With Merediths The Egoist we enter into a critical problem that we ha

Question

With Meredith’s The Egoist we enter into a critical problem that we have not yet before faced in these studies. That is the problem offered by a writer of recognizably impressive stature, whose work is informed by a muscular intelligence, whose language has splendor, whose “view of life” wins our respect, and yet for whom we are at best able to feel only a passive appreciation which amounts, practically, to indifference. We should be unjust to Meredith and to criticism if we should, giving in to the inertia of indifference, simply avoid dealing with him and thus avoid the problem along with him. He does not “speak to us,” we might say; his meaning is not a “meaning for us”; he “leaves us cold.” But do not the challenge and the excitement of the critical problem as such lie in that ambivalence of attitude which allows us to recognize the intelligence and even the splendor of Meredith’s work, while, at the same time, we experience a lack of sympathy, a failure of any enthusiasm of response?     1 
 1. According to the passage, the work of Meredith is noteworthy for its elements of

A. sensibility and artistic fervor
B. ambivalence and moral ambiguity
C. tension and sense of vitality
D. brilliance and linguistic grandeur 
E. wit and whimsical frivolity

2  
 2. The author’s discussion of Meredith fails to provide

A. an indication of Meredith’s customary effect on readers
B. an enumeration of the admirable qualities in his work
C. a selection of hypothetical comments at Meredith’s expense
D. an analysis of the critical ramifications of Meredith’s effect on readers
E. a refutation of the claim that Meredith evokes no sympathy

3  
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author finds the prospect of appraising Meredith’s work critically to be

A. counterproductive
B. overly formidable
C. somewhat tolerable
D. markedly unpalatable
E. clearly invigorating

4  
 4. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about the role of criticism?

A. Its prime office should be to make our enjoyment of the things that feed the mind as conscious as possible.
B. It should be a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.
C. It should enable us to go beyond personal prejudice to appreciate the virtues of works antipathetic to our own tastes.
D. It should dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, ignoring such deficiencies as irrelevant.
E. It should strive both to purify literature and to elevate the literary standards of the reading public.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

1. According to the passage, the work of Meredith is noteworthy for its elements of

The author cites Meredith’s intelligence  (brilliance)  and his splendor of language  (linguistic grandeur) .

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

2. The author’s discussion of Meredith fails to provide

Rather than refuting the claim, the author clearly acknowledges Meredith’s inability to evoke the reader’s sympathy.

Choice A  is incorrect. From the start the author points out how Meredith leaves readers cold.

Choice B  is incorrect. The author reiterates Meredith’s virtues, citing muscular intelligence and literary merit.

Choice C  is incorrect. The author quotes several such imagined criticisms.

Choice D  is incorrect. The author indicates that if readers choose to avoid dealing with Meredith they shall be doing a disservice to the cause of criticism. Only Choice E remains. It is the correct answer. 
 
  Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author finds the prospect of appraising Meredith’s work critically to be

Speaking of the  “challenge and excitement of the critical problem as such,”  the author clearly finds the prospect of appraising Meredith critically to be stirring and  invigorating.  
 
  Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about the role of criticism?

The author wishes us to be able to recognize the good qualities of Meredith’s work while at the same time we continue to find it personally unsympathetic. Thus, she would agree that criticism should enable us to appreciate the virtues of works we dislike.  Choices A, B,  and  E  are unsupported by the passage.

Choice D  is incorrect. While the author wishes the reader to be aware of Meredith’s excellences, she does not suggest that the reader should ignore those qualities in Meredith that make his work unsympathetic. Rather, she wishes the reader to come to appreciate the very ambivalence of his critical response. 
 
  Answer: C

With Merediths The Egoist we enter into a critical problem that we ha

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