The autobiographical narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Question

The autobiographical narrative  Incidents in the Life
of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself  (1861), by Harriet
A. Jacobs, a slave of African descent, not only recounts
an individual life but also provides, implicitly and
 (5)  explicitly, a perspective on the larger United States
culture from the viewpoint of one denied access to it.
Jacobs, as a woman and a slave, faced the stigmas to
which those statuses were subject. Jacobs crafted her
narrative, in accordance with the mainstream literary
 (10)  genre of the sentimental domestic novel, as an
embodiment of cherished cultural values such as the
desirability of marriage and the sanctity of personal
identity, home, and family. She did so because she was
writing to the free women of her day—the principal
 (15)  readers of domestic novels—in the hopes that they
would sympathize with and come to understand her
unique predicament as a female slave. By applying
these conventions of the genre to her situation, Jacobs
demonstrates to her readers that family and domesticity
 (20)  are no less prized by those forced into slavery, thus
leading her free readers to perceive those values within
a broader social context.

Some critics have argued that, by conforming to
convention, Jacobs shortchanged her own experiences;
 (25)  one critic, for example, claims that in Jacobs’s work
the purposes of the domestic novel overshadow those
of the typical slave narrative. But the relationship
between the two genres is more complex: Jacobs’s
attempt to frame her story as a domestic novel creates a
 (30)  tension between the usual portrayal of women in this
genre and her actual experience, often calling into
question the applicability of the hierarchy of values
espoused by the domestic novel to those who are in her
situation. Unlike the traditional romantic episodes in
 (35)  domestic novels in which a man and woman meet, fall
in love, encounter various obstacles but eventually
marry, Jacobs’s protagonist must send her lover, a
slave, away in order to protect him from the wrath of
her jealous master. In addition, by the end of the
 (40)  narrative, Jacobs’s protagonist achieves her freedom by
escaping to the north, but she does not achieve the
domestic novel’s ideal of a stable home complete with
family, as the price she has had to pay for her freedom
is separation from most of her family, including one of
 (45)  her own children. Jacobs points out that slave women
view certain events and actions from a perspective
different from that of free women, and that they must
make difficult choices that free women need not. Her
narrative thus becomes an antidomestic novel, for
 (50)  Jacobs accepts readily the goals of the genre, but
demonstrates that its hierarchy of values does not apply
when examined from the perspective of a female slave,
suggesting thereby that her experience, and that of any
female slave, cannot be fully understood without
 (55)  shedding conventional perspectives.    1 
 1. The author of the passage displays which one of the following attitudes toward the position of the critics mentioned in line 23?

(A) complete rejection
(B) reluctant rejection
(C) complete neutrality
(D) reluctant agreement
(E) complete agreement

2 
 2. According to the passage, Jacobs’s narrative departs from the conventions of a typical domestic novel in which one of the following ways?

(A) Jacobs’s protagonist does not ultimately achieve her freedom.
(B) Jacobs’s protagonist does not wish for the same ideals as the protagonists of domestic novels.
(C) Jacobs’s protagonist does not encounter various obstacles in her quest for love.
(D) Jacobs’s protagonist does not ultimately achieve the ideals of home and family.
(E) Jacobs’s protagonist does not experience the stigmas to which women and slaves were subject.

3 
 3. It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the critics mentioned in line 23 hold which one of the following views?

(A) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative often creates a useful tension that adds value to the narrative.
(B) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends to cause the goals of both genres to be compromised.
(C) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends to favor the genre having the greater degree of realism.
(D) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends to favor the genre having the lesser degree of sentimentality.
(E) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative can sometimes cause the goals of one of the genres to be compromised.

4 
 4. Which one of the following, if true, would most support the position of the critics mentioned line 23?

