It is true that the passage describes that historians overestimated Thoreau's influence on King, however, the issue with (B) is that the passage never states that King was greatly influenced by a number of the transcendentalist philosophers.
In fact, the passage clearly explains that IF King were familiar with certain other transcendentalist philosophers he WOULD have agreed with them, meaning that he was not actually aware of them so he could not have been greatly influenced by them: "in many other transcendentalist writings, including works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, King WOULD HAVE found ideas more nearly akin to his own," (20-23). We can see this again at the beginning of the third paragraph: "King's writings suggest that, WITHOUT REALIZING IT, he was an INCIPIENT transcendentalist," (lines 38-39).
Thus, answer choice (B) is not correct. However, we are told that King was an emerging transcendentalist without actually being conscious of it. We are told that in King's discussion of just and unjust laws is very similar to the transcendentalists' discussion of higher law, (lines 46-49).
So, answer choice (D) is actually our correct answer: "Although historians have overemphasized Thoreau's influence on King's philosophy and transcendentalism that have not been fully appreciated"
Hope that clears things up! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
stormbeelerSeptember 15, 2015
Is E wrong because it says that MLK was particularly influenced by Thoreau and the other spends a majority of the passage showing differences between the two? Thanks.
NazSeptember 15, 2015
Remember, as stated above, King was not "particularly" influenced by Thoreau. Lines 11-12 state: "King would not have agreed with many aspects of Thoreau's philosophy." Furthermore, the author states that "'Civil Disobedience' was THE ONLY example of transcendentalist writing with which King was familiar," (lines 17-20).
Therefore, it is not correct to say that King was influenced by transcendentalism and in particular by Thoreau, rather we are told that King was an incipient transcendental and WOULD HAVE found ideas of many transcendentalists akin to his own.
Hope that clears things up! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
