#8 - Global Reference, Must Be True, Author's Perspective

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (B).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):


This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[Kaylahernandez]

I am confused by this question. The correct answer is "qualified admiration" however, even though the author acknowledges Phillis Wheatley's accomplishments the author is critical of the fact that she "didn't fulfill her potential" as stated in the answer to question 1. I ended up choosing D...and still can't see why B is correct.

[Adam Tyson]

Thanks for the question, Kaylahernandez! The author in this case is clearly somewhat disappointed that Wheatley didn't contribute more to "the development of a distinctive African American literary language", but that doesn't make the entire passage a critical one. Look to the first paragraph, where the author is clearly impressed with how quickly and well she learned English and the standard forms of English poetry, and then to the final sentence of the passage: "Yet by the standards of the literary conventions in which she chose to work, Wheatley's poetry is undeniably accomplished, and she is justly celebrated as the first Black American poet."

Accomplished and justly celebrated - that's how our author views Wheatley, despite her failing to live up to the potential to contribute to a new form of literature. Not total admiration, as in answer A, and in no sense is our author impartial (answer C), ambivalent (answer D), or dismissive (answer E). Qualified (that is, lessened somewhat, or limited) admiration is the only answer that works here, and it's actually perfect. Our author admires what Wheatley did and how well she did it, although he appears to wish she had done something more or something different.

Your analysis is spot on - "the author acknowledges Phillis Wheatley's accomplishments (but) the author is critical of the fact that she 'didn't fulfill her potential' ". That sounds exactly like "qualified admiration" to me! Answer D, detached ambivalence, is more along the lines of "I don't know, maybe she was good, maybe not. Who cares, really? I'm not interested." That certainly isn't our author's attitude here, is it?

I hope that clarifies the issue for you. Thanks!