Critics maintain that the fiction of Herman Melville ⠀⠀⠀ (1819–1891) has limitations, such as its lack ⠀⠀⠀ of inventive plots after Moby-Dick (1851) and its ⠀⠀⠀ occasionally inscrutable style. A more serious, yet (5)⠀⠀problematic, charge is that Melville is a deficient ⠀⠀⠀ writer because he is not a practitioner of the “art of ⠀⠀⠀ fiction,” as critics have conceived of this art since the ⠀⠀⠀ late nineteenth-century essays and novels of Henry ⠀⠀⠀ James. Indeed, most twentieth-century commentators (10)⠀⠀regard Melville not as a novelist but as a writer of ⠀⠀⠀ romance, since they believe that Melville's fiction ⠀⠀⠀ lacks the continuity that James viewed as essential ⠀⠀⠀ to a novel: the continuity between what characters ⠀⠀⠀ feel or think and what they do, and the continuity (15)⠀⠀between characters' fates and their pasts or original ⠀⠀⠀ social classes. Critics argue that only Pierre (1852), ⠀⠀⠀ because of its subject and its characters, is close to ⠀⠀⠀ being a novel in the Jamesian sense. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, although Melville is not a Jamesian (20)⠀⠀novelist, he is not therefore a deficient writer. A more ⠀⠀⠀ reasonable position is that Melville is a different ⠀⠀⠀ kind of writer, who held, and should be judged ⠀⠀⠀ by, presuppositions about fiction that are quite ⠀⠀⠀ different from James's. It is true that Melville wrote (25)⠀⠀“romances”; however, these are not the escapist ⠀⠀⠀ fictions this word often implies, but fictions that ⠀⠀⠀ range freely among very unusual or intense human ⠀⠀⠀ experiences. Melville portrayed such experiences ⠀⠀⠀ because he believed these best enabled him to (30)⠀⠀explore moral questions, an exploration he assumed ⠀⠀⠀ was the ultimate purpose of fiction. He was content ⠀⠀⠀ to sacrifice continuity or even credibility as long ⠀⠀⠀ as he could establish a significant moral situation. ⠀⠀⠀ Thus Melville's romances do not give the reader (35)⠀⠀a full understanding of the complete feelings and ⠀⠀⠀ thoughts that motivate actions and events that shape ⠀⠀⠀ fate. Rather, the romances leave unexplained the ⠀⠀⠀ sequence of events and either simplify or obscure ⠀⠀⠀ motives. Again, such simplifications and obscurities (40)⠀⠀exist in order to give prominence to the depiction of ⠀⠀⠀ sharply delineated moral values, values derived from ⠀⠀⠀ a character's purely personal sense of honor, rather ⠀⠀⠀ than, as in a Jamesian novel, from the conventions of ⠀⠀⠀ society. 1 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to A. make a case for the importance of skillful psychological motivation in well-written novels and romances B. contrast the romantic and novelistic traditions and assert the aesthetic superiority of the romantic tradition C. survey some of the responses to Melville's fiction put forward by James and twentieth-century literary critics D. argue that the charges made against Melville's fiction by literary critics are suspect and misleading E. note several accusations made against Melville's fiction by literary critics and refute one of these accusations RC59461.01-10 2 2. The author draws which of the following conclusions about the fact that Melville's fiction often does not possess the qualities of a Jamesian novel? A. Literary critics should no longer use Jamesian standards to judge the value of novels. B. Literary critics who have praised Melville's fiction at the expense of James's fiction should consider themselves justified. C. Literary critics should no longer attempt to place writers, including Melville and James, in traditions or categories. D. Melville and James should be viewed as different sorts of writers and one should not be regarded as inherently superior to the other. E. Melville and James nevertheless share important similarities and these should not be overlooked or slighted when literary critics point out differences between the two writers. RC59461.01-20 3 3. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage? A. Melville's Unique Contribution to Romantic Fiction B. Melville's Growing Reputation Among Twentieth-Century Literary Critics C. Melville and the Jamesian Standards of Fiction: A Reexamination D. Romantic and Novelistic: The Shared Assumptions of Two Traditions E. The Art of Fiction: James's Influence on the Novelistic Tradition RC59461.01-30 4 4. The author probably mentions Melville's Pierre to A. refute those literary critics who have made generalizations about the quality of Melville's fiction B. argue that the portrayal of characters is one of Melville's more accomplished literary skills C. give an example of a novel that was thought by James to resemble his own fiction D. suggest that literary critics find few exceptions to what they believe is a characteristic of Melville's fiction E. reinforce the contention of literary critics RC59461.01-40 5 5. Which of the following statements best describes the author's method of argumentation in lines 24–31? A. The author describes an important standard of evaluation used by critics of Melville and then attacks that standard. B. The author admits a contention put forward by critics of Melville but then makes a countercharge against those critics. C. The author describes a charge advanced by critics of Melville and then points out a logical flaw in this charge. D. The author provides evidence that seems to support a position held by critics of Melville but then demonstrates that the evidence actually supports a diametrically opposed position. E. The author concedes an assertion made by critics of Melville but then mitigates the weight of the assertion by means of an explanation. RC59461.01-50 6 6. Which of the following can logically be inferred from the passage about the author's application of the term “romance” to Melville's work? A. The author uses the term in a broader way than did Melville himself. B. The author uses the term in a different way than do many literary critics. C. The author uses the term in a more systematic way than did James. D. The author's use of the term is the same as the term's usual meaning for twentieth-century commentators. E. The author's use of the term is less controversial than is the use of the term “novel” by many commentators. RC59461.01-60 7 7. Which of the following can most logically be inferred about the author's estimation of the romantic and novelistic traditions of fiction? A. The romantic tradition should be considered at least as valuable as the novelistic tradition in the examination of human experience. B. The romantic tradition should be considered the more vital tradition primarily because Melville is part of that tradition. C. The romantic tradition should be considered the superior tradition because it is so widespread. D. The romantic tradition has had as much success in pleasing literary critics as has the novelistic tradition. E. The romantic and novelistic traditions have always made important contributions to literature, but their most important contributions have been in the twentieth century. RC59461.01-70 8 8. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree that a writer's fiction should be evaluated by which of the following criteria? A. How consistently that fiction establishes credibility with the reader B. How skillfully that fiction supersedes the presuppositions or conventions of a tradition C. How completely that fiction satisfies the standards of judgment held by most literary critics D. How well that fiction fulfills the premises about fiction maintained by the writer of the fiction E. How well that fiction exhibits a continuity of subject and style over the course of the writer's career RC59461.01-80

