Q18

[demetri.blaisdell]

This function/role question is one we usually go over in class.

The "unfairly burdened" line is used as a rhetorical flourish. The author is conceding a minor criticism as part of an overall defense of RRT. (D) gives us this. Clearly, the author ultimately supports RRT. So in bringing this up, she's conceding a point to her formalist adversaries while still defending it.

The wrong answers:

(A) has the author on the wrong side of the scale. The author doesn't think RRT "raises more questions than it can answer." She likes RRT, after all!

(B) has always made me wonder. What exactly does it mean to "confirm the longevity?" It's a little hard to picture what that would look like. Whatever it is, it's not what happens in line 51.

(C) is another attempt to put the author on the wrong side of the scale. The author doesn't think there are any fundamental flaws with RRT. If she did, she would probably be a formalist.

(E) is tempting but it's only half the story. The author might agree that there could occasionally be fragmented views of the work. But that's not why she brings it up in line 51. Lines 52-55 (after the comma) make it clear that the author is really defending RRT, not criticizing it.

I hope this helps. Post with questions.

Demetri