Native American stories often feature a character called the trickster

Question

Native American stories often feature a character
called the trickster, a comic figure who has both mortal
weaknesses and supernatural powers. Recently, the term
“trickster” has also appeared in criticism of sixteenth and
  (5)   seventeenth-century European literature, particularly
in reference to the picaresque novel and its central
character, the picaro (Spanish for “rogue”): both the
picaro and the trickster are heroes of episodic adventures,
and both live on the peripheries of society and are
  (10)   morally flawed.

Yet closer examination reveals that applying the
term “trickster” to both characters obscures essential
differences between them. The picaro—typically a male
character—operates primarily as an agent of satire. Most
  (15)   commonly, the picaro’s adventures begin when he
spontaneously yields to his own roguish, though
innocent, impulses. The picaro indulges in vices and
follies with relish and freedom, much to the outrage of
other members of society, who often secretly indulge in
  (20)   similar pastimes out of a habitual compulsion. Thus
the picaro’s authenticity serves as a foil to the perceived
hypocrisy of conventional society. To such a society, the
picaro can represent a dangerous, disruptive freedom,
and it reacts by marginalizing him. It is in that distance—
  (25)   between the ostensibly disreputable freedom of the
picaro and the hypocrisy of the safely ensconced social
being—that the satire occurs.

But the trickster, usually an animal acting as a human
agent, does not serve a satiric function. For while the
  (30)   picaresque novel takes place in and satirizes human
society, the trickster operates in the ahistorical world of
myth; where the targets of the picaresque novel are the
idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies of a historical human
society, trickster stories seek, using the trickster's
  (35)   negative example, to instruct listeners about moral
behavior of individuals. In fact, whatever flaws the
trickster reveals are thoroughly the trickster's own. They
are not a foil to a corrupt society; they are instead
essential to who the trickster is. The trickster is a comic
  (40)   figure precisely because of these somewhat irrational,
compulsive, and foolish—in short, mortal—actions.
Similarly, the trickster is a socially peripheral character
not by being forced to the periphery by a hypocritical
society, but rather because the trickster's thoroughly
  (45)   flawed character makes the trickster fundamentally
antisocial, even anarchic, all the while helping listeners
to avoid these flaws.

It is this combination of mythic setting and mortal
weakness that determines the particular targets of the
  (50)   trickster's comic high jinks: the eternal and unch-
anging foibles of mortal beings. In one story, for example,
a coyote trickster falls in love with a star. The trickster
is quite tenacious and human, even though the object of
desire is beyond reasonable mortal possibility. In the end
  (55)   the star takes the trickster up into the sky, only to let
the trickster fall back to Earth; the story's listeners realize
that the trickster has gotten a comeuppance for reaching
beyond proper limits, but all the while they recognize in
themselves the trickster's extravagant hopes.    1 
 1. The passage provides the most support for inferring that conventional society as portrayed in picaresque novels perceives the picaro as representing a dangerous, disruptive freedom for which one of the following reasons?

(A) The picaro has the potential to inflict physical injury on society members.
(B) The picaro threatens to upset long-standing political structures.
(C) The picaro has been marginalized by conventional society.
(D) The picaro threatens to force society to face its hypocrisy.
(E) The picaro suffers no consequences for indulging in his vices.

2 
 2. Based on the author’s view in the passage, applying the term “trickster” to the character of the picaro is most similar to which one of the following?

(A) claiming that someone supports an extreme political view when it is clear that the person supports a centrist view
(B) characterizing the panda as a bear based on superficial similarities when a deeper understanding shows it to be related instead to the raccoon
(C) calling a court decision a milestone as a way of suggesting metaphorically that the decision is significant
(D) classifying a species of pine tree as an evergreen even though many of its needles turn brown and fall off during certain seasons
(E) describing a common weed as aggressive because it outcompetes certain garden flowers for sun and water

3 
 3. The author of the passage states that the flaws of the trickster are not a foil to a corrupt society (middle of the third paragraph) primarily in order to

(A) demonstrate that the trickster is a comic figure with supernatural powers
(B) allude to the functional similarities between the trickster and the picaro
(C) contrast the role of the trickster with that of the picaro
(D) illustrate how the trickster is used to engage in social commentary
(E) emphasize the disruptive, anarchic character of the trickster

4 
 4. Based on the passage, the author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about the literary criticism mentioned in the second sentence of the first paragraph?

(A) It has systematically denigrated the literary traditions of Native Americans.
(B) Its use of the trickster appellation has nothing to do with the Native American trickster character.
(C) Its reading of picaresque novels is at odds with its reading of Native American trickster stories.
(D) It reflects an attempt to be precise in the use of literary terminology.
(E) It bases its analysis on an incomplete understanding of trickster stories.