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Critics maintain that the fiction of Herman Melville (1819–1891) has

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VeritasKarishma, GMATNinja

Ques 1 option choice E, talks about several accusations made against Melville's fiction. Are these the only two accusations or am i missing any other-
1. Melville is a deficient writer.
2. Melville is not as a novelist but a writer of romance.

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22 Oct 2020, 08:20

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Question 5

sarphant123

hi u1983, GMATNinjaTwo, workout, GMATNinja, SajjadAhmad, Gnpth
Please Explain Q5.
I think A too is a good option

Question #5 asks about lines 24-30 in the passage:

Quote:

It is true that Melville wrote “romances”; however, these are not the escapist fictions this word often implies, but fictions that range freely among very unusual or intense human experiences. Melville portrayed such experiences because he believed these best enabled him to explore moral questions, an exploration he assumed was the ultimate purpose of fiction.

To answer the question, we need to determine why the author includes these sentences in the passage. Taking it piece by piece:

"It is true that Melville wrote “romances”: In the first paragraph, the critics argue that Melville was a deficient writer because because he didn't even write novels -- he only wrote romances. Here, the author agrees with part of that statement: he concedes that Melville did write romances.
"however, these are not the escapist fictions this word often implies, but fictions that range freely among very unusual or intense human experiences." In other words, the author says that romances aren't so bad -- they're not just escapist fiction.
"Melville portrayed such experiences because he believed these best enabled him to explore moral questions, an exploration he assumed was the ultimate purpose of fiction": Now we're getting deeper into why Melville wrote romances -- they were the best stories to get after the themes that he found to be most important in writing fiction.

Overall, the author agrees with one piece of the critics' argument, but then explains why this fact does not support their conclusion that Melville was a "deficient writer." Sure he wrote romances, but he did so for a specific reason -- so that he could explore the things that he thought were important in fiction.

So, which answer choice best describes the author's method of argumentation?

