Gluck’s Poetry

Answer choices

1. A

   Out of Scope: somewhat diminished1% picked this

   This tradition is somewhat diminished for its lack of recognized

   None of the available details include Gluck saying anything negative about this poetic tradition, so we have no support for the negativity of "somewhat diminished".

   1%
2. B

   Out of Scope: transcends context15% picked this

   This tradition transcends its social and

   None of the available details include Gluck saying anything like "this tradition transcends when and where it actually occurred". She makes it sound like "it's the tradition of my language and thus it's my inheritance", which sounds more like it's a tradition that is limited by language.

   15%
3. C

   Too Strong: only / uniquely Too Negative1% picked this

   The male-dominated aspect of this tradition can be overcome only by developing a uniquely female

   None of the available details includes Gluck saying anything negative about this poetic tradition, so we have no support for the negativity of "male-dominated can be overcome only if X". We also know from later in the passage that Gluck doesn't like the idea of developing a uniquely female voice. She just wants poets to be poets. If a poet is female, then their female-ness will naturally come out at times.

   1%
4. D

   Too Strong: necessary4% picked this

   The view of this tradition as an inheritance is necessary for a poet

   She never says anything that sounds as strong as, "you can't be a successful poet unless you view this tradition as an inheritance", which is what this answer says.

   4%
5. E

   Correct79% picked this

   This tradition, though male dominated, addresses

   Why this is right

   Well, this isn't an obvious or lovable answer. It doesn't directly reinforce any of the four things she is quoted saying in the first paragraph. But this answer makes two very moderate claims, both of which we assume Gluck would sign off on. Would she agree that this tradition is male dominated? Sure. She has told people, "I'm comfortable writing within a tradition often described as belonging to only males. My gender didn't keep me from appreciating the male poets." Would she agree that the poetry addresses universal subjects? Yes, the 2nd paragraph supports this. She could see in this poetry "the great themes and subjects of poetry". She says that subjects like loss, time, desire "are timeless, available to readers of any gender". The subjects the males wrote on don't belong to any gender. They are the great human subjects. "Issues of gender distinction fade behind the presence of this universal reality". This answer makes two separate claims, both of which are things we can see Gluck agreeing to. But the tension of the two claims also lines up. "Although the tradition is male dominated (Gluck would concede), it addresses universal subjects (which she emphasizes when explaining why she, as a woman, had no trouble falling in love with this male-written poetry and has no trouble considering her own poetry as belonging to the same tradition)."

   Skill tested: Non-Author Opinion · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   79%