5 
 5. In the context of the passage, which one of the following most accurately captures the meaning of the term “authenticity” in the middle of the second paragraph?

(A) conforming to an original
(B) having certain essential features
(C) behaving as others do
(D) inspiring absolute trust
(E) following one’s natural inclinations

6 
 6. The author refers to the story concerning the coyote trickster and the star for each of the following reasons EXCEPT:

(A) It provides evidence showing why coyotes make particularly poignant trickster characters.
(B) It illustrates the claim that the targets of trickster stories are human foibles.
(C) It supports the assertion that tricksters are comic figures.
(D) It illustrates a way in which human listeners can identify with the trickster figure.
(E) It indicates that one typically human trait tricksters can have is extravagant desire.

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 77 Date: 27-Mar-2023
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

Source:   LSAT Official PrepTest 90   
 Difficulty Level:   650

Aishyk97 · Answer

Strategic reading of the passage to understand the flow of the passage:

Native American stories often feature a character
called the trickster, a comic figure who has both mortal
weaknesses and supernatural powers.  Recently,  the term
“trickster” has also appeared in criticism of sixteenth and
  (5)   seventeenth-century European literature, particularly
in reference to the  picaresque novel and its central
character, the picaro  (Spanish for “rogue”):  both the
picaro and the trickster are heroes of episodic adventures,
and both live on the peripheries of society and are
  (10)   morally flawed.  -  similarity between the trickster and the picaro

Yet closer examination reveals that applying the
term “trickster” to both characters obscures essential
differences between them.   - Yet signals contrast. We can expect the rest of the passage to expand on this.

The picaro—typically a male
character—operates primarily as an agent of satire. Most
  (15)   commonly, the picaro’s adventures begin when he
spontaneously yields to his own roguish, though
innocent, impulses. The picaro indulges in vices and
follies with relish and freedom, much to the outrage of
other members of society, who often secretly indulge in
  (20)   similar pastimes out of a habitual compulsion.  -information about the picaro
 
 Thus the picaro’s authenticity serves as a foil to the perceived
hypocrisy of conventional society. To such a society, the
picaro can represent a dangerous, disruptive freedom,
and it reacts by marginalizing him. It is in that distance—
  (25)   between the ostensibly disreputable freedom of the
picaro and the hypocrisy of the safely ensconced social
being—that the satire occurs.   - how the society feels about the picaro. In his story, a picaro acts impulsively in ways that outrage members of society, even though those members secretly act the same way. The picaro threatens to expose this hypocrisy, causing society to push the picaro to the margins.

But the trickster, usually an animal acting as a human
agent, does not serve a satiric function. For while the
  (30)   picaresque novel takes place in and satirizes human
society, the trickster operates in the ahistorical world of
myth; where the targets of the picaresque novel are the
idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies of a historical human
society, trickster stories seek, using the trickster's
  (35)   negative example, to instruct listeners about moral
behavior of individuals.  In fact, whatever flaws the
trickster reveals are thoroughly the trickster's own.    - difference between the trickster and picaro 
They are not a foil to a corrupt society; they are instead
essential to who the trickster is. The trickster is a comic
  (40)   figure precisely because of these somewhat irrational,
compulsive, and foolish—in short, mortal—actions.
Similarly, the trickster is a socially peripheral character
not by being forced to the periphery by a hypocritical
society, but rather because the trickster's thoroughly
  (45)   flawed character makes the trickster fundamentally
antisocial, even anarchic, all the while helping listeners
to avoid these flaws.

It is this combination of mythic setting and mortal
weakness that determines the particular targets of the
  (50)   trickster's comic high jinks: the eternal and unch-
anging foibles of mortal beings.  In one story, for example,
a coyote trickster falls in love with a star.  The trickster
is quite tenacious and human, even though the object of
desire is beyond reasonable mortal possibility. In the end
  (55)   the star takes the trickster up into the sky, only to let
the trickster fall back to Earth; the story's listeners realize
that the trickster has gotten a comeuppance for reaching
beyond proper limits, but all the while they recognize in
themselves the trickster's extravagant hopes.

asmba · Answer

Can you please share explanations for Q2 & Q3?

Aishyk97 · Answer

Q2. (B) Logic Reasoning (Parallel Reasoning)

Identify the Question Type 
The correct answer will be a situation “most similar” to one described in the passage. That makes this a Parallel Reasoning question like those found in Logical Reasoning.

Research the Relevant Text 
The question asks about how the term “trickster” is applied to the picaro. That’s described in the first and second paragraphs, before the author goes into great detail about each group separately.

Make a Prediction 
In the first paragraph, the author mentions that “trickster” was applied to picaros because the two character types share several features (they’re both heroes, they live on the periphery, they’re flawed). Yet, in the second paragraph, the author argues that there are actually “essential differences between them.” The correct answer will describe another situation in which a term for one entity is applied to another, apparently similar entity, while the two entities in fact have a significant underlying difference.