(A) Most readers of Jacobs’s narrative when it was first published concluded that it was simply a domestic novel and were thus disinclined to see it as an attempt to provoke thought.
(B) Many reviewers of Jacobs’s narrative included passionate statements in their reviews calling for the immediate abolition of slavery.
(C) Most scholars believe that Jacobs’s narrative would not have been able to communicate its message effectively if it had not adopted the conventions of the domestic novel.
(D) Jacobs’s narrative was modeled not only after domestic novels of the period but after realistic novels whose goal was to point out social injustices.
(E) Jacobs’s goal in crafting her narrative was not only to preach against the injustices of slavery but also to tell a powerful story that would make those injustices vivid to readers.

5 
 5. The author describes Jacobs’s narrative as an “antidomesic novel” (line 49) for which one of the following reasons?

(A) Jacobs’s protagonist does not lament her separation from her family.
(B) Jacobs’s protagonist is disinclined toward stereotypical domestic aspirations.
(C) Jacobs’s narrative reveals the limitations of the hierarchy of values espoused by the domestic novel genre.
(D) Jacobs’s narrative implicitly suggests that the desire for domestic ideals contributes to the protagonist’s plight.
(E) Jacobs’s narrative condemns domestic values as a hindrance to its protagonist’s development of personal identity.

6 
 6. With which one of the following statements would the author of the passage be most likely to agree?

(A) Some authors of slave narratives allowed the purposes of the genre to overshadow their own experiences.
(B) The slave narrative, no less than the domestic novel, constitutes a literary genre.
(C) Authors who write in a particular genre must obey the conventions of that genre.
(D) An autobiography, no less than a novel, should tell a powerful story.
(E) Autobiographies should be evaluated not on their literary merit but on their historical accuracy.

7 
 7. Which one of the following principles most likely governs the author’s evaluation of Jacobs’s narrative?

(A) Those autobiographical narratives that capture the mood of a particular period are thereby more valuable.
(B) Those autobiographical narratives that focus on accurately depicting the events in the individual’s life are thereby more valuable.
(C) Those autobiographical narratives that force readers to view certain familiar cultural values in a wider context are thereby more valuable.
(D) Those autobiographical narratives that are written from a perspective familiar to the majority of their readers are thereby more valuable.
(E) Those autobiographical narratives that employ the conventions of another literary genre are thereby more valuable.

100mitra · Accepted Answer

5. The author describes Jacobs’s narrative as an “antidomesic novel” (line 49) for which one of the following reasons?  
  Explanation :  as mentioned in the passage,
 Statement 1:  “Jacobs points out that slave women view certain events and actions from a perspective different from that of free women, and that they must make difficult choices that free women need not.”
 Meaning:  “view certain events and actions from a perspective different” – does not support domestic novel

Statement 2:  “but demonstrates that its hierarchy of values does not apply when examined from the perspective of a female slave”
 Meaning:  “hierarchy values does not apply” – limitation to be a domestic novel

(A) Jacobs’s protagonist does not lament her separation from her family.
  Wrong:   it does lament her separation from her family

(B) Jacobs’s protagonist is disinclined toward stereotypical domestic aspirations.
  Wrong:   Out of scope – aspirations

(C) Jacobs’s narrative reveals the limitations of the hierarchy of values espoused by the domestic novel genre.
Correct: as mentioned in above explanation

(D) Jacobs’s narrative implicitly suggests that 
the desire for domestic ideals contributes to the protagonist’s plight.
  Wrong:   Irrelevant – Ideals contributes to protagonist dilemma

(E) Jacobs’s narrative condemns domestic values as a hindrance to its protagonist’s development of personal identity.
  Wrong:   Irrelevant – development of person identity

6. With which one of the following statements would the author of the passage be most likely to agree?  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage,
” Her narrative thus becomes an antidomestic novel, 
for Jacobs accepts readily the goals of the genre, 
but demonstrates that its hierarchy of values does not apply 
when examined from the perspective of a female slave, 
suggesting thereby that her experience, and that of any female slave, 
cannot be fully understood without shedding conventional perspectives.

Simple words:   a slave story not necessary be a heroic/dramatic story, 
but it can be categorised to create values and morale, 
for which one need to change the conventional way to look at it.

