I narrow down to C and E but neither seem completely correct:
C: the author does not ask for "reappraisal", there is nothing "long-held " in the passage but "historical conenction among a group of writers" fits some parts of the passage (similarities and difference between SOJ and domestic novelists)
E: "rejects ...classifying...a writer's work" fits the passage perfectly; although the author suggests one should take major difference between the two when aligning, he/she does not raise an "alternative view" let alone defend it? Isn't it too strong for the passage?
Could any one pinpoint how E entirely fits the passage?
Thanks a lot!
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- ohthatpatrick
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Atticus Finch
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Re: Q25
The first sentence of the passage sets out that recent criticism has been lumping Jewett in with the domestic novelists of the mid-nineteenth century.
In line 7, we see the expected "but/yet/however" that tells us the author disagrees with this view.
A ton of RC passages have the author "clarifying a misconception" or "defending someone/something against criticism". The easiest way to recognize this is to latch onto phrases such as "some critics say", "it is often argued that", or in this case, "Recent criticism has sought to ..."
When the author has introduced someone else's point of view, he almost always eventually counters it with some but/yet/however statement of disagreement. Moreover, we realize that the author's purpose in writing the passage is to disagree with this other point of view.
So, in terms of (E), the author is definitely rejecting the view that Jewett should be aligned with the domestic novelists of the mid-19th century. The final two sentences of the passage summarize the alternative view the author defends: Jewett was writing in the style of the late 19th century, a style that saw the novel as an autonomous work rather than "for its larger social connections or the promotion of extraliterary goods".
The author introduces his alternative view in line 24. At the beginning of the 2nd paragraph, he considers some possible explanations for why Jewett's books are more secular and less child-centered than the domestic novels with which the critics associate her.
Then in line 24, (again prefaced by the all-important "BUT"), the author proposes his view that Jewett's work is different from the mid-19th century domestic novels because of "different conceptions of the nature and purpose of fiction".
The rest of the passage is a defense of this view. (don't get too hung up on answer choice wording you might not have chosen if you were writing it .... defend a view = support a view)
In general, if an author is trying to "clarify someone's misconception" or "correct an erroneous interpretation", then he would have to do so by letting us know what the correct interpretation would be (an alternative view).
fyi,
(A) is way off. the author doesn't attempt to radically redefine any categories of literary style. he wants to associate Jewett with late-19th century fiction, not mid-19th century domestic novels.
(B) the author doesn't propose how we evaluate late-19th century fiction or the mid-19th domestic novel. he's merely arguing that we should see Jewett as an example of the former.
(C) the author argues that critics should reappraise how they think about Jewett: rather than lumping her in with the domestic novelists, they should see her as a product of the distinct literary goals of the late 19th century.
(D) the author isn't pitting domestic vs. late 19th ... he's arguing which side Jewett belongs on.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
In line 7, we see the expected "but/yet/however" that tells us the author disagrees with this view.
A ton of RC passages have the author "clarifying a misconception" or "defending someone/something against criticism". The easiest way to recognize this is to latch onto phrases such as "some critics say", "it is often argued that", or in this case, "Recent criticism has sought to ..."
When the author has introduced someone else's point of view, he almost always eventually counters it with some but/yet/however statement of disagreement. Moreover, we realize that the author's purpose in writing the passage is to disagree with this other point of view.
So, in terms of (E), the author is definitely rejecting the view that Jewett should be aligned with the domestic novelists of the mid-19th century. The final two sentences of the passage summarize the alternative view the author defends: Jewett was writing in the style of the late 19th century, a style that saw the novel as an autonomous work rather than "for its larger social connections or the promotion of extraliterary goods".
The author introduces his alternative view in line 24. At the beginning of the 2nd paragraph, he considers some possible explanations for why Jewett's books are more secular and less child-centered than the domestic novels with which the critics associate her.
Then in line 24, (again prefaced by the all-important "BUT"), the author proposes his view that Jewett's work is different from the mid-19th century domestic novels because of "different conceptions of the nature and purpose of fiction".
The rest of the passage is a defense of this view. (don't get too hung up on answer choice wording you might not have chosen if you were writing it .... defend a view = support a view)
In general, if an author is trying to "clarify someone's misconception" or "correct an erroneous interpretation", then he would have to do so by letting us know what the correct interpretation would be (an alternative view).
fyi,
(A) is way off. the author doesn't attempt to radically redefine any categories of literary style. he wants to associate Jewett with late-19th century fiction, not mid-19th century domestic novels.
(B) the author doesn't propose how we evaluate late-19th century fiction or the mid-19th domestic novel. he's merely arguing that we should see Jewett as an example of the former.
(C) the author argues that critics should reappraise how they think about Jewett: rather than lumping her in with the domestic novelists, they should see her as a product of the distinct literary goals of the late 19th century.
(D) the author isn't pitting domestic vs. late 19th ... he's arguing which side Jewett belongs on.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
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- AyakiK696
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Elle Woods
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Re: Q25
I'm still a little confused about this question... I chose answer choice C, and I can see how E is a better answer, but I still can't completely disprove C? Couldn't the "historical connections among a group of writers" be the ways in which critics have lumped the works of Jewett with those of domestic novelists of the previous generation?
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- ohthatpatrick
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Atticus Finch
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Re: Q25
I think "historical connections" is meant to be interpreted as involving things BESIDES aesthetic / stylistic connections.
But an easier way for you to move on with your life would be that (C) says it's a "long-held" assumption, and the criticism the author is arguing to reappraise is a "Recent" criticism (line 1).
Hope this helps.
But an easier way for you to move on with your life would be that (C) says it's a "long-held" assumption, and the criticism the author is arguing to reappraise is a "Recent" criticism (line 1).
Hope this helps.
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