Quote:

A. The author describes an important standard of evaluation used by critics of Melville and then attacks that standard.

I suppose that the "standard of evaluation" in (A) could be the charge that Melville wrote romances, not novels. In that case, the author doesn't describe the standard of evaluation -- he/she agrees with it.

It wouldn't make sense at this point for the author to attack that standard of evaluation. Instead, the author lessens the impact of the critics' point by giving further context about Melville's intentions.

Compare that to (E):

Quote:

E. The author concedes an assertion made by critics of Melville but then mitigates the weight of the assertion by means of an explanation.

The critics assert that Melville wrote romances, and the author concedes this point. But then the author argues that romances aren't inherently bad fiction -- in fact, they are the best stories to allow Melville to explore the themes most important to him. This explanation weakens the force of the critic's argument: even if Melville wrote romances, that does not make him a deficient writer.

(E) fits much better with the author's method of argumentation than (A), so (E) is the correct answer.

I hope that helps!

GMATNinja

does standard of evaluation not refers to the way james write novel i.e jamiesen?

It’s not readily apparent what “standard of evaluation” refers to in (A), and that’s part of the problem. But, in any case, it’s definitely a stretch to say that a particular style of writing (Jamesian) qualifies as a standard of evaluation.

More importantly, the question refers specifically to the author’s method of argumentation in lines 24-31. Even if we assume that “standard of evaluation” refers to the Jamesian style of writing, (A) still does not describe the author’s method of argumentation in lines 24-31. Nowhere in that portion of the passage is the Jamesian style of writing mentioned. The author neither describes nor attacks Jamesian writing there. He/she simply points out some of the advantages of Melville’s writing style. For that reason, we can eliminate (A).

I hope that helps!

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tt147

The first paragraph gives the accusations against Melville:

such as its lack
⠀⠀⠀ of inventive plots after Moby-Dick (1851)

and its
⠀⠀⠀ occasionally inscrutable style.

A more serious, yet
(5)⠀⠀problematic, charge is that Melville is a deficient
⠀⠀⠀ writer because he is not a practitioner of the “art of
⠀⠀⠀ fiction,” as critics have conceived of this art since the
⠀⠀⠀ late nineteenth-century essays and novels of Henry
⠀⠀⠀ James.

Indeed, most twentieth-century commentators
(10)⠀⠀regard Melville not as a novelist but as a writer of
⠀⠀⠀ romance, since they believe that Melville's fiction
⠀⠀⠀ lacks the continuity that James viewed as essential
⠀⠀⠀ to a novel

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05 Nov 2020, 13:54

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OjhaShishir

D. Correct. The author of the passage argues that Melville's fiction must be judged by reference to Melville's own criteria rather than by those of James or the critics who accepted James's criteria.

For question #8, D is the OA. Can someone point out where "reference to Melville's own criteria" is provided in the passage?

Question 8 asks us to find the answer choice with which the author would most likely agree -- so, we aren't necessarily looking for something that is explicitly stated in the passage. It is enough to find a statement that is in line the author's argument.

Here is the exact wording of (D):

Quote:

D. [A writer's fiction should be evaluated by] how well that fiction fulfills the premises about fiction maintained by the writer of the fiction

The best support for this statement is found in the second paragraph:

"A more reasonable position is that Melville is a different kind of writer, who held, and should be judged by, presuppositions about fiction that are quite different from James's."
Here, the author refutes the argument of critics who believe that Melville sucks because he isn't a "Jamesian novelist." Instead, the author thinks that Melville should be judged by different criteria. Specifically, Melville should be judged by his own "presuppositions about fiction," not by James' presuppositions about fiction.

From this, we can confidently say that the author would agree that a writer's fiction should be evaluated by "how well that fiction fulfills the premises about fiction maintained by the writer of the fiction." (D) is the correct answer to question #8.

I hope that helps!

Hi GMATNinja

As you mentioned above, the passage just mentioned "presuppositions different from James"...This presuppositions could be of of anyone or just a general view, that is different from James'. But the option states "OWN" pressupossitions. How is this inferred ?

Take another look at the relevant portion of the passage:

who held

In the phrase “who held”, the pronoun “who” refers to Melville and thus indicates that Melville held, and should be judged by, certain presuppositions. This means that Melville should be judged according to his own presuppositions about fiction, and consequently, other writers should be judged according to their own presuppositions about fiction.

I hope that helps!