(A) Some authors of slave narratives allowed the purposes of the genre to overshadow their own experiences.
  Wrong:   this is critics claim, not the author, as explained in the passage,” one critic, for example, claims that in Jacobs’s work the purposes of the domestic novel overshadow those of the typical slave narrative”

(B) The slave narrative, no less than the domestic novel, constitutes a literary genre.
Correct: as mentioned above in explanation

(C) Authors who write in a particular genre must obey the conventions of that genre.
  Wrong:   Author tone is explanation, the genre can not be fixed or defined, but depends on once view

(D) An autobiography, no less than a novel, should tell a powerful story.
  Wrong:   irrelevant – passage does not mention any such tone

(E) Autobiographies should be evaluated not on their literary merit but on their historical accuracy.
  Wrong:   Out of scope

7. Which one of the following principles most likely governs 
the author’s evaluation of Jacobs’s narrative?  
(A) Those autobiographical narratives that 
capture the mood of a particular period are thereby more valuable.
  Wrong:   Passage tone is not about the mood

(B) Those autobiographical narratives that 
focus on accurately depicting the events in the individual’s life are thereby more valuable.
  Wrong:   Passage tone is not about events in individuals’ life

(C) Those autobiographical narratives that 
force readers to view certain familiar cultural values in a wider context are thereby more valuable.
Correct: domestic novel vs anti-domestic novel

(D) Those autobiographical narratives that are 
written from a perspective familiar to the majority of their readers are thereby more valuable.
  Wrong:   Passage tone is not about majority of their readers

(E) Those autobiographical narratives that 
employ the conventions of another literary genre are thereby more valuable.
  Wrong:   Trap! Passage tone is not about employ, 
it about showing reader, to wide their literature knowledge to understand a particular event and 
try to give more value to this genre too.

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:  
  Para 1:   Introducing Harriet A. Jacob, expressing her personal and as a slave female life moments, through her writings within a broader social context “domestic novel - as per author” to her readers.
  Para 2:   Some critics have argued that unlike the traditional romantic episodes in domestic novels (freedom by leaving everything, E.g. family), Jacob’s narratives are like antidomestic novel, that of any female slave, cannot be fully understood without shedding conventional perspectives

1. The author of the passage displays which one of the following attitudes toward the position of the critics mentioned in  line 23 ?  
 Line 23  "Some critics have argued that, by conforming to convention, Jacobs short changed her own experiences”
 Intended meaning:  Jacob's literature is not domestic novel genre.

Eliminate C, D, and E , its clear there is no agreement or neutrality 
between critics and author view, as some words indicates contrast view

Now between A, and B , understanding the contrast intention, 
- critics have argued “ Jacobs didn’t short changed her own experiences ”,
for this, author has placed his view, which complete opposite the views of critics, as mentioned in the passage, 
“ But the relationship between the two genres is more complex : 
Jacobs’s attempt to  frame her story as a domestic novel  creates a tension between the usual portrayal of women in this genre 
and her actual experience, often calling into question the applicability of  the hierarchy of values espoused by the domestic novel  to those who are in her situation”

We can infer that, based on experience one while reading, who can place in her situation, found it valuable, to be domestic novel (literature) or not

(A) complete rejection – Correct   
(B) reluctant rejection   – Wrong:   No unwilling and hesitant the rejection
(C) complete neutrality   – Wrong:   as explained above
(D) reluctant agreement   – Wrong:   as explained above
(E) complete agreement   – Wrong:   as explained above

2. According to the passage, Jacobs’s narrative departs from the conventions of a typical domestic novel in which one of the following ways?  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage,
"Jacobs’s protagonist achieves her freedom by escaping to the north, 
but she does not achieve the domestic novel’s ideal of a stable home complete with family, 
as the price she has had to pay for her freedom is separation from most of her family, 
including one of her own children.”
  Intended meaning:   achieved freedom at sacrifice of home and family.

(A) Jacobs’s protagonist does not ultimately achieve her freedom.
  – Wrong:   freedom is achieved with sacrifice of home and family.

(B) Jacobs’s protagonist does not wish for the same ideals as the protagonists of domestic novels.
  – Wrong:   Irrelevant, Stem is not about the wish same ideals but about freedom and at what is desired.

