Literary critic: The meaning of

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: there are no criteria9% picked this

   There are no criteria by which to distinguish the validity of different interpretations

   The author is saying that a number of equally valid interpretations of a given work may be offered. But that also allows for the idea that a number of invalid interpretations could be offered. Thus, the author may think that there are some criteria by which to distinguish valid vs. invalid interpretations. Maybe they're loose enough criteria to allow for multiple valid interpretations, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist at all.

   9%
2. B

   Correct76% picked this

   A meaning imposed on a literary work reflects facts about

   Why this is right

   This obliquely addresses the New Concept in the Conclusion, "tells us more about the critic". Here, they use the phrase "reflects facts about the interpreter". The author's argument boiled down to the idea that, "Since interpretation mainly involves imposing meaning on a work, we learn more about the critic who is imposing that meaning than we do about the writer who created that work." Our author is definitely assuming that the meaning imposed by the interpreter tells us something about the interpreter. If we negated this link, it would be saying this sort of objection, "Hey, author. We agree that interpretations impose meaning, rather than discover it. But that doesn't mean we learn more about the critic than the writer. After all, a meaning imposed on a work doesn't reflect any facts about the interpreter."

   Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   76%
3. C

   Contradicted, if anything4% picked this

   A writer’s intentions are relevant to a valid interpretation of the

   Since the author says that "interpretations need not consider the writer's intentions", there's no way we could say the assumes that "a writer's intentions are relevant to a valid interpretation". Negating this and saying that a writer's intentions are irrelevant would actually fit just fine with this argument.

   4%
4. D

   Too Strong: never be known11% picked this

   The true intentions of the writer of a work of literature can never be known to a

   The argument said that a critic "need not consider the writer's intentions", but that doesn't mean that the critic "cannot ever know the true intentions of the writer".

   11%
5. E

   Out of Scope / Too Strong: deepest0% picked this

   The deepest understanding of a literary work requires that one know

   There's nothing in this paragraph at all about "deep" understanding, let alone the extreme superlative "the deepest" understanding. The author hasn't committed to any ideas regarding "the deepest" understanding.

   0%