Evaluate the Answer Choices 
(B) is correct. In this case, the label “bear” is applied to pandas. While pandas and bears are said to be similar, there’s a significant difference: pandas are actually related to raccoons.
(A) does not match. This just describes a misclassification of one person. There’s no comparison between two similar people who have significant differences.
(C) does not match. This just provides the reasoning behind applying a certain term. There is no indication that the application overlooks any important differences.
(D) does not match. This is an example of an appropriate term that one should not take too literally. The label “evergreen” distinguishes conifers (like pine trees) from deciduous trees; it does not mean an evergreen tree’s needles never turn brown or fall off.
(E) does not match. This just describes why the term “aggressive” is applied to certain weeds. There’s no mention of a significant difference that makes the term inappropriate.

Q3. (C) Logic Function

Identify the Question Type 
The phrase “in order to” indicates a Logic Function question—one that asks why the author included a particular detail or how the detail is used.

Research the Relevant Text 
The question refers directly to a claim from the third paragraph. Be sure to consider the purpose of the entire paragraph and how it relates to information elsewhere in the passage.

Make a Prediction 
The phrase in question refers to tricksters, claiming that they are not a foil to a corrupt society. While it may seem like a simple note about tricksters, the purpose of the paragraph as a whole is to show how tricksters are different from picaros. In fact, the claim in question is a direct counterpoint to the claim in the second paragraph that picaros are foils to a hypocritical society. So, the phrase from the third paragraph is used to distinguish tricksters from picaros.

Evaluate the Answer Choices 
(C) precisely matches the prediction and is correct.
(A) is Out of Scope. The author does not mention tricksters having “supernatural powers.” Moreover, the author goes on to say that tricksters are comic because their misbehavior is so “mortal.”
(B) is a 180. Picaros are foils, while tricksters are not. The claim in question shows how they are different, not similar.
(D) is a 180. The claim in question describes a way in which tricksters are not used to comment on society. How they’re actually used is described later in the paragraph.
(E) is a Faulty Use of Detail. The claim in question refers to tricksters. According to the second paragraph, however, it is picaros, not tricksters, who are seen as disruptive.

ashutosh_73 · Answer

For Q1.
I couldn't find support for (D), and i found (E) equally plausible. Maybe, i didn't understand the below part well. Below is my understanding:

S1: The picaro indulges in vices and follies with relish and freedom, much to the outrage of other members of society, who often secretly indulge in (20) similar pastimes out of a habitual compulsion. S2: Thus the picaro???s authenticity serves as a foil to the perceived hypocrisy of conventional society. S3: To such a society, the picaro can represent a dangerous, disruptive freedom, and it reacts by marginalizing him.

S1: Picaro did some bad thing, and members of the society weren't happy with it, even though they themselves indulged in bad business secretly.

S2: Picaro's opening doing bad things acts as a cover for the hypocritical society

S3: Society thinks, what Picaro represents is a bad thing, hence they marginalize him.

Is it correct? If yes, how can we find support for (D).

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The question asks about what society thinks of the picaro. The  second paragraph  discusses picaro stories; the answer to this question is in the  second half of that paragraph.

The line starting with  “to such a society”  says society views the picaro as dangerous. If you read the previous sentence, you find out why: the picaro’s authenticity stands in contrast to society’s apparent hypocrisy. (We can infer that by pointing out society’s hypocrisy, the picaro may force society to live more openly. To avoid that, society marginalizes the

(D)  is correct because  paragraph 2  describes how the picaro does openly what others in society do secretly, and thus forces them to confront their hypocrisy.

(E)   Paragraph 2  says that the consequence of the picaro’s disruptive freedom is marginalization. Marginalization is a serious consequence!

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 1

Sajjad1994  is spot-on here, but I'll add my two cents, just in case it helps somebody.

The key thing here is that other members of society  secretly  indulge in similar pastimes. If everyone is doing those things in secret, then they're out of sight, and society doesn't have to talk about them or face the implied hypocrisy. In other words, we condemn these vices/follies even though we all do them.

If you're a non-picaro, you'd rather just keep engaging in your vices/follies in secret without having to talk about them. But when a picaro shows up, you're forced to either be a hypocrite and denounce the picaro (even though you do the same stuff in secret) or admit that you do those things. You don't want to do either, so you'd rather make the picaro go away.

Does society marginalize the picaro simply because the picaro doesn't suffer any consequences? No, society marginalizes the picaro to keep their own vices and follies a secret, and avoid facing the hypocrisy.

I hope that helps!

Native American stories often feature a character called the trickster

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Native American stories often feature a character called the trickster

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