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[1]

Updated on: 20 Feb 2026, 09:37

Originally posted by GMATNinja on 08 May 2021, 08:06.
Last edited by Bunuel on 20 Feb 2026, 09:37, edited 2 times in total.

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Question 7

7. Which of the following can most logically be inferred about the author's estimation of the romantic and novelistic traditions of fiction?

Before diving into the options, first gather hints about the author's thoughts about romantic and novelistic traditions of fiction:

Critics think that romances aren't as good as Jamesian novels. The author disagrees -- he/she thinks that writers of romance "are not deficient."
Continuity of feelings and thoughts are important in novels.
The most important thing in Melville's romances are moral questions, not continuity.
Romances aren't just escapism -- they are "fictions that range freely among very unusual or intense human experiences."

So, how to sum this up? The author thinks that romances are different than novels, but doesn't say that one form is better or worse than the other. They each just prioritize different aspects of literature. Critics may hate romances, but the author thinks they can capture aspects of the human experience.

Now look at the answer choices. Which one can most logically be inferred about the author's beliefs?

Quote:

A. The romantic tradition should be considered at least as valuable as the novelistic tradition in the examination of human experience.

This is in line with the information in the passage. The critics crap on Melville's works because they are romances instead of novels. The author disagrees, saying that romances are just as good, but in a different way. So, we can infer that the author would think that romances are "at least as valuable" as novels in examining the human experience.

Keep (A) for now.

Quote:

B. The romantic tradition should be considered the more vital tradition primarily because Melville is part of that tradition.

Hmm, the author never says that romances are better than novels. He/she just says that they not worse than novels. So we can't infer that the author would agree that romances are "more vital" than novels.

Eliminate (B).

Quote:

C. The romantic tradition should be considered the superior tradition because it is so widespread.

Again, the author thinks that novels aren't better than romances. He/she doesn't go so far as saying that romances are better than novels.

Get rid of (C) for the same reason as (B).

Quote:

D. The romantic tradition has had as much success in pleasing literary critics as has the novelistic tradition.

Nope, the author makes it clear that critics look down on Melville for writing romances. So, the author would definitely not believe that romances please critics as much as novels do.

(D) is out.

Quote:

E. The romantic and novelistic traditions have always made important contributions to literature, but their most important contributions have been in the twentieth century.

The author doesn't compare the importance of contributions from different periods of time. Did both traditions always make important contributions to literature? It's simply not mentioned in the passage. And were the most important contributions made in the twentieth century? Again, we can't say -- the author discusses works from the twentieth century, but never says that these were the most important contributions of all time.

Eliminate (E), and (A) is the correct answer to question 7.

I hope that helps!

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Updated on: 20 Feb 2026, 09:38

Originally posted by KarishmaB on 26 Jan 2022, 21:50.
Last edited by Bunuel on 20 Feb 2026, 09:38, edited 1 time in total.

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most twentieth-century commentators
(10)⠀⠀regard Melville not as a novelist but as a writer of
⠀⠀⠀ romance, since they believe that Melville's fiction
⠀⠀⠀ lacks the continuity that James viewed as essential
⠀⠀⠀ to a novel: the continuity between what characters
⠀⠀⠀ feel or think and what they do, and the continuity
(15)⠀⠀between characters' fates and their pasts or original
⠀⠀⠀ social classes. Critics argue that only Pierre (1852),
⠀⠀⠀ because of its subject and its characters, is close to
⠀⠀⠀ being a novel in the Jamesian sense.

Commentators/critics tell us what Melville's writings are all about - they are romances, they lack continuity etc. Then they go on to say that only Pierre is a novel, an exception to Melville's usual writing.

4. The author probably mentions Melville's Pierre to

A. refute those literary critics who have made generalizations about the quality of Melville's fiction

The author does not refute the critics by mentioning Pierre. The critics mention that Pierre is the only exception to Melville's usual style.

B. argue that the portrayal of characters is one of Melville's more accomplished literary skills

No, critics mention Pierre as an exception. The author does not mention it to prove that Melville had great literary skill.

C. give an example of a novel that was thought by James to resemble his own fiction

We don't know what James thought of Melville's work. All we know is that James viewed continuity as essential to a novel: the continuity between what characters feel or think and what they do, and the continuity between characters' fates and their pasts or original social classes.

