Arguments about the decline of poetry's cultural importance are not

Question

Arguments about the decline of poetry's cultural importance are not new. But the modern debate might be said to have begun in 1934 when Edmund Wilson noted that verse's role had grown increasingly narrow since the eighteenth century. In particular, Romanticism's emphasis on intensity made poetry seem so "quintessential" that eventually it dwindled into a mainly lyric medium. As verse — which had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history — retreated into lyric, prose usurped much of its cultural territory. Truly ambitious writers eventually had no choice but to write in prose.

Wilson’s argument set the ground rules for all subsequent criticism of contemporary poetry. Joseph Epstein essentially updated Wilson's argument but with important differences. Whereas Wilson looked on the decline of poetry's cultural position as a gradual process spanning three centuries, Epstein focused on the past few decades. Further, he contrasted the major achievements of the modernists — the generation of poets that led poetry from moribund Romanticism into the twentieth century — with what he felt were the minor accomplishments of the present practitioners. The modernists, Epstein maintained, were artists who worked from a broad cultural vision, but contemporary writers were " poetry professionals ," who operated within the closed world of the university. Wilson blamed poetry's plight on historical forces; Epstein indicted the poets themselves and the institutions they had helped create, especially creative-writing programs. Epstein’s essays ignited an explosion of anger from contemporary poets that was reminiscent of the treatment meted out to Epstein’s predecessors.   1 
 1. In the context of the passage, the term “poetry professionals” (in the highlighted text) most likely represents which of the following ideas?

A. Contemporary poets have achieved little in comparison to the modernists.
B. Contemporary poets have limited literary ambitions.
C. Contemporary poets exhibit narrower focus than the modernists did.
D. Contemporary poetry is more suited for academic learning than the poetry by modernists is.
E. Contemporary writers emphasize the lyrical intensity of poetry.

2 
 2. The passage most likely suggests which of the following about the poetry prior to Romanticism?

A. It was commonly used to describe a variety of cultural experiences.
B. Its focus on lyric was reducing the popularity of poetry. 
C. It was the preferred literary pursuit over prose for ambitious writers. 
D. It was a more popular medium for narrative than prose was.
E. Its emphasis on intensity was gradually building for centuries.

3 
 3. The passage suggests that both Wilson’s criticism and Epstein’s criticism of contemporary poetry are similar in which of the following ways?

A. The two criticisms’ views on the reasons behind the decline of poetry's cultural importance
B. The diversity of poetic expression considered in the two criticisms
C. The reception of the two criticisms by the poetic community
D. The duration of transformation of poetry's role considered in the two criticisms
E. The two criticisms’ views on the importance of lyric in poetic creations

This is a RC Butler

Check the links to other Butler Projects:

Problem Solving Butler  
  Data Sufficiency Butler  
  Critical Reasoning Butler

vasu1104 · Answer

passage1= arguments about decline in poetry are not new. started way back in mid 20th century. how focus on romanticism led to development of narrow focus. Wilsons view on this. 
 passage 2= epstein has his own view. they both have different view but epstein updated wislon arguments with important differences.

Question 1. A,B,D,E are easy to eliminate. because there was no such comparison given in the passage. only C defines it. right after the mentioned word, the further classification of that word has been given. and it says they were in their closed world of university. and the earlier lines says thast modernist worked from broader vision nd immediately in next sentences he uses BUT word and share info about contemporary writers. so we can infer that they were narrow focused.

Question 2.  
 A this is what passage talks about. verse was popular medium earlier for variety of reason but now limited to lyric.
B it actually happened after the romanticism.
C passage never says it was preferred choice. it just says that after romanticism they had no choice but to write in prose
D no such comparison.
E irrelevant. passage only talks about its popularity narrowing.

Question 3 
 B,C,D are easy to eliminate. A says their reasoning behind the decline was similar. no its not true because epstein updated wilsons argument. 
 in the last line of passage says that epstein essays created anger that reminded of the treatment meted out to epsteins predecessors. 
option C captures that very well.

Dereno · Answer

1. In the context of the passage, the term “poetry professionals” (in the highlighted text) most likely represents which of the following ideas?