(C) Jacobs’s protagonist does not encounter various obstacles in her quest for love.
  – Wrong:   out of scope

(D) Jacobs’s protagonist does not ultimately achieve the ideals of home and family.
Correct: as mentioned above in the explanation  .

(E) Jacobs’s protagonist does not experience the stigmas to which women and slaves were subject.
  – Wrong:   as mentioned in the passage, line 7, it does, 
“Jacobs, as a woman and a slave, faced the stigmas towhich those statuses were subject”

100mitra · Answer

3. It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that 
the critics mentioned in line 23 hold which one of the following views?  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, 
“But the relationship between the two genres is more complex: 
Jacobs’s attempt to frame her story as a domestic novel creates a tension between 
 the usual portrayal of omen  in this genre and 
 her actual experience ”

Eliminate A, C, and D  because, it does not add value, 
favor greater degree of realism or favor lesser degree of sentimentality.
Their are two category, one: usual portrayal of omen, and another: who experience the same, victim actual experience

(A) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative 
often creates a useful tension that adds value to the narrative -   Wrong

(B) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends 
to cause the goals of both genres to be compromised –   Wrong  , its not both, its either any one

(C) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends to 
favor the genre having the greater degree of realism -   Wrong

(D) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative tends to 
favor the genre having the lesser degree of sentimentality -   Wrong

(E) The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative 
can sometimes cause the goals of one of the genres to be compromised – Correct, as explained above  .

4. Which one of the following, if true, would most support the position of 
the critics mentioned line 23?  
(A) Most readers of Jacobs’s narrative when it was first published concluded that 
it was simply a domestic novel and were thus disinclined to see it as an attempt to provoke thought.
  Correct: strengthen the critics, Critics anticipated novel would be on domestic novel, 
but it highlighted more about slave female freedom views

(B) Many reviewers of Jacobs’s narrative included passionate statements in their reviews 
calling for the immediate abolition of slavery.
  Wrong  : Weaken the critics, as its not inline with thoughts of critics

(C) Most scholars believe that Jacobs’s narrative 
would not have been able to communicate its message effectively 
if it had not adopted the conventions of the domestic novel.
  Wrong   Irrelevant, as per passage, novel is not about the adoption of convention of domestic novel

(D) Jacobs’s narrative was modeled 
not only after domestic novels of the period 
but after realistic novels whose goal was to point out social injustices.
  Wrong   Out of scope – Social injustices

(E) Jacobs’s goal in crafting her narrative was 
not only to preach against the injustices of slavery 
but also, to tell a powerful story that would make those injustices vivid to readers.
  Wrong   Weaken, Jacob’s goal mentioned in passage is about slave female freedom views

bv8562 · Answer

6. With which one of the following statements would the author of the passage be most likely to agree?

(A) Some authors of slave narratives allowed the purposes of the genre to overshadow their own experiences.

(B) The slave narrative, no less than the domestic novel, constitutes a literary genre.

Evidence : Some critics have argued that, by conforming to convention, Jacobs shortchanged her own experiences; one critic, for example, claims that in Jacobs’s work the purposes of the domestic novel overshadow those of the typical slave narrative.  But the relationship between the two genres is more complex .

Here the author explicitly agrees that the "typical slave narrative" constitutes a literary genre.

(C) Authors who write in a particular genre must obey the conventions of that genre.

(D) An autobiography, no less than a novel, should tell a powerful story.

(E) Autobiographies should be evaluated not on their literary merit but on their historical accuracy.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

Apply the NEGATION TEST.
When the correct answer is negated, the passage will be contradicted.

E, negated:
 The mixture of literary genres in a single narrative can NEVER cause the goals of one of the genres to be compromised. 
This negation contradicts the claim  that in Jacobs’s work the purposes of the domestic novel overshadow those of the typical slave narrative. 
Since the negation of E contradicts the passage, E is a valid inference: a statement that MUST BE TRUE, given the information in the passage.

E

VerbalBot · Answer

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The autobiographical narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

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The autobiographical narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

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