D. suggest that literary critics find few exceptions to what they believe is a characteristic of Melville's fiction

Correct. The passage says that critics find "only" Pierre to be an exception.

E. reinforce the contention of literary critics

Pierre does not reinforce the contention of the critics. It is the only exception to the critics' contention (that Melville wrote romances, not novels)

Answer (D)

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Updated on: 20 Feb 2026, 09:38

Originally posted by KarishmaB on 26 Jan 2022, 21:55.
Last edited by Bunuel on 20 Feb 2026, 09:38, edited 1 time in total.

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It is true that Melville wrote
(25)⠀⠀“romances”; however, these are not the escapist
⠀⠀⠀ fictions this word often implies, but fictions that
⠀⠀⠀ range freely among very unusual or intense human
⠀⠀⠀ experiences. Melville portrayed such experiences
⠀⠀⠀ because he believed these best enabled him to
(30)⠀⠀explore moral questions, an exploration he assumed
⠀⠀⠀ was the ultimate purpose of fiction.

The author agrees that Melville wrote romances but he explains that he is using the word differently than what it usually implies.

6. Which of the following can logically be inferred from the passage about the author's application of the term “romance” to Melville's work?

A. The author uses the term in a broader way than did Melville himself.

How and if Melville used the term, we don't know.

B. The author uses the term in a different way than do many literary critics.

Correct. He says that he uses it differently. Not "escapist" but range freely among very unusual or intense human experiences.

C. The author uses the term in a more systematic way than did James.

Did James use the term, we don't know that.

D. The author's use of the term is the same as the term's usual meaning for twentieth-century commentators.

It is not the same - the author clarifies that.

E. The author's use of the term is less controversial than is the use of the term “novel” by many commentators.

We cannot compare what is more controversial and what is less.

Answer (B)

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Updated on: 20 Feb 2026, 09:39

Originally posted by KarishmaB on 26 Jan 2022, 22:03.
Last edited by Bunuel on 20 Feb 2026, 09:39, edited 1 time in total.

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Critics maintain that the fiction of Herman Melville
⠀⠀⠀ (1819–1891) has limitations, such as its lack
⠀⠀⠀ of inventive plots after Moby-Dick (1851) and its
⠀⠀⠀ occasionally inscrutable style. A more serious, yet
(5)⠀⠀problematic, charge is that Melville is a deficient
⠀⠀⠀ writer because he is not a practitioner of the “art of
⠀⠀⠀ fiction,”
... and he spends the rest of the passage showing why Melville may not be called "deficient". He says that this charge is problematic and he explains why he thinks it is problematic. Melville may not be a Jamesian. He is different, but that does not mean he is deficient.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. make a case for the importance of skillful psychological motivation in well-written novels and romances

The passage is all about Melville's work. A general statement is not the primary purpose. We can review it if nothing else looks good.

B. contrast the romantic and novelistic traditions and assert the aesthetic superiority of the romantic tradition

The passage is all about Melville's work. A general statement is not the primary purpose. We can review it if nothing else looks good.

C. survey some of the responses to Melville's fiction put forward by James and twentieth-century literary critics

James put no responses forward to Melville's fiction as far as we are told.

D. argue that the charges made against Melville's fiction by literary critics are suspect and misleading

Are the charges (plural) suspect and misleading? He is refuting one charge - of being deficient. He doesn't say they are misleading either. Not the best option.

E. note several accusations made against Melville's fiction by literary critics and refute one of these accusations

Correct. He notes " lack of inventive plots after Moby-Dick (1851) and its occasionally inscrutable style" but he refutes only "deficient". He calls that problematic and goes on to explain why he thinks it is problematic.

Answer (E)

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KarishmaB GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep

1. Q6- E- It is contrpersial to call his work novel instead of romance so why is it wrong? Since he writes about romances, it is certainly less controversial to callhis work 'romance'.

2. Q6-D- I know D is wrong but How do we know that author's use is definitely different from 20th century commentators? It takes about it not being 'escapist' as is usually the case but that does not tell us that commentators had the 'usual' belief.

3. Q6-B- Similarly for B, where can we see the critic's use of 'romance'? We just know 'usual' opinion is of 'escapist' but how do we know that it is critic's view as well?