The exact verses of the term is : “   The modernists, Epstein maintained, were artists who worked from a  broad  cultural vision, but contemporary writers were "   poetry professionals     ," who operated  within the closed world  of the university ”. 
 
A. Contemporary poets have achieved little in comparison to the modernists.

Achievements and performance reports are not discussed anywhere in the passage, so can be eliminated outrightly. Hence, wrong.

B. Contemporary poets have limited literary ambitions.

Literary ambition comparison is not being discussed. The only place ambition is mentioned is to make it clear that poets who had ambitions switched to prose version, post Romanticism. Hence, Wrong.

C. Contemporary poets exhibit narrower focus than the modernists did.

Contemporary poets operated within the closed , meaning they are narrow compared to the modernists who are broader. Hence, correct answer.

D. Contemporary poetry is more suited for academic learning than the poetry by modernists is.

Just because the term university is being used, doesn’t necessarily make it an academic perception. Actually, to mention and illustrate the closed group scenario these terms were used. So, moving out of context. Wrong.

E. Contemporary writers emphasize the lyrical intensity of poetry.

Actually they emphasise the lyrical intensity of prose. Moreover, the context of poetry professional is not associated with this. Thus, wrong.

Option C

2. The passage most likely suggests which of the following about the poetry prior to Romanticism?

B. Its focus on lyric was reducing the popularity of poetry.

Actually it’s only during  Romanticism -  the focus is on the intensity, verse retreating to lyric, and mainly to prose. This option is contradicting the original passage. Hence, Wrong.

C. It was the preferred literary pursuit over prose for ambitious writers.

The more ambitious writers usually focussed on prose during the Romanticism period. Prior to Romanticism , the verse form of poetry was focussed. Hence, Wrong.

D. It was a more popular medium for narrative than prose was.

Prior to Romanticism, verse was a popular medium for representation of poetry. Just because it was popular doesn’t necessarily mean it was more popular or less popular, we cannot even say it’s was equally popular. Hence, Wrong.

E. Its emphasis on intensity was gradually building for centuries.

The period of mention in the question, even though was for centuries, gradually narrowed the aspect of verse in poetry. The building of intensity was during the post Romanticism phase. Hence, Wrong.

After neglecting all options we can say Option A is correct, but what makes option A correct.

A. It was commonly used to describe a variety of cultural experiences.

The lines from the initial paragraph of the passage mentions : “   As verse — which had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history — retreated into lyric, prose usurped much of its cultural territory ”.

Prior to Romanticism, verse being a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama and history occupied the cultural landscape for a longer time. This option mentions the attribute of verse in explaining cultural experiences. Hence, correct answer.

Option A

3. The passage suggests that both Wilson’s criticism and Epstein’s criticism of contemporary poetry are similar in which of the following ways?

A. The two criticisms’ views on the reasons behind the decline of poetry's cultural importance.

The reasons quoted by both are different. This can be attributed by these lines from passage “  Wilson blamed poetry's plight on historical forces; Epstein indicted the poets themselves and the institutions they had helped create, especially creative-writing programs “. Hence, Wrong.

B. The diversity of poetic expression considered in the two criticisms.

The diversity of poetic expression as verse and prose, sets the ground rules for discussion. Hence, it’s neither the similarity nor dissimilarities between Wilson and Epstein. Hence, Wrong.

C. The reception of the two criticisms by the poetic community.

The final lines of the passage - “  Epstein’s essays ignited an explosion of anger from contemporary poets that was reminiscent of the treatment meted out to Epstein’s predecessors ”. This clearly demonstrates that contemporary poets were angry on both Wilson and Epstein. Hence, Correct answer. 
 
D. The duration of transformation of poetry's role considered in the two criticisms.

The duration of transformations of poetry role can be found to be dissimilar from these following lines :

“  Whereas  Wilson  looked on the decline of poetry's cultural position as a gradual process spanning  three centuries ,  Epstein  focused on the  past few decades  ”. Hence, Wrong.

E. The two criticisms’ views on the importance of lyric in poetic creations.

The importance is not attributed to lyric. Hence, wrong.

