silent Spring.
C) "Nature."
D) Moby Dick.

Question 11

Carl Sandburg's poetry was written in response to

A) transcendentalism.
B) environmentalism.
C) urbanism.
D) Manifest Destiny.

Question 12

An important environmentalist work on climate change and rising sea levels is entitled

A) "Hurricane Season: The Nature of War."
B) An Inconvenient Truth.
C) Silent Spring.
D) The Wolf at Twilight.

Question 13

A work on Native Americans' relationship with nature is entitled

A) The Wolf at Twilight.
B) Silent Spring.
C) An Inconvenient Truth.
D) Walden.

Question 14

In As You Like It, the Forest of Arden is Shakespeare's version of

A) anti-urbanism.
B) the Garden of Eden.
C) hostile wilderness.
D) Manifest Destiny.

Question 15

Local parks rose as a direct result of

A) urbanism.
B) Manifest Destiny.
C) environmentalism.
D) naturalism.

Question 16

Winslow Homer's The Gulf Stream embodies

A) civilization's triumph over nature.
B) site-specific art.
C) the awesome force of nature.
D) humans in harmony with their natural surroundings.

Question 17

The most important early work of modern environmentalism is

A) "Hurricane Season: The Nature of War."
B) The Wolf at Twilight.
C) An Inconvenient Truth.
D) Silent Spring.

Question 18

The belief that superior peoples should civilize those they think of as inferior is known as

A) transcendentalism.
B) romanticism.
C) Manifest Destiny.
D) naturalism.

Question 19

The work by the Roman poet Lucretius which states that earth exists as a result of a violent collision of atoms is

A) Heart of Darkness.
B) Apocalypse Now.
C) Of the Nature of Things.
D) "Nature."

Question 20

One of the most profound indictments of human arrogance in the face of nature is entitled

A) Walden.
B) "Song of Myself."
C) As You Like It.
D) Heart of Darkness.

Question 21

What is environmental art?

Question 22

Detail the enviromental practices in the immediate environment (town or university) in which you live. Describe the extent to which your society encourages or discourages environmentally sound practices. Describe the extent to which environmentally sound practices are left up to the individual.
I. Identity the environmentalist features or policy of town or immediate environment.
II. Evaluate the extent to which policies and practices (or the lack of) aid or deter environmentalism in the immediate surroundings.
III. Describe the extent to which environmentally sound practices are left up individuals.

Question 23

What is environmentalism?

Question 24

How did romantic artists' portrait of nature differ from those of early artists such as Dante and Michelangelo?

Question 25

Consider a work of art (film, song, painting, play, novel, nonfiction work) with a nature theme. Analyze the attitude toward nature that the work of art supports. Use many details to support and illustrate your point.
I. Choose an artwork with a nature theme.
II. Identify the attitude toward nature the work supports.
III. Provide details and examples to support the argument.

Question 26

In the his essay discussed in the chapter, Emerson maintains that individuals and nature are parts of the same whole, and to love ourselves is to love the natural world around us. To what extent do modern practices and environmental problems show or challenge the ideas of self-love and unity that Emerson presents?
I. Describe some current environmental problems and practices that Emerson might discuss.
II. Explain how Emerson's concept of oneness with nature and how the attack on nature is tantamount to an attack on one's self.

Question 27

If the ideas in "More Than an Inconvenience" are correct, environmental changes may cause people to make sacrifices and work together. In your view, what kinds of "conveniences" would people willingly sacrifice and what kinds would people be likely to give up only if they are forced to? Explain your stance.
I. Identify conveniences of modern life.
II. Explain which conveniences could be readily sacrificed and why.
III. Explain which conveniences people would sacrifice only with great resistance and why.

Question 28

What are natural rights?

Question 29

Compare the Romantics' attitude toward nature with the practices that developed in the twentieth century. Discuss whether their views on nature have been more harmful or helpful toward environmental causes.
I. Discuss the Romantics' views toward nature.
II. Discuss modern practices regarding nature.
III. Consider the relationship between the two as one where the first is more helpful, neutral, or more harmful to the environment.

Question 30

What is a naturalist?