4. Also what is the meaning of 'escapist fictions' phrase

5. Q8- I really do not get B. From the passage it seems that the author would likely agree that the literary value of a writer's fiction is determined by the degree to which the writer's fiction fulfills the writer's own conception of what fiction should accomplish. So clearly the criteria for a writer is to supersed his own presuppositions (what he expects fiction to be). What is wrong?

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22 Apr 2022, 12:40

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Question 6

ag153

Let's start with Question 6, answer choice (E):

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6. Which of the following can logically be inferred from the passage about the author's application of the term “romance” to Melville's work?

E. The author's use of the term is less controversial than is the use of the term “novel” by many commentators.

You're correct that "most twentieth-century commentators regard Melville not as a novelist but as a writer of romance." So calling Melville's works "novels" probably would be controversial.

However, notice that's not exactly what (E) is claiming. It asks us to consider the use of the term novel "by many commentators," but it never indicates that these commentators are applying "romance" to Melville. And nowhere in the passage are we told that most commentators use the word "novel" in some controversial way. For that reason, we can eliminate (E).

Let's now consider (D):

Quote:

D. The author's use of the term is the same as the term's usual meaning for twentieth-century commentators.

As you point out, the passage never explicitly states that most twentieth century commentators use the word "romance" to mean "escapist." But it does tell us "escapist" is what the terms "romance" commonly implies. In other words, when people use the term "romance" they commonly mean "escapist." So unless twentieth century commentators are using the word "romance" in some unusual way (and we have no reason to think they would), it's reasonable to conclude they use "romance" to imply "escapist."

The author, on the other hand, believes the word "romance" does not mean "escapist," but rather "fictions that range freely" among intense experiences. For that reason, (D) is wrong.

Let's consider (B):

Quote:

B. The author uses the term in a different way than do many literary critics.

Based on the above analysis, we can reasonably conclude that most critics use the word "romance" to mean "escapist." But the author uses the word "romance" to mean "fictions that range freely" among intense experiences. Since it's reasonable to conclude that the author uses "romance" in a different way than most literary critics, (B) is correct.

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22 Apr 2022, 12:43

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Question 8

ag153

Q8- I really do not get B. From the passage it seems that the author would likely agree that the literary value of a writer's fiction is determined by the degree to which the writer's fiction fulfills the writer's own conception of what fiction should accomplish. So clearly the criteria for a writer is to supersed his own presuppositions (what he expects fiction to be). What is wrong?

Quote:

8. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree that a writer's fiction should be evaluated by which of the following criteria?

B. How skillfully that fiction supersedes the presuppositions or conventions of a tradition

As you suggest, the author believes that fiction should be evaluated according to "the writer's own conception of what fiction should accomplish." That's a pretty good summary of what (D) says, in fact.

Answer choice (B), on the other hand, doesn't mention the author's own conceptions. It just says that fiction should "supersede" the "conventions of a tradition." But what if an author's "premises about fiction" are the same or similar to the "conventions of a tradition?" In that case, an author could fulfill BOTH their own premises and the "conventions of a tradition." From another angle -- just because a writer "supersedes" convention doesn't mean they achieved their own premises, so that alone wouldn't make them a successful writer.

In summary, the author's argument suggests that fiction should be evaluated according to a writer's own premises. It doesn't claim that fiction should be evaluated in terms of how "skillfully the fiction supersedes" convention. For that reason, (B) is wrong.

Lastly, that's a good question about the meaning of the phrase "escapist fiction." In general, whenever passages have unusual vocabulary, the surrounding context should explain what we need to know. In this case, as long as we know that "escapist" is something different from "fictions that range freely" among intense experiences, we're in good shape.

ag153

Also what is the meaning of 'escapist fictions' phrase

One dictionary definition of escapist is "fiction that provides psychological escape from reality." Good to know! Unfortunately, that wouldn't have helped us all that much with the questions. On the other hand, focusing on the surrounding passage to define the unusual term gave us all we needed to know.

I hope that helps!

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29 Apr 2023, 01:59

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4. The author probably mentions Melville's Pierre to

A. refute those literary critics who have made generalizations about the quality of Melville's fiction
B. argue that the portrayal of characters is one of Melville's more accomplished literary skills
C. give an example of a novel that was thought by James to resemble his own fiction
D. suggest that literary critics find few exceptions to what they believe is a characteristic of Melville's fiction
E. reinforce the contention of literary critics

Evaluation

Why does the author of the passage mention Pierre? The final sentence of the first paragraph reads: Critics argue that only Pierre (1852), because of its subject and characters, is close to being a novel in the Jamesian sense.

This statement indicates that literary critics regard Pierre as the only possible exception to their negative characterization of Melville's fiction as romance because Pierre has at least some of the properties that James considered essential to novels of literary value.

A. This is not a purpose of mentioning Pierre. The passage does not cite any critics who claim that most of Melville's novels satisfy Jamesian criteria.

B. This is not a purpose of mentioning Pierre. The author of the passage does not endorse the view that character portrayal is a particular strength of Melville's novels. In fact, the author suggests that Melville's novels tend to give questionable portrayals of what characters feel or think.

C. The passage lacks any information indicating James's personal view of Pierre. Given the information in the passage, it is entirely possible that James never even read Pierre.

D. Correct. The critics of Melville's novels generally characterize them as “romances” rather than “novels” given that they lack certain properties Henry James regarded as essential to novels. The mention of Pierre shows that the critics see it as the only one of Melville's novels that might fit the Jamesian criteria.

E. In the sentence in which Pierre is mentioned, the author of the passage does not endorse criticism suggesting that Melville's works are romances rather than novels. Furthermore, the sentence is not intended to endorse a contention of any other type of literary critic.

The correct answer is D.

GMATNinja, sajjad, @Karishmaveritas;

While understanding the passage, I inferred that critics by showing that in all the volume of work produced by Meville - only one work, Piere, manages to come close to James' version of Fiction.

According to this method of thinking - answer should be E - it is reinforcing the criticism for Meville's work not being a novel but a romantic ?

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02 May 2023, 08:13

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shauryahanda

... While understanding the passage, I inferred that critics by showing that in all the volume of work produced by Meville - only one work, Piere, manages to come close to James' version of Fiction.

According to this method of thinking - answer should be E - it is reinforcing the criticism for Meville's work not being a novel but a romantic ?

The critics' contention is that that Melville "is not a practitioner of the 'art of fiction,' as critics have conceived of this art since the late nineteenth-century essays and novels of Henry James." So the critics contend that Melville's novels are NOT like James's novels.

But Pierre is an example of a novel by Melville that IS "close to being a novel in the Jamesian sense". By itself, this example actually goes against the art critics' claim.

Yes, the fact that there is only one example does indirectly support the critics' claim. But the question doesn't ask, "Why does the author tell us that Melville has only one Jamesian novel?" Instead, the question asks, "Why does the author mention Pierre?"

(D) explains the specific role of the Pierre reference, so it's the better choice.

I hope that helps!

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1. The primary purpose of the passage is (E) note several accusations made against Melville's fiction by literary critics and refute one of these accusations.
The passage introduces and discusses various criticisms leveled against the fiction of Herman Melville, such as the lack of inventive plots and occasionally inscrutable style. It then focuses on the more serious charge that Melville is a deficient writer because he does not conform to the "art of fiction" as conceived by Henry James and twentieth-century critics. The passage refutes this accusation and argues that Melville should be judged based on his own presuppositions about fiction.

2. The author draws the conclusion that (D) Melville and James should be viewed as different sorts of writers and one should not be regarded as inherently superior to the other.
The passage argues against the notion that Melville's fiction is deficient because it does not possess the qualities of a Jamesian novel. Instead, the author suggests that Melville and James should be considered different types of writers, each with their own distinct approaches to fiction. The passage does not explicitly discuss the superiority of one over the other.

3. The most appropriate title for the passage is (C) Melville and the Jamesian Standards of Fiction: A Reexamination.
The passage primarily explores the criticisms made against Melville's fiction, particularly in relation to the standards set by Henry James and twentieth-century critics. It discusses the differences in approach and presuppositions between Melville and James, and challenges the notion that Melville's work should be judged based on Jamesian standards.

4. The author mentions Melville's Pierre to (D) suggest that literary critics find few exceptions to what they believe is a characteristic of Melville's fiction.
In the passage, Pierre is mentioned as the only work by Melville that is considered close to a novel in the Jamesian sense. By bringing up Pierre, the author implies that critics find few exceptions to the generalization they make about the quality of Melville's fiction.