Option C

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Mind-map    
  
  To mention Wilson’s argument that poetry’s role is narrowing (Paragraph 1)  
  To describe Epstein’s criticism and compare it with Wilson’s argument (Paragraph 2)  
  
  = = = = = = = = = =  
  1.   In the context of the passage, the term “poetry professionals” (in the highlighted text) most likely represents which of the following ideas?

a.   Contemporary poets have achieved little in comparison to the modernists. 
 b.   Contemporary poets have limited literary ambitions. 
  c.     Contemporary poets exhibit narrower focus than the modernists did.  
 d.   Contemporary poetry is more suited for academic learning than the poetry by modernists is. 
 e.   Contemporary writers emphasize the lyrical intensity of poetry.

Highlight Required:     poetry professionals

Question Type: Inference

Explanation:

The second paragraph mentions that Epstein contrasted the “major achievements of the modernists” with what he felt were “the minor accomplishments of the present practitioners” and that he believes that “the modernists” were artists “who worked from a broad cultural vision”, but contemporary writers were "poetry professionals," who operated “within the closed world of the university”. The passage suggests that Epstein believes that contemporary poets lack “a broad cultural vision” and operate within “the closed world of the university”, suggesting that   the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea.   The answer choice that does justice to this idea is the correct answer choice.

A. Trap. Although the second paragraph mentions that Epstein contrasted the “major achievements of the modernists” with what he felt were “the minor accomplishments of the present practitioners”,   the highlighted text “poetry professionals” is not mentioned to represent this “comparison of accomplishments”  ; the paragraph mentions that Epstein believes that contemporary poets lack “a broad cultural vision” and operate within “the closed world of the university”; in this context, the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea; we need an answer choice on similar lines. Incorrect.

B. Trap. Although the first paragraph mentions that “Truly ambitious writers eventually had no choice but to write in prose”, suggesting that contemporary poetry does not attract ambitious writers,   the passage makes no connection between this discussion and the highlighted text   – ambitions writers are mentioned in the context of Wilson’s criticism whereas the highlighted text is mentioned in the context of Epstein’s criticism; so, it is incorrect to state that the highlighted text represents the idea that contemporary poets have limited literary ambitions, as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea. Incorrect.

C.  Correct . The second paragraph mentions that Epstein contrasted the “major achievements of the modernists” with what he felt were “the minor accomplishments of the present practitioners” and that he believes that “the modernists” were artists “who worked from a broad cultural vision”, but contemporary writers were "poetry professionals," who operated “within the closed world of the university”; the passage suggests that Epstein believes that contemporary poets lack “a broad cultural vision” and operate within “the closed world of the university”, suggesting that   the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea  ; in other words, in the context of the passage, the term “poetry professionals” represents the idea that contemporary poets exhibit narrower focus than the modernists did, as the answer choice mentions.

D. Trap. Although the second paragraph mentions that “contemporary writers were "poetry professionals," who operated within the closed world of the university”,   the passage doesn’t suggest that contemporary poetry is “more suited” for academic learning than the poetry by modernists is  , as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea. Incorrect.

E. Although the first paragraph mentions that Romanticism's “emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into “a mainly lyric medium”, suggesting that contemporary writers emphasize the lyrical intensity of poetry,   the passage makes no connection between this discussion and the highlighted text   –lyric is mentioned in the context of Wilson’s criticism whereas the highlighted text is mentioned in the context of Epstein’s criticism; so, it is incorrect to state that the highlighted text represents the idea that contemporary writers emphasize lyrical intensity of poetry, as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that the term “poetry professionals” represents “narrowness of vision” or a similar idea. Incorrect.

C is the best choice.   
  = = = = = = = = = =  
  2.   The passage most likely suggests which of the following about the poetry prior to Romanticism?

a.     It was commonly used to describe a variety of cultural experiences.  
 b.   Its focus on lyric was reducing the popularity of poetry.  
 c.   It was the preferred literary pursuit over prose for ambitious writers.  
 d.   It was a more popular medium for narrative than prose was. 
 e.   Its emphasis on intensity was gradually building for centuries.

Question Type: Fact

Explanation:

Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in the passage.

A.  Correct . The first paragraph mentions that “Romanticism's emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into “a mainly lyric medium” and “as verse — which had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history — retreated into lyric,   prose usurped much of its cultural territory  ”; the passage suggests that   before Romanticism, poetry was “a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history”  ; in other words, prior to Romanticism, poetry was commonly used to describe a variety of cultural experiences, as the answer choice mentions.

