Chapter V: Solitude Quiz — Walden Pond

What does Thoreau describe at the very beginning of the Solitude chapter?

• A morning meditation by the pond
• An evening walk along the stony shore of the pond
• A winter snowstorm at his cabin
• A conversation with a visiting neighbor

How does Thoreau know visitors have been to his cabin in his absence?

• They leave written notes on his door
• He detects signs like flowers, bended twigs, footprints, and the scent of tobacco
• His dog barks to alert him
• Neighbors tell him when he visits the village

How far away is Thoreau's nearest neighbor?

• A quarter mile
• Half a mile
• One mile
• Two miles

What resolved Thoreau's one episode of loneliness at Walden?

• A visit from a friend
• Reading a book of philosophy
• A gentle rain that filled him with a sense of Nature's friendliness
• A letter from his family in Concord

Who is the "old settler and original proprietor" that Thoreau describes?

• A retired farmer living near the pond
• An allegorical figure representing God or the spirit of Walden Pond
• Ralph Waldo Emerson, who owned the land
• A historical Native American chief

According to Thoreau, what should people dwell nearest to?

• The village post office and meeting-house
• Other families with children
• The perennial source of our life
• Major transportation routes

What is Thoreau's proposed panacea at the end of the chapter?

• Herbal medicine from the elderly dame's garden
• A draught of undiluted morning air
• Daily swimming in Walden Pond
• Meditation following Eastern philosophy

What mythological figure does Thoreau prefer over Hygeia?

• Athena
• Aurora
• Hebe
• Persephone

Did lightning strike a large pitch pine across the pond, leaving a spiral groove visible years later?

Did Thoreau regularly receive mail deliveries at his cabin by the pond?

What does "congenial" mean as used in: "all the elements are unusually congenial to me"?

• Dangerous and threatening
• Pleasant and suited to one's nature
• Strange and unfamiliar
• Cold and uninviting

What does "panacea" mean as used in: "For my panacea, instead of one of those quack vials"?

• A type of medicine bottle
• A universal remedy or cure-all
• A daily exercise routine
• A philosophical principle

What are "simples" as used in: "gathering simples and listening to her fables"?

• Simple stories or folktales
• Medicinal herbs or plants
• Small woodland animals
• Basic food ingredients