5. The author's method of argumentation in lines 24-31 can be described as (E) The author concedes an assertion made by critics of Melville but then mitigates the weight of the assertion by means of an explanation.
In lines 24-31, the author acknowledges the charge made by critics that Melville's romances do not provide a full understanding of characters' motives and events' sequence. However, the author explains that Melville intentionally sacrifices continuity and credibility to emphasize sharply delineated moral values. The author's explanation mitigates the weight of the critics' assertion.

6. From the passage, it can be inferred that the author's application of the term "romance" to Melville's work (B) The author uses the term in a different way than do many literary critics.
The passage describes Melville's works as "romances" but clarifies that the term does not imply escapist fictions. The author states that Melville's romances range freely among unusual or intense human experiences and serve to explore moral questions. The author's use of the term "romance" differs from the typical connotations associated with it, which are often used by many literary critics.

7. It can be inferred that the author's estimation of the romantic and novelistic traditions of fiction is that (A) The romantic tradition should be considered at least as valuable as the novelistic tradition in the examination of human experience.
The passage presents Melville's fiction as falling within the romantic tradition, emphasizing its exploration of intense human experiences and moral questions. The author argues against the charge that Melville's work is deficient by highlighting the significance of the romantic tradition and its ability to depict sharply delineated moral values. This suggests that the author views the romantic tradition as valuable in examining human experience.

8. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree that a writer's fiction should be evaluated by (D) How well that fiction fulfills the premises about fiction maintained by the writer of the fiction.
The passage repeatedly emphasizes that Melville had his own presuppositions about fiction and judged his own work based on those beliefs. The author argues that Melville should be evaluated based on how well his fiction fulfills his own premises about fiction, rather than conforming to external standards or conventions.

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I did not understand the explanations of Q4. given above.
From the passage, we see:

since they believe that Melville's fiction lacks the continuity that James viewed as essential to a novel: the continuity between what characters feel or think and what they do, and the continuity between characters' fates and their pasts or original
social classes

Between the 2 answer choices D and E, I picked E because if you see the lines mentioned above..The author says that Melville's fiction lacks continuity...and, then introduces Pierre's writing style that they liked..which means that whatever they have mentioned before about Melville's fiction that it lacks continuity, they are trying to reinforce their statement by bringing in Pierre's example.

Also, how do we understand the meaning of contention and tough words like this while picking the answer choices? Does not knowing the meaning of contention makes any difference here?

GMATNinja KarishmaB please help.

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04 Mar 2024, 11:10

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Question 4

swikrityC

I did not understand the explanations of Q4. given above.

From the passage, we see:

since they believe that Melville's fiction lacks the continuity that James viewed as essential to a novel: the continuity between what characters feel or think and what they do, and the continuity between characters' fates and their pasts or original

social classes

Between the 2 answer choices D and E, I picked E because if you see the lines mentioned above..The author says that Melville's fiction lacks continuity...and, then introduces Pierre's writing style that they liked..which means that whatever they have mentioned before about Melville's fiction that it lacks continuity, they are trying to reinforce their statement by bringing in Pierre's example.

Also, how do we understand the meaning of contention and tough words like this while picking the answer choices? Does not knowing the meaning of contention makes any difference here?

GMATNinja KarishmaB please help.

In case it isn't clear, Pierre is a book by Melville. (Like Moby Dick, it's followed by what appears to be its publication year. These book titles should be italicized and presumably are in the actual GMAT source book.) It's also the one book of Melville's that, according to the critics, DOES have some continuity.

The precise definition of "contention" doesn't seem to be the issue for you -- it's just something that critics assert or argue for (i.e. that Melville's books aren't Jamesian novels because they lack continuity), so it looks like you have the right idea from that perspective.

But if that's the contention and the author is trying to REINFORCE that contention, why bring up the only book of Melville's that DOES have some continuity? It's not exactly the best piece of evidence. Sure, it reminds us of the critics' belief that Melville's books lack continuity, but it doesn't give us any reason to actually agree with the critics.

In other words, the Pierre example at best just reiterates the critics' contention and doesn't do much to strengthen or support that contention. If anything, it softens the critics' stance a bit, by letting us know that there are exceptions to their contention.

(D) is a better fit: the critics might be willing to admit that there's SOME continuity in SOME of Melville's works (such as Pierre), but those examples are few and far between. In fact, those examples are so rare that critics can only find one work of Melville's that even comes CLOSE to being considered a Jamesian novel.

Tough call though, so don't lose too much sleep over this one!

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