B. Although the first paragraph mentions that as “Romanticism's emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into a mainly lyric medium,   the passage makes no mention of focus on lyric before Romanticism  ; so, it is incorrect to state that pre-Romanticism poetry’s focus on lyric was reducing the popularity of poetry, as the answer choice mentions. Additionally, the paragraph mentions that before Romanticism, poetry “had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history”; the answer choice’s mention of reduction in popularity contradicts the information presented in the passage. Incorrect.

C. Trap. The first paragraph mentions that as “Romanticism's emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into a mainly lyric medium, “Truly ambitious writers eventually had no choice but to write in prose”; although the passage suggests that “the poetry after Romanticism doesn’t attract ambitions writers”,   there is no suggestion that “before Romanticism, ambitious writers preferred poetry over prose”  ; so, it is incorrect to state that poetry prior to Romanticism was the preferred literary pursuit over prose for ambitious writers, as the answer choice mentions. Incorrect.

D. Although the first paragraph mentions that poetry before Romanticism “had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history”,   the passage makes no comparison between the popularity of prose and poetry before Romanticism  ; so, it is incorrect to state that poetry prior to Romanticism was a more popular medium for narrative than prose was, as the answer choice mentions. Incorrect.

E. Although the first paragraph mentions that “Romanticism's emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into “a mainly lyric medium”,   the passage makes no mention of how and for how long the emphasis on intensity was building  ; so, it is incorrect to state that pre-Romanticism poetry’s emphasis on intensity was gradually building for centuries, as the answer choice mentions. Incorrect.

A is the best choice.   
  = = = = = = = = = =  
   3.   The passage suggests that both Wilson’s criticism and Epstein’s criticism of contemporary poetry are similar in which of the following ways?   
  
 a.   The two criticisms’ views on the reasons behind the decline of poetry's cultural importance 
 b.   The diversity of poetic expression considered in the two criticisms 
  c.     The reception of the two criticisms by the poetic community  
 d.   The duration of transformation of poetry's role considered in the two criticisms 
 e.   The two criticisms’ views on the importance of lyric in poetic creations 
  
  Question Type: Inference

Explanation:

Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in the passage.

A. The second paragraph mentions that  “Wilson blamed poetry's plight on historical forces; Epstein indicted the poets themselves and the institutions they had helped create, especially creative-writing programs” , suggesting that Wilson’s criticism and Epstein’s criticism had different views on the reasons behind the decline of poetry's cultural importance. Incorrect.

B. The first paragraph states that Wilson mentions that poetry “had previously been a popular medium for narrative, satire, drama, and history”, suggesting Wilson’s view on the diversity of poetic expression in poetry prior to Romanticism; however,   the passage makes no mention of Epstein’s view on the diversity of poetic expression  ; so, it cannot be established that the diversity of poetic expression is a common factor in both criticisms. Incorrect.

C.  Correct . The second paragraph mentions that “  Epstein’s essays ignited an explosion of criticism from contemporary poets that was reminiscent of the treatment meted out to Epstein’s predecessors  ”, suggesting that both Wilson's criticism and Epstein’s criticism of contemporary poetry received similar reception by the poetic community, as the answer choice mentions.

D. The second paragraph mentions that   “Whereas Wilson looked on the decline of poetry's cultural position as a gradual process spanning three centuries, Epstein focused on the past few decades  ”, suggesting that Wilson’s criticism and Epstein’s criticism differed on the duration of transformation of poetry's role. Incorrect.

E. The first paragraph states that Wilson mentions that “Romanticism's emphasis on intensity” made poetry dwindle into “a mainly lyric medium”, suggesting Wilson’s view on the importance of lyric in poetic creations; however,   the passage makes no mention of Epstein’s view on the importance of lyric in poetic creations  ; so, it cannot be established that the importance of lyric in poetic creations is a common factor in both criticisms. Incorrect.

C is the best choice.   
  = = = = = = = = = =

Arguments about the decline of poetry's cultural importance are not

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Arguments about the decline of poetry's cultural importance are not

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards